Charles Thomas Demek

Charles “Buck” Thomas Demek, 80, bid adieu on July 5, 2025, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s.

Charles leaves a legacy as a passionate, loyal, and caring individual. He was deeply committed to his family and loved to serve others. He was a devoted and admired teacher who inspired students to engage and learn in U.S. AP history, as well as life. He was a lover of languages, reading, and writing, as well as playing basketball, listening to good music, exercising, and eating donuts.

Charles was born in 1945 in Baltimore, Maryland. As a young adult he attended Catholic seminary where his posse referred to him as a “dramatic and despairing captain,” much to the chagrin of the priests and teachers. In 1968, he entered the Army and attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterrey, CA, where he learned Mandarin Chinese. Charles met his lovely wife, Juneanne, whom he married in January of 1969 at the Presidio. Charles and Juneanne then left for a two-year honeymoon in Taiwan where he served as a Chinese translator. After leaving the Army, they returned to Pittsburgh, PA where Charles attended Duquesne University and earned his master’s degree in history. They eventually ended up in Burke, VA where they spent most of their married life along with their two girls. Charles’ early professional life was spent in the telecom industry where he was known for his creative and visionary ideas. In 1988, Charles found his true vocation and purpose in life when he earned his teaching certificate and started teaching history for Fairfax County Public Schools. In 2015, Charles and Juneanne retired from teaching and moved to the country in central Virginia to enjoy the deer and the turkey buzzards and the beautiful country life. In retirement, Charles kept busy with writing short stories, his memoir, and continued to add to his substantial poetry collection.

Charles is a committed husband, father, Poppop, teacher, and friend. Charles and Juneanne enjoyed growing together through their 56-year marriage. Juneanne will fondly remember Charles as her greatest support, her dearest friend, and biggest pain in the butt (said lovingly). Charles’ two daughters, Kristina and Olivia, remember him as a hard-working, deeply devoted, loving, and kind father who made great sacrifices for them throughout his life. Charles’ five grandchildren will remember him as dedicated, passionately family-oriented, intellectually inclined, hilarious, and always charitable.

He summarizes his own life with this quote, “If I work my whole life to the very last days, working and serving these kids (students and family), then it would have been a good life.”

Charles is survived by his wife, Juneanne; his daughters, Kristina and Olivia Porter (Devan); his grandkids, Cole, Avery, Isaac, and June Porter; his sister, Sister Marie Pauline Demek SCC; his brothers, John Demek (Carole) and the Reverend Martin Demek. He’s also survived by his wife’s siblings, their spouses, and children. Charles was preceded in death by his parents, John and Marie Meixner Demek; and his grandsons James Demek and Charles Dale Porter. A celebration of Charles’ life will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2222 N 40 th St., Phoenix, AZ 85008, on Saturday, July 12, 2025, with service at 3 p.m. and interment will be held at Mesa City Cemetery on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at 10 a.m.

In memory of Charles and his devotion to writing, please enjoy one of his poems.

Mustard Seed

It’s hope, faith and knowledge that we seek

we start with a blessing of hope

drawing near our time of acceptance

true faith will rise from that seed

if we but cherish with our heart

true knowledge is our goal

if we but open the window of our soul.

~ Charles T. Demek