WILMINGTON — Lester Charles “Charlie” Goralski, 71, of Wilmington, NC, left this Earth on April 25, 2025. His loss was sudden and unexpected.
Charlie was born on April 18, 1954 to Olive Jean (Bulson) and Louis Carl Goralski in Toledo, Ohio. Charlie grew up in Pewaukee Wisconsin and had an idyllic lake life. He graduated from Pewaukee high school in 1972. He went on to college at the University of Whitewater, where he studied History. He then joined the Marines and was part of a helicopter flight crew in Asia and the Pacific.
When he left the Marines, he returned to college in pursuit of a nursing degree and became a nurse in 1988. In that year, he married Norma Wegner. In the next 16 years, they welcomed five children into the marriage, Hannah, Arielle, Moss, Tucker and Griffin. They were the greatest blessings of his life, followed by grandchildren, Carson and Chloe. Whether he was coaching soccer or sewing ballet costumes, he adored them. Charlie also had a tremendous love for his patients, and people would always request him as their nurse. He was always the center of every gathering and every celebration during the entirety of his 30 year nursing career. He brought joy and compassion to everyone he met. He is irreplaceable.
In 2015, Charlie retired, and in 2024, he moved to Wilmington to be closer to his children and grandchildren. He adopted a sweet cat, Cleopatra, who followed him everywhere and he befriended everyone he met in his new hometown. Charlie‘s love of music and Football will live on through his children who have inherited his culinary skills as well.
Charlie was preceded in death by his father, Louis Carl, his sister Linda (Marin) Lurvey, his brother Louis, his step-father, Kenneth Eales, and an infant son.
He is survived by his mother, Jean Eales, of Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin, sister, Lorna Goralski, of Columbus, Wisconsin, brother-in-law, Martin Lurvey and beloved niece, Brenda Lurvey, of Columbus, Wisconsin. Charlie is also survived by his children, Hannah Jean(Chad) Frink, Arielle Elizabeth, Moss Charles, Tucker Daniel and Griffin Samuel. In addition, he is survived by his three precious grandchildren, Christopher Brandon, Carson Nathaniel and Chloe Elizabeth. Charlie had many family and friends, who will miss him terribly.
