Charles Victor Sikora
November 27, 1931 – August 2, 2023
Charles is survived by Marilyn, his wife of seventy years; his three sons, Eric, Peter, and Victor, and their families. At the time of his passing, Chuck had seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, with one more on the way.
Charles was an only child, born and raised in Stockton, California. He and his parents Emil and Mildred Sikora and grandparents would spend much of the summer months in Yosemite, where Chuck developed a deep love for the outdoors and the High Sierras in particular. After high school, Charles attended Stockton Junior College. Then, the Korean War started, and Charles joined the US Coast Guard. He served both on the cutter Taney and on the San Francisco Lightship stationed at the Farallon Islands off of San Francisco.
On one of his leaves from duty, he met his future wife, Marilyn Gange. In 1953, they were married and promptly moved to Corvallis, Oregon, where he pursued a degree in Forestry from Oregon State College (now Oregon State University). While at school in Corvallis, Chuck and Marilyn gave birth to their first son, Eric, in 1955. After graduation, Chuck was hired by the US Forest Service with his first assignment on the Stanislaus National Forest, where he was stationed in Sonora, California.
In 1956, shortly after he and Marilyn had moved to Sonora, Peter, their second son, came into this world. After a couple of years, Charles was assigned to the Sierra National Forest and stationed at Trimmer Springs Ranger Station during the winter months and Dinkey Creek during the summer months. In 1961, Chuck became the Assistant District Ranger for the Minarets Ranger District of the Sierra National Forest and moved to North Fork. The winters were spent in North Fork, where his boys started school, and the summers were spent at the Minarets Ranger Station near Mammoth Pool.
In 1964, Marilyn and Chuck’s third son, Victor, was born. Chuck had more than ten years with the Forest Service when American Forest Products Corporation hired him as a forester. At the time, AFPC had sawmills locally at Dinkey Creek, Auberry, South Fork, and Oakhurst. In 1970, another opportunity presented itself, and he started his own business as a Forester and Land Surveyor. Charles was a Registered Professional Forester and licensed Professional Land Surveyor in the state of California. In addition, in the late seventies and early eighties, Chuck and Marilyn owned and operated North Fork Realty. Both Chuck and Marilyn were Real Estate Brokers. He was also active in many professional and service organizations, including but not limited to The Society of American Foresters, the Association of Consulting Foresters, and Lions Club International.
One of Charles’ passions was flying. He was a private pilot and often enjoyed flying over the Sierras to look at the property that he was working on.
For nearly 50 years, Charles served his clients/friends with surveying and forest consulting services up until he was nearly ninety years of age. It amused him when some of his clients/friends wanted multi-year contracts with him for forestry services when he was already in his eighties. Charles enjoyed many lifelong friendships and long-term client relationships.
In December of 2022, he and Marilyn sold their home in Coarsegold and moved to Eugene, Oregon, to be near their son, Peter, and his family.
Charles Victor Sikora passed away from this life and into God’s hands suddenly while at home with his wife, Marilyn, and his son, Peter, at his side. Four days prior, Marilyn and Charles celebrated their seventy years of marriage with their three sons and their families. Gratefully, Charles was ambulatory right up to the point when God brought him home.
Charles was blessed with a full life. He was able to live and work in the mountains, which he loved so dearly. As a forester and land surveyor, he made a very positive impact on the world. He enjoyed hunting, fishing (any kind of fishing, but especially fly fishing), and skiing (including serving on the National Ski Patrol at Badger Pass). He was still skiing in his 80s and caught the largest salmon of his lifetime a year ago. Most significantly, he was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, and he made his most significant impact on this world. He was a man of integrity, courage, and strength. Charles’ love of, and passion for, adventure and the great outdoors was passed onto his three sons and their families. He is dearly missed.
A memorial service celebrating Charles’ life will be held at:
Episcopal Conference Center (ECCO)
43803 Hwy 41
Oakhurst, CA 93644.
Monday, September 18, 2023, at 10:30 AM
If you wish to see the video of Chuck’s life, please send an email to CharlesS.1931@gmail.com
Should you wish to send an expression of sympathy, the family suggests a contribution to the Eastern Madera County SPCA.
Please note on your check: In memory of Charles Sikora.
Please mail to Eastern Madera County SPCA, PO Box 1314, Oakhurst, CA 93644
