MEMORIAL RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that members of this Chamber learned of the death of Charles George Gudbrandsen, on January 24, 2015, at the age of eighty-eight; and
WHEREAS, The City Council has been informed of his passing by The Honorable Margaret Laurino, Alderman of the 39th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Born on April 26,1924, in Chicago, to loving parents, Charles, Sr. of Oslo, Norway and Mildred Welsh, Chuck was the beloved husband of Peggy, nee Reichert; devoted father of Sally, Beth (Jeff), Mark (Carol), Amy (Jim), Michael; treasured grandfather of seven grandchildren; cherished great-grandfather of two great-grandchildren; and friend to all who had the pleasure of knowing him. Chuck leaves a legacy of faith, dignity and love; and
WHEREAS, Chuck joined a Boy Scout in Bob Townley's Troop 13 at Joseph Sears School in Kenilworth, where he became an Eagle Scout. He attended New Trier High School where he starred on the Hornets' Hockey Team and he continued his education at Wabash College where he joined Beta Theta Pi. Chuck completed his education at Northwestern University where he met the love of his life, Peggy Reichert. They were married at Wilmette's St. Francis Xavier Church with a honeymoon in Peggy's hometown of Niagara Falls; and
WHEREAS, During World War II, Chuck served with CO A 506 Parachute Infantry of the United States Armed Forces. He jumped into the Market-Garden Invasion, drove into the frigid Ardennes to fight the Battle of the Bulge, and on the day after his twenty-first birthday, helped liberate a German work camp. He later became a member of American Legion Post 264 and gave talks to school children about World War II. His creed was "War does not solve the problems of the world, wage PEACE"; and
WHEREAS, Chuck developed an interest in the sport of boxing while serving in the United States Armed Forces, and upon returning home became a member of the Chicago Golden Gloves; and
WHEREAS, Chuck was a top paint salesman at Enterprise Paint Company, and after earning an MBA at the University of Chicago, he founded Gudbrandsen Frame Company, first in Skokie and then in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, He was always involved in sports, spearheading the racquetball Friday events at Sky Harbor Racquet Club in Highland Park and serving as a founding member of the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Running Club. He enjoyed running the CARA Circuit Races and he loved hiking in Colorado and biking the Alps. He was a fairly good windsurfer and a darn good golfer. Recently, his favorite sport was kicking around in the warm-water pool at the Lake Forest Health and Fitness Center with his buddy Jack; and
WHEREAS, Chuck enjoyed theater, especially local theater, Citadel and Center Stage, as well as other programs offered at Dickinson Hall, the Senior Center of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff; and
WHEREAS, Chuck was elected to the Church of St. Mary's Council, Head of Adult Education. He worshipped at Woodlands Chapel Community and the Community Church; and
WHEREAS, Chuck, who touched the lives of all who knew him through his kindness, generosity, heart and spirit, was active and vital in his community; His favorite charity was the Equestrian Connection, assisting the developmentally and physically challenged. With two thumbs up, Chuck recognized "I'm the luckiest guy in the world"; and
WHEREAS, Chuck will be deeply missed, but the memory of his character, intelligence and compassion will live on in those who knew and loved him; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this seventeenth day of June, 2015, do hereby express our sorrow on the death of Charles George Gudbrandsen and extend to his family and friends our deepest sympathy; and
MARGARET LAURINO Alderman, 39th Ward
Be It Further Resolved, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Charles George Gudbrandsen.
