Charles “Chuck” Giangiulio, 74, of Valparaiso, Indiana formerly of Lansing, Illinois passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, November 22, 2025. He was born April 3, 1951 in Chicago to Joseph & Rosemarie (Reda) Giangiulio. Chuck made his career as an auto mechanic, but it was his hot rod side hustle that defined him. Over the decades he created dozens of classic hot rods in his garage, some from little more than a rusted frame and body. They never left his care until they gleamed with a showroom gloss and his stamp of approval. You could never not talk about hot rods and cars with Chuck. He and Sheri enjoyed just such conversations at the scores of classic car shows they traveled to throughout the Midwest in their lifetimes. Asking for help was foreign to him. He was always the one helping everyone else.
In younger years he enjoyed the challenge of racing at the notorious U.S. 30 Dragstrip. His wife, Sheri, has especially fond memories of their cavalier attitude toward life in those days, selling nearly everything they owned to travel the western and southern U.S. in a camper for months. This became a timeless experience that created a lifelong love of travel and kept each of them young at heart.
On August 9, 1978 he married Sheri L. Weitemeyer who survives along with his mother, Rosemarie Giangiulio, siblings: Joseph (Sue) Giangiulio, Frank (Doras) Giangiulio, Roxanne Pilkins & Christine Giangiulio, sisters and brothers-in-law: Carie (Paul) Elliott, Teri Matlon & Nick Zabel, and many, many loving nieces, nephews, and great-nieces & nephews, to whom he became everybody’s favorite “Uncle Chunk”. He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Giangiulio, brother-in-law, Thomas Pilkin, father-in-law, Paul H. Zabel, mother & father-in-law, Georgianna & Burton Weitemeyer and Godmother; Jerry Bruno.
Following cremation at Angelcrest Crematory a memorial visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 from 4 – 8 PM at Crossing Community Church, 1305 Silhavy Road, Valparaiso. Memorial donations may be made to Shriners’ Children’s Hospital or Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.
GUESTBOOK
Sending all my love and prayers. I'm so sorry for your loss of a wonderful man, friend and family. Could never forget his goofiness and just being Chuck! So sorry I won't be able to attend. My heart and prayers will be with you. -Cyndy Jeffers
I met Chuck and his wife over 20 years ago at all the local car shows. He was an absolute wealth of knowledge when it came to hotrods. I’d see him around town and we’d always chat for a bit. He was a great guy. My condolences to his family and friends. -Keith Pollock
