Charles Stopka was born January 5, 1914 in Manhattan, NY, the son of Joseph and Bertha Stopka. Both parents, and his sister Blanche, born in 1911, were immigrants from what they called Bohemia, now the Czech Republic.
In 1915 when Charles was an infant, the family (now also including brother Joseph born in 1912) lived at 405 E. 74th Street in Manhattan. Their father Joseph worked as a machinist in a factory to support the family.
The young Joseph Stopka only lived to the age of five, dying on March 3, 1917 in Manhattan. The rest of the family continued at their 74th Street home up through 1930. By then, in addition to the father making a career as a machinist, both Charles and sister Blanche as teenagers were working as office clerks.
In 1938 the family lived at 426 E. 77th Street in Manhattan. Charles was employed as a chauffeur when on April 30, 1938 he married Emily Formanek. Born September 11, 1916, she was the daughter of Joseph and Anna Formanek.
Just before the United States entered World War II, Charles registered for the draft. He was living at 1319 First Avenue in New York City with his wife Emily, and was employed by Richard Huey. Charles was described as 6' 3" tall, weighed 197 pounds, with brown eyes, brown hair, and a light brown complexion.
The young couple made their next home near his parents on E. 76th Street. Charles was working as a chauffeur for a department store, making an annual income of approximately $1248. They had a son Kenneth born in 1941.
At the time of the 1950 census Charles and Emily had separated, and each had moved in with their widowed mother. Charles was working 40 hours a week as a truck driver for a parcel delivery service, and living at 430 E. 77th Street with his mother, Bertha, while Emily and their son Kenneth were living with her mother Anna at 423 E. 77th Street.
Emily Stopka died in 1981, her last residence was in Flushing, Queens. Charles last residence was in Elmwood Park, New Jersey.
Charles Stopka died on February 6, 1987 in the Elmhurst Care Center. He was buried March 17, 1987 on Hart Island.
Sources: Ancestry.com; US, Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; US, WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947; 1920, 1930, 1940, 1950 US Federal Censuses; NY, NY, US, Birth Index, 1910-1965; NY, NY, Index to Marriage Licenses, 1908-1910, 1938-1940; 1915 and 1925 NY, US, State Censuses; NY, US, State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1794-1943; NY, Extracted Death Index, 1862-1948.
In 1915 when Charles was an infant, the family (now also including brother Joseph born in 1912) lived at 405 E. 74th Street in Manhattan. Their father Joseph worked as a machinist in a factory to support the family.
The young Joseph Stopka only lived to the age of five, dying on March 3, 1917 in Manhattan. The rest of the family continued at their 74th Street home up through 1930. By then, in addition to the father making a career as a machinist, both Charles and sister Blanche as teenagers were working as office clerks.
In 1938 the family lived at 426 E. 77th Street in Manhattan. Charles was employed as a chauffeur when on April 30, 1938 he married Emily Formanek. Born September 11, 1916, she was the daughter of Joseph and Anna Formanek.
Just before the United States entered World War II, Charles registered for the draft. He was living at 1319 First Avenue in New York City with his wife Emily, and was employed by Richard Huey. Charles was described as 6' 3" tall, weighed 197 pounds, with brown eyes, brown hair, and a light brown complexion.
The young couple made their next home near his parents on E. 76th Street. Charles was working as a chauffeur for a department store, making an annual income of approximately $1248. They had a son Kenneth born in 1941.
At the time of the 1950 census Charles and Emily had separated, and each had moved in with their widowed mother. Charles was working 40 hours a week as a truck driver for a parcel delivery service, and living at 430 E. 77th Street with his mother, Bertha, while Emily and their son Kenneth were living with her mother Anna at 423 E. 77th Street.
Emily Stopka died in 1981, her last residence was in Flushing, Queens. Charles last residence was in Elmwood Park, New Jersey.
Charles Stopka died on February 6, 1987 in the Elmhurst Care Center. He was buried March 17, 1987 on Hart Island.
Sources: Ancestry.com; US, Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; US, WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947; 1920, 1930, 1940, 1950 US Federal Censuses; NY, NY, US, Birth Index, 1910-1965; NY, NY, Index to Marriage Licenses, 1908-1910, 1938-1940; 1915 and 1925 NY, US, State Censuses; NY, US, State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1794-1943; NY, Extracted Death Index, 1862-1948.