Antioch, California – Our beloved Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather and Friend was reunited with his Eternal sweetheart when he passed away at his daughter’s home on Friday, April 20th, 89 years old. Born and raised in Salt Lake City Utah, January 21, 1929 to Henry and Louise (Tschaggeny) Katwyk, second of six children. Served in the US Army 1946 – 1948, Radio Communications and Morse Code Operator.
Married the love of his life, Shirley Dean Hudson, for 62 years before she preceded him in death in 2014. He only had one year of formal college education but was self-taught by reading engineering text books and working through a mail-order correspondence course in civil engineering. Most of his education came from on the job training, learning by textbooks as he did the work.
His 47year career started as a Framer, Roof Cutter, Carpenter, Contractor, but then he returned to his lifetime goal of becoming a civil engineer, by accepting positions working for the State of California as a Rodman, Chainman, Surveyor, Party Chief Surveyor, Structural Engineer, Highway Engineer. After obtaining his California Professional Engineers license, he worked as Transportation Engineer, Structural Engineer, Supervising Civil Engineer, then successfully completed more graduate level courses from Golden Gate University and Bechtel School of Management in project management. He then was promoted to Chief Civil Engineer, Project Engineer, Project Manager, Director of Engineering, and Vice President of Transportation engineering to one of the top 50 Engineering Companies in the Nation.
He holds Professional Civil Engineering licenses in 7 States in the US and Engineering certifications of 2 foreign countries. He loved working on large multi-billion dollar projects such as BART, Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power plant, Algeria Dam and Water project, Riyad International airport, Jubail Industrial City, Buffalo New York Transit, Washington DC Metro Transit, Atlanta Metro transit, Alcosta Bridge, Jacksonville, Florida, which took him all over the US and the world, that required him to move to New York, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Florida, Georgia, and Turkey. When his part of engineering for these mega infrastructure projects ended, he and Shirley would return to their beloved beautiful home and life- long remodel located in Walnut Creek California.
Charley had many accomplishments, including a long 20 year career working for Bechtel Corporation designing the BART Fremont line through Oakland, San Leandro and Hayward, California, designing microwave stations from Washington DC to Boston, Mass. for MCI, route Planning for Buffalo, NY, Washington DC, Atlanta, GA and San Juan Porto Rico Light rail Transit Projects, Master planned and design over 2000 residential homes in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, designed many miles of freeways in the Riyadh International airport, City of Jubail, Saudi Arabia and the Istanbul to Ankara highway, Interstate 880 and CA State Rt. 85 in Northern California, are just a few of his long list of civil engineering accomplishments.
After retirement, they served four missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including at the Salt Lake Family History Library, at the Oakland California Family Search Library, at the Concord California Employment Re Center and as the Construction Manager of the construction of the Accra Ghana Temple in Accra, Ghana. His most beloved accomplishment was being married to his wife Shirley for 62 years and his three Children, 16 Grandchildren and 19 Great Grandchildren, who he loved dearly. Survived: Daughter Brenda (Mike) Dunn, Son Kevin (Rica) Van Katwyk, Son Kirk (Kristina) Van Katwyk, Grandchildren: Autumn Childers, Brian (Elena) Buccellato, Craig Buccellato, Emily (Amine) Sahsah, Casey (Kim) Dunn, Kyle (Erin) Dunn, Cammie (Andy) Yorgason, Rustin (Allison) Van Katwyk, Vanessa (Dixon) Nsubuga, Mason Van Katwyk, Logan Van Katwyk, Tanner Van Katwyk, Nathan (Emily) Van Katwyk, Peter Van Katwyk, Seth Van Katwyk, Rachel Van Katwyk.
Brother; Clarence Katwyk, Sister; Betty Jane (Norm) Hagen, Brother: Fred (Kay) Katwyk. Proceeded in Death, Parents, Henry and Louise Katwyk, Sisters; Beverly Russell and Darlene Russell. Services: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1875 Highland Way, Brentwood May 5, 2018 11:00am Committal: May 7, 10:30am, Sacramento Valley VA, 5810 Midway Rd, Dixon www.
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