Charles Edward Jankowski, 86, passed away peacefully in his sleep at Van Duyn Home and Hospital on March 30 after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease. Charles (Chuck) was the son of Aniela and Valentine Jankowski and was born and raised in Hart Lot, N.Y. Charles joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1946 and served in the Occupation Forces stationed in Northern China. He was discharged honorably in 1947 with the rank of sergeant. He then returned home and married his sweetheart, Arlene Macholl of Marcellus, and together raised six children. They enjoyed 56 years of loving companionship; Arlene passed away in 2004. Chuck was a self-employed auto mechanic in Marcellus from 1956 to 1990. He owned and operated "Jankowski's Garage" and later "Jankowski & Son" with his son James. He serviced the cars of hundreds of local drivers and had a special relationship with each. He was a true craftsman: could diagnose mechanical trouble by ear and fix virtually anything and everything. An early environmental activist, Charles took action against pollution in his home town. His actions eventually contributed to ending unsafe and toxic dumping, as well as installation of overflow technology to eliminate flooding in the Pleasant Valley Road basin. Chuck's hobbies included woodworking, snowmobiling (one of the original members of the Mustang Snowmobile Club) and camping in his Winnebago with his family. They enjoyed many fun trips around the US. After retirement, Chuck and Arlene enjoyed traveling to the South in the winter months and were "snowbirds" for many years. He is survived by his two daughters: Jacqueline (James) Ford of Oswego and Ann Marie (David) Palen of Skaneateles; three sons: Edward of Rhode Island, Christopher (Eleanor) of Syracuse, David of Auburn and a daughter-in-law, Laura Jankowski of Marcellus. Eleven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and a multitude of nieces and nephews survive him. He was predeceased by his son James in 2008 and two sons who died in infancy, Ronnie and John. His brother Joseph and sisters, Marguerite, Bernice, Jennie and Florence predeceased him. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Francis Xavier Church, 1 West Main Street, Marcellus at 10:00am on Monday, April 6. A spring interment service is planned at St. Francis Cemetery in Marcellus. In respect of Charles' wishes, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, willing donors please contribute to the Parkinson Disease Foundation (www.Parkinson.org) or any favorite charity in his name. Read Charles Jankowski's Obituary and Guestbook on www.plisfuneralhome.com.