Our beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, uncle, great-uncle and friend passed away peacefully on Sept. 30, 2006, after a long and very courageous battle against cancer and kidney failure.
Charles Corky was born May 31, 1949, in Everett, as the fourth child of Jesse and Mary Kissinger. He grew up in Marysville, Wash., where he spent most of his life. Corky spent part of his youth playing baseball and wrestling for his school teams. He was in the last class to attend the old Kellogg Marsh School.
After graduating from Marysville High School in 1968, Corky joined the Navy. There he trained to be a welder/shipfitter. After honorably serving this great country for four years, Corky returned to Marysville. Working in his chosen profession, Corky rose to the level of Ship Superintendent. In that capacity he supervised the complete refurbishing of the Coast Guard ice breakers Polar Star and Polar Sea. In 1996, Corky turned his career to building tugboats returning to Western Towboat in Ballard, Wash.
In 1989, Corky invited Joann Hicks to share the rest of his life with him. They married in 1993. Corky built his dream shop where he loved to spend hours woodworking, listening to the radio or taking in a Mariner or Seahawks game on his shop television.
Corky loved to fish, golf (usually shooting in the low 80s), camp and stand around the campfire with his Rainier beer. Corky loved having friends and family over for dinners, barbecue or to just hang out. When health issues prevented Corky from doing these activities he filled his time with winning jackpots at the casinos.
Corky is survived by his wife Joann; daughters, Katuria (Alfonse) DAmato, of New York, Jackie (Tavi) Siochi, of Issaquah, Wash., and Denise (Randy) Berndahl, of Mukilteo, Wash.; son, Alan (Lisa) Deisher, of Lake Stevens, Wash.; sister, Marjorie Shankle, of Oregon; brothers, Robert (Betty) Kissinger, of Marysville, Wash., and Terry (Kandy) Kissinger, of Sylvana, Wash.; nephews, Roger and Carl Kissinger and Brian Johnson, all of Washington; Skip (Chris) Davis of Arizona; Doug (Alex) Davis, Boyd (Becky) Davis, Chad (Trish) Davis, Tyler Davis, Rich (Mary) Shankle and Randy Shankle, all of Oregon; 21 great-nieces and great-nephews; grandchildren, Alix Van Rossen, Misty and Andrea Siochi, Caden and Elise Berndahl, Abbi McRae and Baylee and Grace Deisher, all of Washington; and lifelong friend, Steve (Connie) Bowman.
Corky was preceded in death by his mother, Mary; father, Jesse; brother, Larry; niece, Dana; various uncles, aunts, and grandparents; and his favorite dog, Bigfoot.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cancer Society. Viewing was held from 4 – 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 6, 2006, and Memorial Services were held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 7, 2006 at Schaefer-Shipman Funeral Home, 804 State Ave., Marysville. Graveside services, following cremation, were held on Oct. 14, 2006, at Arlington Cemetery.