Charles Thomas Francis Lenartson, 92, of Brookfield, died peacefully on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at the home of his daughter, Ann Jeannette Lenartson, surrounded by his family, Mary LaNita Lenartson (Hosso), Charles Patrick Lenartson, Faydette (Hamilton) Lenartson, and Katherine Anne Hosso.
Born on Nov. 15, 1933, at Holy Cross Hospital in Chicago, he was a homegrown son of Brookfield, the son of Charles Roy Lenartson and Virginia Mary (Hull/Neiner) Lenartson and brother to Lois Mary Lenartson (Nyce) and Macktavish Lenartson.
A proud graduate of St. Rita High School, he continued his education at College of DuPage and the University of Chicago, where he earned a master’s degree through the university’s Executive Program. He was a longtime parishioner of St. Barbara Parish in Brookfield.
His lifelong dream was to serve in the military. He proudly enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1953 and served for eight years, attaining the rank of Corporal (E-4). During his service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. His pride in his military service was deeply rooted in his family history, which included members who served in the Army during both World War I and World War II, including four uncles who were at Pearl Harbor and survived that historic day.
He worked full-time for the Brookfield Postal Service as a mail carrier, later as an industrial engineer for Motorola, and spent time in the Business Department at Queensway.
He accomplished much, but his greatest passion was his family. He also had a lifelong love of trains and proudly collected N-gauge trains. He enjoyed attending air shows and car shows and had a deep affection for animals, having grown up with dogs and a rabbit. During high school, he raised pigeons in cages that had originally been used during World War I.
He was a proud Marine and a man whose many interests reflected his appreciation for history, service, family, and the world around him. He will be deeply missed.
Committal Service with Military Honors will be held on Sept. 12 at 11:30 a.m. at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, 1400 S. Wolf Road, Hillside. Family and friends are asked to meet at the cemetery office by 11:15 a.m.
Arrangements were handled by Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, Brookfield. Online condolences, memories and photos may be shared with the family at www.JohnsonNosek.com.
