Service Details
Please join us for a celebration of life on Friday, November 14th, at Reefpoint Brew House, 2 Christopher Columbus Causeway, Racine, WI 53403. The gathering will be held from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, with light refreshments and drinks available throughout the evening.
Michael Kent Charnota, age 79, of Racine, Wisconsin, passed away at home on November 3, 2025. Born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 13, 1946, Mike lived a life defined by grit, generosity, and a lifelong passion for fixing, building, and improving anything he could get his hands on from engines to decks to backyard landscapes.
Mike was a lifelong car enthusiast and found joy in every part of the process—whether he was under the hood or stretched out beneath the frame. He also had a gift for constructing sheds from scratch, landscaping with precision, and designing decks that became gathering places for family and friends. His work was more than functional—it was deeply personal, reflecting his pride in doing things right and his joy in creating spaces that brought people together. His hands were rarely clean, and his heart was always open. He brought that same dedication to his role as caretaker, a position he embraced with quiet pride. He was known for his signature phrase, “This is a Big Time Operation (BTO),” always delivered with a grin and a twinkle in his eye—a line that captured both his humor and his hands-on spirit.
Mike leaves behind his loving partner, Susan Thoms; his son, Ben (Sam) Charnota of California, with grandchildren Joshua and Lily; and his daughter, Sarah Krehmeier of Tennessee, with grandchildren Ashlynn and Jaxen. He was a devoted brother to Penny Kaboskey and Bridgette Charnota, and a proud honorary father and grandfather figure to Rob (Deb) Jankowski, with children Alec, Aimee, Alyse, and Aaron, and Tina (Scott) Backhaus, with son Luke.
He also shared a deep and lasting bond with the Holleb Acres family, who welcomed him as one of their own. Their unwavering friendship, laughter, and shared memories became a second home to Mike—a place where he was not just accepted but truly embraced. Their love and loyalty were a constant source of joy and strength throughout his life.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Anne Charnota.
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