Charles Nelson Lynk

Bedford resident, Charles N. “Chuck” Lynk Jr. died October 2nd, he was 88. Chuck was born in Chicago on April 5, 1933, the middle child and only son of 3. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and philanthropist. Growing up on the north side, where everyone loved the Cubs he was, like his father, a dedicated White Sox fan. He was an Altar Boy at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and grade school, were he graduated 8th Grade. He was also a Boy Scout and graduate from St. George High School in Evanston where, in order to attend, he paid his own tuition throwing papers before and after school. After graduation he and his best friend, Al Mistele, went on an extended hitchhiking trip to the west coast before enlisting in the Army under the “Buddy” program. Upon completion of Boot Camp, their class was divided into A-L, and M-Z for duty assignments. Chuck's best friend Al went to Germany for occupation duty while Chuck, who's last name couldn't have been closer to an “M”, went to Korea. His M.O.S. was in communications and, with the war soon ending, ended up spending the majority of his service also in occupation duty as well. Chuck often spoke of how life events that might look like the worst thing that could be happening (for him Korea instead of Germany) could become a blessing of epic proportions. While he once aspired to be an electrical/TV repairman, with literally nothing to do with his free time in Korea, he enrolled in several DOD correspondence courses. This led to him later deciding to attend college to design, rather than fix electronics. After separating from the Army, and with the help of the G.I. Bill, he began attending the University of Illinois on Chicago's Navy Pier. He eventually transferred to Champagne where he finished his undergraduate and began a Co-Op with Motorola prior to finishing his Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering. Chuck's Co-Op with Motorola turned in to a career with the American communications pioneers where he retired 36 years later as Vice President for Cellular Research. While at U of I, he met, and later married, Jeanne Marie Burke in August 1957. Chuck and Jeanne had 3 children, Charles III, Steven, and Nancy before Jeanne was diagnosed with cancer. Motorola transferred Chuck's (then Mobile Research Department) to Fort Worth, TX so he seized that opportunity to design his dream home (with his buddy Al, now an architect) and relocated the family to Bedford in 1978. Just prior to moving to Texas, Jeanne's cancer unexpectedly worsened and in September 1981, after a 7-year battle, Chuck lost his beloved wife of 24 years. In the years that followed, Chuck was reacquainted with Judith “Judi” Cosmos Huber, a dear friend of his younger sister Barbara. They began a courtship that resulted in their July 1983 wedding, joining Judi, and her 5 children, Daniel, Michael, John, Charles, and Kathryn to the family. With several additions, that same dream home became the 7-bedroom backdrop for the 33 years of marriage Chuck and Judi enjoyed together raising their 8 children and spoiling their 45 grandchildren. Sadly, Judi fell sick and, in January 2017, he lost his second beloved wife to cancer. Chuck continued to enjoy a full life, keeping busy with social activities including Church, visiting local and out-of-state family, theater & symphony outings, various men's groups, and always looking for recipients for his famously dry sense of humor. In fact, his storytelling and wit were so much a part of our lives, we decided to include one of his favorite cartoon frame cutouts on the back of this program. Noteworthy accomplishments: Chuck was extremely modest, usually only willing to brag about his children and grandchildren. As the beneficiaries of a lifetime of his faith and hard work, we want to make it known that in 1960 Chuck graduated Magna Cum Laud. He was recognized with “The Bell Honors”, The University of Illinois prestigious award for sustained academic achievement and, additionally, having his name inscribed on “The Bronze Tablets”. During his time at Motorola Chuck was awarded 22 Patents, a member of the Science Advisory Board, and recognized a ”Dan Noble Fellow”, Motorola's ultimate “Technology Pathfinder” award. Because of work of several research projects by his grandkids, the family only recently discovered Chuck is one of 7 engineers credited with the invention of the cell phone in your pocket or purse! Finally, after retiring from Motorola in 1996, instead of buying a beach house to enjoy the fruits of his many decades of hard work, Chuck and Judi prayerfully bankrolled and opened St. Bernadette's, a Catholic K-12 School in Keller in order to meet local needs teaching the faith prior to the Fort Worth Diocese deciding to open a school of their own a few miles away. Chuck is survived by his sister Barbara, his 8 children, 45 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, and counting!