Charles Henry Widegren - age: 104
(December 13, 1907 to January 12, 2012
)
Resident of
Chicago, Illinois
Visitation Information:
A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 28th at 3 pm and the family will be receiving friends from 2-5 pm at Benson Family Funeral Home, 3224 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to: Addison Street Community Church, 2132 W Addison St., Chicago, IL 60618 or Lakeview Kiwanis Club c/o Richard Rush, 3619 N Janssen, Chicago, IL 60613. For info, call 773-478-5800
Obituary:
Charles Henry Widegren, 104, December 13, 1907 – January 12, 2012
Charles Henry Widegren was born in Chicago on December 13, 1907. Henry was the oldest son of Charles and Marie Widegren who came to America from Sweden. During his youth Henry went to school during the day and spent his evenings teaching his parents to read and write English. Henry had a younger brother, Lennard and a younger sister, Hildur, both passed a few years ago.
Henry lived in the Lake View area his entire life. During his life he attended Blaine Elementary School, Le Moyne Elementary school. He attended Lane Tech High School for two years and then graduated High School from Lake View High School in 1926. Henry attended Northwestern University Business School and the Illinois University Chicago Navy Pier Campus.
One of Henry’s first jobs was at Wrigley Field. They would let kids in during the latter innings to help clean up. As payment they received a ticket for the next days’ game. In fact Henry even remembered Wrigley Field being built. He, his sister and his brother would play on the dirt mounds while they were building Wrigley Field. After the park was built they would go skating and bike riding on the ramps at the park.
His first adult job was with Chrome Name Plate a plating company located on Grace and Ravenswood. Starting in the 1940’s Henry worked for Michael J McDermott & Company, a bridge and road building company. In the 1960’s Henry became part owner of Michael J McDermott & Company.
In 1942 Henry enlisted in the Army.
During his five years in the Army he was with the 81st Infantry Division in the South Pacific. After the war, Henry returned home and married Violette Thompson. Henry and Violette raised four children. During his life he belonged to the Independent Order of Vikings for more than 80 years. He served as Chief, Vice Chief, Treasurer and Secretary. From 1955-1957 he was elected Grand Chief for the I.O.V Grand Lodge. Henry was a member and Deacon of the Waveland Avenue Congregational Church and later the Addison Community Church on Addison Street. After retiring from the Michael J McDermott Company, Henry decided to go back to doing the things he loved. From 1988 to 2002 he worked as an usher for the Chicago Cubs. At one time Henry was the oldest working usher in Major League Baseball.
From 1981 – 1983 he was President of the North Central Lake View Neighbors.
In 1983 Henry received the Lerner Booster Newspaper Citizen of the Year. In 1984 Henry received the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver award.
In 1987 Henry was inducted into the first Senior Citizen Hall of Fame for the City of Chicago.
In 1988 he was elected as Viking of the Year by the Independent Order of Vikings.
In 1990 he was elected Lion of the Year by the Lion’s Club International. In 1990-1991 he was President of the Kiwanis Club of Lake View. Henry was an active member of Kiwanis Club of Lake View up until his death.He has received the American Legion Department of Illinois Citation of Service as 6th District Sr. Commander and Sr. Vice Commander. He is a founding member of the Friends of Lake View High School and is part of Lake View High Schools First Wall of Fame. He is a member of the Ravenswood Historical Society. Henry even has his name on the Planet Mars. On the Mars Explorer Rover, there is a plaque with the names of a few hundred earthlings welcoming any aliens to the planet Earth.
Henry is survived by his children, Jana Butterfield, Susan Sims, Christine Rosenberg and Charles “Bud” Widegren. Seven grandchildren, Linda and Cheryl; Michael, Matt and Megan; Gene and Darrell. One great- grandchild, Jana.
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