CHARLES A. DELEW

1924 - 2017

Charles A. DeLew, age 92, a former longtime resident of Des Plaines, IL, passed away on Thursday, September 21, 2017, at Wynscape Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Wheaton, Illinois. He was born December 27, 1924 in Chicago to Albert and Caroline DeLeeuw. Chuck grew up on the near north side of Chicago. He graduated from Lane Technical High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WWII, where he received training in electronics at the College of the Ozarks. He served in the Pacific on the U.S. Lumen. After his service, he returned to work at Soreng Manufacturing (and its successor entities, including Eaton Corporation) in Schiller Park where he worked for almost 50 years. His forte was engineering and materials - he received several patents for creative application of his skills over the course of his lengthy career. He retired in 1989 and enjoyed trailer camping and fishing in northern Wisconsin for many years. He was mechanically minded and enjoyed working on cars. He also enjoyed fishing and traveled on many occasions to Alaska and Canada. He enjoyed dancing, games with friends and travel. He is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Dolores, four children, Dr. Jonathan (Barbara) DeLew of Wheaton, Nancy (Stephen Schmidt) DeLew of Falls Church, Virginia, Christopher (Nancy) DeLew of Londonderry, New Hampshire, and David (Michelle Guy) DeLew of San Rafael, California, 12 grandchildren, Mark (Emily) DeLew, Paul DeLew, Michael DeLew, Leah DeLew, Kevin Schmidt, Claire Schmidt, Jacob (Michelle) DeLew, Laura DeLew, Kelly DeLew, Zachary DeLew, Sierra DeLew and Dana DeLew, and four great-grandchildren, Veronica, Davey, Nehemiah and Rocio. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton. Friends may visit with the family prior to the service from 9:30 until 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Mt. Emblem Cemetery in Elmhurst, Illinois. Memorial gifts may be directed to Alzheimer's Association or your favorite charity. Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.