Obituary of Harry G. Robertson

Harry G. Robertson, 101, of Blue Island, passed from this life Tuesday, November 23, 2021. Harry G. Robertson was born on June 8, 1920 in his parents’ house on Grove and Ann streets in Blue Island. His father was a steam engine locomotive engineer on the Rock Island Rail Road. Harry and his older brother Tommy served as altar boys at St. Benedict Church in the 1930s, and he worked as an usher at a theatre on Walnut and Western. Because of this job, he carried a small flashlight in his pocket for the rest of his life. He graduated from Blue Island Community High School in 1938. Harry married Jean Nelson (granddaughter of John L. Zacharias, founder of the First National Bank of Blue Island) in 1941 and moved into her parents’ home (the Buenger House, 1928) on Elm and Union. Harry worked for Equipment Steel on Wireton Road. Before mechanical refrigeration, they made railroad cars that used a highly corrosive rock salt solution to transport fresh produce, such as peaches, from California. They also made landing mats for WWII bombers. Later Harry became a partner of the Railhead Corporation and was very prominent and successful in sales and manufacturing in the railroad industry. Also in inventor, Mr. Robertson secured several patents, including one to offload pellets from railroad cars. On March 19, 1977 he married Solvig nee Jonsson, a native of Sweden and they moved Railhead to Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood. Harry was an active member of the Union League Club, where he supported the Boys and Girls Club, and served for many years on the board of the First National Bank of Blue Island. Harry loved to travel and had enjoyed visiting numerous countries throughout the world. Harry is survived by his wife Solvig, as well as his cousin Robert (Gail) Lyons, and cousin John Robertson. A memorial visitation will be held for Harry on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the Krueger Funeral Home, 13050 S. Greenwood Ave., Blue Island. Interment of cremains will be held privately at Mt. Greenwood Cemetery, Chicago. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Union League Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago www.ulbgc.org greatly appreciated.