KAFKA, William Charles

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Wednesday, February 27, 2013 William Charles Kafka, 91, of Chandler, Ariz., formerly of Sackets Harbor, N.Y., passed away Feb. 22, 2013, under the care of Hospice. He was born July 19, 1921, in Watertown, N.Y., the son of Steven and Agnes Kafka. After graduating from Sackets Harbor High School in 1939, he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in Cleveland, Ohio. He was honorably discharged in 1945. After WWII, he worked for the USCG traveling throughout the Great Lakes at Coast Guard stations and on shipboard. He remained in the field until 1955, then was stationed at the Electronic Engineering Branch, Radio Beacon section in Cleveland, Ohio. He was placed in charge of the "Ship and Shore" section, with the installation of electronic equipment at 55 shore stations, 65 lighthouses, approximately 150 small boats, 75 vehicles, an icebreaker, six 180-footers, five harbor tugs, one lightship, and ground equipment at three air stations. He became chief, technical section, responsible for providing electronic expertise for five bases. He retired in 1976, and relocated to Prescott, Ariz. He was an active ham radio operator from his youth while living at the Sackets Harbor Navy Station where his father was stationed with the 13th Separate Fleet Division, U.S. Naval Reserve and N.Y. Naval Militia. William was predeceased by his wife Mary Kathryn April 2, 2000. William is survived by son William C. Kafka and wife Ginny and their family Steve, Michelle, Clinton, Martin, Mike, Riley and Tyler in California; son Steve Kafka and wife Karen; sons Alexander and Andrew of Chandler, Ariz.; daughter JoAnn Harms and family Peter, Matt, Emory, Addison, Sherry, Clinton and Kelly in California; sister Jeannie Kafka Brennan and niece Constance Brennan Barone, both of Sackets Harbor, N.Y. A memorial service will be at the Heritage Memory Mortuary in Prescott, Ariz., on Feb. 28, 2013, followed by burial in Lakewood, Ohio. The family has asked that donations be made to a local hospice, or veterans organization. Services entrusted to Heritage Memory Mortuary, Prescott. Information provided by survivors.
Posted by Sharla on February 28, 2013

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