CHARLES SOLBERG

Charles H. "Charley" Solberg, Harrington, 82, of Lake Forest, died Jan. 12, 2010, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Born in Chicago on July 14, 1927, to Mathias O. and Dorothy (Harrington) Solberg, Mr. Solberg was raised in Glencoe. He attended New Trier High School, served at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1950 with a degree in Chemistry. He met his wife of 57 years, Marguerite (Tommy) Bunnell, in Hanover, NH in 1949. Later he received an MBA at the University of Chicago in 1957. Mr. Solberg was a national champion swimmer and invited to participate in the Olympics before joining the workforce. After many years at Westinghouse and a few as a manufacturer's rep, Mr. Solberg began his own company at the age of 40 with six children to feed at home. A natural entrepreneur, he developed multiple new product ideas in his garage, ultimately focusing on air filter silencers for compressors. Like many home grown businesses, Mr. Solberg enlisted the services of his wife Tommy, their six children and any of their children's friends. Forty two years later, with the help of countless employees and suppliers worldwide, Solberg Manufacturing ships product to more than 50 countries. Mr. Solberg coached just about every sport; focusing on winter sports and hockey and co-founded the Chicago Minor Hawks. Mr. Solberg had a great love of nature; many times he would refer to the Indian ways of living within it. He loved camping in the Quetico, making at least 40 trips which have now become an annual trek for many of his 27 grandchildren. In addition to his wife, Mr. Solberg is survived by his six children: Charlie Jr.(Joyce); Peggy Miller (Eric); Deedee Schneiders (Jay); Sally Schneiders (Jeff); Tor (Jennifer); Kristen Camorlinga (Paco); twenty seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. Memorial services for Mr. Solberg will be held at Kenilworth Union Church, 211 Kenilworth Ave., Kenilworth, IL 60043, on Saturday, January 23rd, at 2PM. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate any donations directed to: Midwest Palliative Hospice Care, 2050 Claire Ct., Glenview, IL 60025; and The Big Shoulders Fund, 309 W. Washington, Suite 550, Chicago, IL 60606, Attn: Rebecca Lindsay-Ryan.