Chuck Balazs, Sr.

Born: Cleveland, OH on 27 December 1942

Passed away: Medina, OH on 12 February 2016

Aged: 73 years

Service Details

In keeping with Chucks wishes, there will be no funeral services or calling hours. Chuck wanted his family and friends to celebrate his life with a party where stories and memories can be shared and cherished by everyone who loved him.

** Party Info **
The party will be held on March 6th, 2016 at the FOP Lodge 15 in Brunswick.
FOP Lodge 15
716 W.130th Street
Brunswick, OH 44212

1:00pm - Doors open
2:00pm - Cuyahoga County Sheriff Department Honor Guard Pipes and Drums ceremony
2:30pm - Food served. We will have some beer, pop, and water but please BYOB.

Dress as you like, but we'll be there in jeans and Harley shirts! Very casual, the way Dad would have wanted ;-)
We will be there all day/night. Stop by the lodge anytime, and stay as little or as long as you like.


In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation to MedinaHospitalFoundation.org (Respiratory Services).

We want to encourage all our family and friends to share your stories, memories, and pictures of Chuck on this memorial site. We hope you will all help us celebrate the life of the man we loved, and who loved so many.

*** YOU MUST CREATE AN ACCOUNT IN ORDER TO LEAVE A MESSAGE OR POST A PICTURE ON THE SITE *** I apologize for anyone who tried to leave a message that did not show up here, I was not aware you had to create an account in order to do so.


The Story

Chuck Balazs was a great, generous man with a huge heart. Anyone who knew him loved him, and was rewarded in turn with a friendship with a man who was loving, loyal, and willing to do anything he could to help you in any way. Chuck had a way of making everyone he met feel like a long-time friend, and he was someone you just wanted to sit with and throw back a few beers while laughing over stories about old times. He just had a personality and sense of humor that people were drawn to and wanted to be around.

Chuck was intelligent, clever, resourceful and as sharp-witted as they come. He spoke with a colorful vocabulary and was skilled in the use of sarcasm. He loved to work with his hands, whether it was working on cars and Harleys, or building adirondack chairs and bird houses. He loved the warm weather, the outdoors, and wildlife. He would often send pictures of the squirrels he fed and the deer that came through his yard. Chuck loved to ride Harleys with his daughter Dawn, son-in-law Tim, and countless friends taking in the scenery on the way to Sturgis, the Badlands, Daytona, Myrtle Beach, and so many other destinations. He also loved to ride in the memorial runs to honor the fallen servicemen and heroes who sacrificed their lives. He was a fan of history and enjoyed stopping to see historical sites and landmarks along the way on the rides.

Chuck's hobbies included boating and shark fishing in Florida, riding and wrenching on Harleys, leather crafting belts and holsters for friends and fellow servicemen, making home-made pies, cookies, and ice cream, enjoying time by himself in his state-of-the-art indoor basement firing range, watching NASCAR races, hanging out in the garage drinking beers with friends and family.

In his lifetime, Chuck was a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a favorite uncle, a papa to his grandkids, a friend to hundreds, an honorably discharged private in the Army after being stationed in Greenland, a plumber, a past president of the Police Masonic Fellowcraft Club of Ohio, a New Port Richey police officer, retired Deputy Sheriff for Cuyahoga County, and a master Googler and one of Amazon's most loyal customers.

During their 19 year marriage, Chuck and his first wife Del (Delores) had three kids to whom they passed on their good looks, intelligence, and many other qualities that contribute to their success. Chuck was extremely proud of his kids and their accomplishments. His oldest daughter Deanna is a Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine and lives with her husband and two daughters in Columbus, OH. Dawn, his younger daughter is a 911 Emergency Medical Dispatcher for Parma, Brooklyn, and Parma Heights and lives with her husband, two daughters, and son in Hinckley, OH. Chuck Jr, his son is an IT Director and lives with his wife in Cuyahoga Falls, OH.

People are often described as being "One-in-a-million" and Chuck Balazs was definately that. He broke the mold and is survived by a family and hundreds of friends who will always love and remember him for being the kind and generous man that he was. He had a winning smile that is hard to forget. In the last years of his life, Chuck struggled with COPD which he eventually surrendered to. During his stays in the hospital, the doctors and nurses who cared for him became an extended family who often went out of their way to keep each other updated on his well-being and kept in touch as if he were their own family. That is just the kind of man Chuck Balazs was. He was the life of the party.

Breathe easy Dad, we love you.
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Your everything I wish I could be!

Dawn Sopkovich shared a video.

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Where will I go now? Only god can lead me. As you are my mentor, the greatest father and my very best friend. You are my Hero in so many ways. I will always still look to you for advice and will hear your kind words of advice to lead me. OR I will hear "Damn it Dawn!" Why dont you listen to your father!" Your smile that lit up the room will always be in my heart and in my mind. The silly things we did and talked about will never go away and I will laugh often when I think of them. Our long talks over beers, meeting in a bar~ when we wanted to be alone, or rides to wherever the bike took us will never be forgotten. The slow dances we had when your breathing was still good, will always carry my feet. Sitting in the Front Row theater for Englebert Humperdinck concert wasn't my favorite at elementary school age, but we dressed up and watched the stage turn and still had a good time. The many garage hang outs, teaching me how to wrench a bike, and or porch sitting holds many of my thoughts. My heart is broken. But I know that you will always watch over each and everyone of us. You are the kindest, most generous caring loving man I know. That reflects in your family and many friends that are showing so much love! Thank you DAD for being the man you are and for everything you have taught me in life. I only hope I can be just like you! I love you with all my heart ! Breath Free! Cant wait to see you again XO

Dawn Sopkovich

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Karen Tapp shared a photo.

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You will be missed a lot..Dwayne and I are so honored that we got to be a part of the family and got to know what a wonderful man Chuck was. Summer will not be the same without him. I was honored to call him my "boyfriend" a joke that Dwayne actually started a few years ago. We love you Chuck and miss you

lori edwards

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Dad fell in love with Lady Gaga at the 2015 Oscars with her medley of songs from the Sound of Music. He thought she was gorgeous, "did a better job than Julie Andrews", but her tattoos were "stupid". He just made me chuckle, how could you not love him? Enjoy dad, this one's for you.

Heather Balazs shared a video.

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It was an honor and privilege to be your partner. We had many good time's riding, especially when we rode to Margaritaville wondering how in the world we were gonna make it home after the watermelon martini's. Thanks for sharing in our special day, it meant the world to us. Rest easy my friend.

Tim Sikula shared a photo.

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D Balazs shared a photo.

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The five who delivered Dad safely to the other side.

D Balazs shared a photo.

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D Balazs shared a photo.

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From your closest....

D Balazs shared a video.

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