Charles G. “Chuck” Gennuso

Chuck attended Fredonia State for two years. He didn’t like college, so he dropped out, and worked as a mechanic for two years. In 1959, he was drafted and served in Germany for two years.

In 1961, Chuck returned to Fredonia and was hired by the Village of Fredonia as a patrolman in 1962.

In 1963, Chuck met his future wife Dolly Valone and was hired by Chautauqua County as a deputy sheriff.

In 1964, Chuck and Dolly married. They had a son, Brian, and a daughter, Brenda. The family moved from Dunkirk to Fredonia in 1967, where they lived on Berry Road. Brian attended Harvard for nine years and is a lawyer in Minneapolis. Brenda attended Mercer University for four years and is a teacher in Pensacola.

From 1969 to 1972, Chuck attended Jamestown Community College, earning a degree in Criminal Justice.

Chuck served as a Chautauqua County Deputy Sheriff for 25 years and retired in January 1988. After a retirement that lasted 32 days, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office convinced him to return for three-week stint as a court officer, which turned into 24 years. He retired again, successfully this time, in 2012.

After Chuck and Dolly’s marriage ended, he was single for many years, claiming that he never “regretted one moment” of single life. But he found love again in 2006 with Nancy Akam, with whom he spent 20 years in a loving and happy relationship. She was with him when he passed.

Chuck is survived by Nancy and her daughter Samantha Balliet, grandchildren Biannca Miranda, Lillyen Phillips, and Domenica Phillips, and great-grandchildren Micah Hall and Aurora Rivera; by his son Brian; and by his daughter Brenda.

Calling hours will be held at the LARSON-TIMKO Funeral Home, 20 Central Ave. Fredonia, NY on Friday Feb. 6, 2026 from 4-7 pm, where military honors, accorded by the Dunkirk Joint Veterans Council, will be held Friday at 6 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Trinity Church, 1032 Central Ave., Dunkirk, NY on Saturday Feb. 7, 2026 at 10 am.

Interment will be in St. Anthony Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at larsontimkofuneralhome.com. Arrangements by David J. Dengler.