Charles Orbanek, 62, of Tamarac, FL and formerly of Erie, passed away Wednesday morning December 4, 2013 at University Hospital in Tamarac following a brief illness. He was born in Erie on June 24, 1951 a son of the late Stephen Orbanek and Alice Garbacz Hough.
Charles graduated from Gannon University with a B.S. in Education and went on to earn his Master's Degree from Edinboro University. He worked as a teacher with St. George Catholic School and was principal of St. Joseph and Sacred Heart Catholic Schools. Most recently he worked as a deputy warden with the GEO Group in Tamarac, Fl for 15 years. He was a member of the Broward County Citizens on Patrol (COPS) and enjoyed restoring classic cars, especially Chevy Camaroes. He also enjoyed interior decorating, fixing things, and woodworking.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his former wife, Gail Masenas Orbanek.
Survivors include one daughter, Ali Orbanek and her husband Josh Held of Erie; one son, Stephen Orbanek and his wife Marissa of McKean; one granddaughter, Kennedy Held; one sister, Barbara Orbanek-Ahlgren and her husband Ray of Erie; two brothers, Msgr. Gerald Orbanek of Erie and George Orbanek and his wife Rebecca Frank, of Grand Junction, Colorado; two nieces, Emily Orbanek and Lauren Rewers; one nephew Mark Rewers; and a dear friend and companion Will Worzniak of Tamarac, FL; his beloved dog, Rocky; four step brothers; and two step sisters.
Friends may call at the Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home Inc., 5000 Wattsburg Rd., on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. and are invited to prayer services there on Monday morning at 9:15 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at St. George Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Gail Orbanek Scholarship Fund, C/O General McLane Education Center, 11771 Edinboro Road, Edinboro, PA 16412.

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