Charles A. Furtak Jr., 102, born October 31, 1921 to Mary and Charles Furtak Sr., passed away on December 26, 2023.

Charles grew up in Maywood, Illinois, attending Garfield School and graduating from Proviso (east) in 1939. He served in the South Pacific with the US Army during WWII, constructing airfields and radio communication facilities. Upon his discharge, he attended and graduated with honors with a civil engineering degree from University of Illinois. He continued his career with various firms in Chicago, designing industrial buildings for clients such as US Steel, ComEd, Quaker Oats and countless others. His final project was designing self-unloading booms for lake freighters, including the first group of 1000 foot ships. They still ply the Great Lakes today.

In 1952 Charles married Marlies Stern and their son Howard was born. In 1962 the family moved to Elmhurst, IL, where Charles lived until his passing. Charles was known as an avid photographer with a large collection of cameras. Which, was not to be overshadowed by his radio collection of over 200 antique and ham radios. Charles was preceded in death by both of his parents and his loving wife.

There will be a graveside service with military honors at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at Elmwood Cemetery 2905 Thatcher Ave., River Grove, IL.

Escorted funeral procession from The Elms Funeral Home, 7600 W. Grand Ave., Elmwood Park, IL 60707 leaving at 11:45 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Museum of Vanning, 12101 Chuck Circle Hudson, FL 34669.