firefighter loses battle with cancer

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Marengo Fire Protection District news

Jul 16

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Marengo Fire Protection District Capt. Steve Berry was someone who co-workers said had the biggest heart, loved the fire service, and loved his family.

The 63-year-old Huntley man died Tuesday after fighting bile duct cancer for about a year, Marengo Fire Protection District Capt. John Kimmel said.

Kimmel said Berry came to Marengo as a firefighter in 2009 after retiring from the Elgin Fire Department, where he was a lieutenant for nearly 30 years. He was a captain with Marengo fire for the past two years.

Berry had two sons, Christopher and Brian, who is a lieutenant at the Carpentersville Fire Department plus three grandchildren.

The Elgin, Marengo, and Carpentersville fire departments supported Steve Berry through his fight with cancer with the “Berry Strong” fundraise, although Steve was off work recovering from recent surgeries when he died, he always intended to come back to the fire service.

Wake and funeral services will be held at Harvest Bible Chapel, 1000 N. Randall Road, Elgin. The wake will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Monday, with a silent guard from 4 to 8 p.m., and a firefighter walk-through at 6:30 p.m.

The funeral service will start at 10 a.m. Tuesday, followed by a procession to the grave site at Lakewood Memorial Park, 30W730 Route 20, Elgin. The procession will pass Elgin Fire Department Station Five, 804 Villa St., Elgin, where Steve Berry used to work.

Tags: firefighter loses battle with cancer, Marengo Fire Protection District Capt. John Kimmel, Marengo Fire Protection District Capt. Steve Berry

Schaumburg firefighter loses battle with cancer

May 10

Posted by Admin in Fire Department News | 2 Comments

Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:

Schaumburg firefighter Mike Solberg died Friday at the age of 34 after a 3½-year battle with brain cancer.

“It is with a heavy heart, we announce the passing of one of our own, Mike Solberg,” the Schaumburg Professional Firefighters Association posted on its Facebook page Friday night. “Mike fought until the end and lived every minute to the fullest. He was not only courageous, but an example of how we should live our life day to day. Our sincerest thoughts and prayers are with him and his family during this time.”

Schaumburg Fire Chief David Schumann said his department is in mourning and that firefighter honors will be a part of Solberg’s funeral services.

“It’s always difficult when you lose a co-worker and friend,” Schumann said on behalf of the department. “But they’re going to get through it. Firefighters are resilient.”

Solberg, a Park Ridge resident and son of Palatine Councilman Greg Solberg, joined the Schaumburg department on Oct. 12, 2012. Two weeks later, debilitating headaches led him to an emergency room where a CT scan and MRI revealed a brain tumor the size of an orange.

Just days later, he underwent surgery to remove the grade four tumor, an advanced malignancy known as glioblastoma.

The cancer went into remission and Solberg was able to return to the department in full capacity. But the tumors returned last June, moving him to light duty as he went to rehab for occupational and physical therapy.

In December, the colleagues who rallied around him held a benefit for Solberg and his family at Durty Nellie’s in Palatine.

Solberg is survived by his wife Maureen, young daughter Emma, his parents, a brother, two sisters and extended family.

Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, at Cumberland Chapels, 8300 W. Lawrence Ave. in Norridge.

Funeral services will begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, at the funeral home and then proceed to St. Eugene Church, 7598 W. Foster Ave. in Chicago, for Mass at 10 a.m.

Interment will follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, 1400 S. Wolf Road in Hillside.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity for which Solberg dedicated so much time — the Schaumburg Firefighter’s Fighting Cancer Pink Tie Ball, 950 W. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg IL 60194 or pinktieball4092.com.