Christopher G. McHarg

Christopher Gordon McHarg was born on October 9, 1959, in Kansas City, Missouri, and passed into God’s Glory on December 17, 2025. His death was a surprise and shock to family and friends as it was a result of an air accident at DuPage Airport in West Chicago, Illinois.

Chris attended high school in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science from Kansas State University in Electrical Engineering in 1981. He was very talented in the growing field of telecommunications and furthered his education with a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Cal Tech University. He was a member of Tau Beta Phi Engineering Honor Society and Eta Kappa Nu Engineering Honor Society. For more than 44 years he was a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at Bell Labs/AT&T/Lucent/Alcatel-Lucent/Nokia where he pioneered hardware and software design for office and wireless communications systems. He developed 10 U.S. patents during this time and became part of long-lasting friendships in these creative years. He was actively working at the time of his passing and will be sorely missed.

Chris was a deeply devout Christian, fully committed to the promise of Christ’s mission. He was a long-time member of the Ginger Creek Community Church and a leader in the Ginger Creek singles community and the Single Purpose singles ministry. He was involved and supported Jesus Alive Church and the For Keeps Ministries. He led a Bible study every other week. For the last two years, he attended Evangel Church in Hanover Park and supported their community efforts. He will be remembered as a son who cared deeply for his parents and extended family, living his Christian values with family, friends and community.

He balanced his life with long time passions and interests. Very early on he became a ham radio enthusiast with a general class license WD9DQX. With his father, Robert McHarg, he shared the values and joys of the Boy Scouts of America, earning Eagle Scout status in high school as well as being a Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow. His passion for skiing was well known, and he maintained that throughout his adult life. He was determined to continue as an expert on double black diamond runs and NASTAR races, especially in the Breckenridge, Colorado area. He enjoyed camping and spelunking.

Flying small planes was his great passion. He was president of the International Flying Club based out of the DuPage airport. He was involved in almost all parts of the club and cared for many of the planes jointly owned by IFC. The camaraderie he enjoyed with his fellow pilot friends was very special to him. On a regular basis, he was flying with friends and family and was never happier than being in the air in one of the IFC planes.

Surviving members of his family include Roger (Brenda) Heckman of Breckenridge, Colorado, John (Marjorie) Edward Heckman of Independence, Kansas, Jamie Lynn (Bob Jensen) Heckman of Topock, AZ, John William (Patricia) Heckman of Redondo Beach, CA, Melissa Heckman of Fremont, CA, Nancy L. Panter of Silt, Colorado, John (Mary) Reber of Centennial, Colorado and Joseph C. Reber of Denver, Colorado.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert Elwood McHarg and Elizabeth Ann (Heckman) McHarg, both of Arlington Heights, Illinois, and numerous aunts and uncles.

A funeral service will be held at Evangel Church, 5700 Bartels Road, Hanover Park, IL 60133 on January 17, 2026, at 11:00 AM with visiting between 9:00-11:00 AM. All who loved Chris are welcome. Interment will be in Independence, Kansas at Mount Hope Cemetery on January 20, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the For Keeps Ministries, the Salvation Army, or to the Alliance Defending Freedom. To donate electronically to one of these organizations, links can be found below under "Donations."