Charles Benedict “Punchy” Lekniskas, 64, died April 6, 2013, at VNA Hospice House.
He was born in Washington, D.C., and lived in Indian River County since 1974, coming from Boca Raton, and more recently Melbourne.
He worked as a commercial fisherman out of Sebastian on his boat “The Donuts.”
He later became recreation director for the city of Vero Beach, before it became the Indian River County Recreation Department, where he worked for 23 years.
He was a member of the Sunrise Services of the Surfing Fisherman.
He was a volunteer coach of baseball, basketball and football, all in Vero Beach.
He was a graduate of Boca Raton High School, where he was a member of the 1966 State Championship Baseball team, earned by his stealing home plate.
Survivors include his daughter, Shannon Lekniskas Stalhut, of Vero Beach; son, Raymond Charles Lekniskas, of Vero Beach; sister, Rosemary Hasenei, of Mechanicsville, Va.; and four grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father, Benedict Charles Lekniskas; and mother, Freida Serena Logan.
Memorial contributions may be made to VNA Hospice House, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960.
A celebration of life service will be at a later date.
Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.
A guest book is available at www.lowtherfuneralhome.com.
