Charles R. Wind

** SERVICE UPDATE **

Charles R. Wind, 92, of Medina, entered into Heaven on Friday, January 12, 2024 peacefully at the Brothers of Mercy Nursing Home in Clarence.

Born September 27, 1931 in Jamestown, NY, he was a son of the late Anthony G. and Teresa (VanLeckwyck) Wind. Mr. Wind grew up in Attica, NY and graduated from Attica High School in 1949. He went on to serve in the U.S. Navy from 1950-1954. He married the love of his life, the former Norma Zielinski on August 28, 1954. The couple moved to Medina, NY in 1956 where they owned and operated the Starlite Drycleaners on Main Street for 49 years.

A strong believer in spirituality and spiritual healing, Mr. Wind was a man of strong faith. He was a parishioner of Sacred Heart RC Church and then St. Mary’s RC Church in Medina. He was a 4^th Degree Knights of Columbus, served as Eucharistic minister, taught CCD, adult scriptures and initiated the first bereavement committee at the parish. In his older years he enjoyed giving away rosaries that he made by hand as an act of faith.

Also active in his community, Mr. Wind was a past president of both the Medina Chamber of Commerce and the Medina Rotary Club, through which he had built the well-known large salmon fish statue. He also was an adult leader for the local Boy Scouts of America. Never one to slow down, Mr. Wind earned an Associate’s degree in 1975 from GCC. He was proud of the volunteer work he did through the Orleans County Adult Learning Services (OCALS). He and his wife Norma were a host family to numerous foreign exchange students over the years from Australia, Sweden, Japan and Brazil. Mr. Wind held his private pilot’s license and was a member of the local flying club. He was an avid camper who took his large family on many memorable camping trips across the country. He enjoyed playing the organ and also enjoyed oil painting, a skill he taught to his grandchildren and many others through oil painting classes. A true patriarch of his family, Mr. Wind leaves behind a rich legacy of love, integrity, and faith for generations to come.

Predeceased by his beloved wife, Norma Wind in 2010; siblings, Anthony (Ruth) Wind, Sr. Norma Terese Wind, Paul Wind, Warren Wind and Elaina Klein; brother in-law, Richard Brunner; and son in-law, Lewis Novotny.

Left to cherish his memory are his seven children, David (Cynthia) Wind, Margaret (Guillermo) Guinigundo, Carolyn (David) Flynn, Raymond (Carol) Wind, John (Laura) Wind, Rita (Jeffrey) Stevens and Linda (Paul) Zakrzewski; grandchildren, Kristyn Wind, Kathryn Wind, Michael (Casey) Wind, Amy Huebeler, Kevin (Jennifer) Novotny, Paul (Elizabeth) Novotny, Lisa (Michael) Kokanovich, Joseph Flynn, Mary Kaitlyn (Jonathan) Catrona, Alexander (Crystal) Wind, Jamie (Brian) Voss, Rebecca (Daniel) Kelly, Rachael (William) Edge, Joshua Wind, Sarah (Steven) Miszuk, Jacob Wind, Kevin Stevens, Brian (Korey) Stevens, Bethany Zakrzewski, Laura Zakrzewski and Adam Zakrzewski; twenty-four great-grandchildren; sister, Marilyn Brunner; sister in-law, Patricia Wind; brother in-law, Lawrence Klein; and many nieces and nephews.

**SERVICE UPDATE**

Calling hours will be held on FRIDAY, January 19 from 9:30-11:30AM at Cooper Funeral Home, 215 W. Center St., Medina. His Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 12PM at Holy Trinity Family Parish, St. Mary’s Church, 211 Eagle St., Medina. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Orleans County Adult Learning Services at www.ocals.org/donate or to Brothers of Mercy at www.brothersofmercy.org/giving.