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Charles Zanatta
CHARLES ZANATTA
Oelwein
Charles Zanatta, 89, of Kanawha, formerly of Oelwein, passed away Monday, May 4, 2015, at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City. Memorial services for Charles Zanatta will be at a later date. Ewing Funeral
Home in Kanawha is assisting the family.
Charles Michael Zanatta was born May 6, 1925, to Antonio and Marianna (Cesca) Zanatta in Oelwein, Iowa. He graduated from Sacred Heart high school in 1943.
Charles served in the United States Army during World War II in the Pacific Theater as a member of the 7th Infantry Division. He participated in the second invasion of Leyte and at the Battle of Okinawa, where he was wounded and was awarded the Purple Heart.
Charles was united in marriage to Mary Eileen Wait in Oelwein on June 25, 1946. To this union, five children were born. The couple raised their family in Oelwein.
Charles worked for the Chicago Great Western Railroad for nine years, followed by 12 years with the City Laundering Co. in Oelwein. He also worked for the OCCO Feed Co. for about five years before working for the Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. for 24 years as a building attendant until the time of his retirement in 1986.
Charles was an avid train fan; he loved model trains and watching railroad train videos. He also donated many hours to the local train museum in Oelwein.
He also loved vegetable and flower gardening, fishing for trout, and playing Hawaiian steel guitar. He also made spaghetti for many fundraisers.
His family will always remember how loving and caring he was.
Charles was a member of First Baptist Church in Oelwein, American Legion Ross Reid Post 9 and served as a member of the American Legion Color Guard for many years.
Charles is survived by his children, Dawn (Ray) Bassett of Kanawha, Ronald (Susan) Zanatta of Seaford, Del., Craig (Carol) Zanatta of Brooklyn, Iowa, Marcia (Dr. Robert) Lin of Kingsport, Tenn., and Wendy (Michael) DeVoe of Alabaster, Ala.; grandchildren, Chelsea Bassett of Kanawha, Nellie (Luther) Davis of Brooklyn, N.Y., Alexis (partner Michael Wickham) Doddato of Naperville, Ill., Justin (Michelle) Zanatta of Conyers, Ga., Skyler (partner Bary Putz) Zanatta of Seaford, Del., Emma Lin of Kingsport, Tenn., and Meghann DeVoe of Alabaster, Ala.; 10 great-grandchildren; one stepgreat-grandchild; nieces, Lamar Little, Lark Osborn and Lynette Smith; and nephews, Larry Zanatta and Leonard Zanatta.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Josephine Marcellini; brothers, Albert Zanatta and Gino Zanatta in childhood; and twin sister and brother in infancy in Italy.
Memorials may be directed to the Kanawha EMTs.
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