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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of John Thomas Thompson Jr. of Danville, who
4passed away on September 18, 2016; and
 
5    WHEREAS, John Thompson Jr. was born in Westville to John T.
6Sr. and Mae (Bubelis) Thompson on February 28, 1931; he
7graduated from Saint Mary's Grade School in 1946 and Georgetown
8High School in 1950, where he excelled in football and
9basketball, setting records in both sports; he served in the
10United States Navy for four years during the Korean War and
11married Josephine "Jo Ann" Ann Sakotnik in Westville on October
1222, 1955; and
 
13    WHEREAS, John Thompson Jr. worked for the Norfolk & Western
14Railroad (formerly the Wabash Railroad) as a switchman,
15retiring in 1981 after 26 years; he also managed the Shields
16Restaurant in Hegeler/Home Gardens and worked as a part-time
17constable for Vermilion County; and
 
18    WHEREAS, John Thompson Jr. was a life-member of Saint
19Mary's Catholic Church in Westville and a life-member of the
20United Transportation Union; he was a member of the Knights of
21Columbus, Westville American Legion Post #51 for 61 years, and
22the 40 & 8 for 60 years; he was a past member of the Moose, the

 

 

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1Navy Club, and the Elks; and
 
2    WHEREAS, John Thompson Jr. was a lifelong member of the
3Democratic Party; he was a precinct committeeman for 55 years,
4and a Vermilion County Democrat Chairman for 10 years; he
5received several awards and accolades for his service to the
6Democratic Party; during his term as Chairman, he was
7instrumental in electing county board members to change the
8board from Republican to Democrat; and
 
9    WHEREAS, John Thompson Jr. loved sports and cheering for
10the St. Louis Cardinals; in his earlier years, he played and
11managed Twilight League Ball; he coached American Legion Youth
12Baseball; he enjoyed golf, gardening, and most of all spending
13time with his children, grandchildren, and
14great-grandchildren; and
 
15    WHEREAS, John Thompson Jr. participated in the Georgetown
16Fair, entering rabbits as a youngster and flowers as an adult;
17he supported Saint Mary's Catholic Church Labor Day weekend
18festivities, where he enjoyed selling raffle tickets; he
19volunteered delivering Meals on Wheels through CRIS Senior
20Services for many years and catered special occasions with his
21wife and family; and
 
22    WHEREAS, John Thompson Jr. was preceded in death by his

 

 

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1parents and his sister, JoAnn Shapuras; and
 
2    WHEREAS, John Thompson Jr. is survived by his wife of over
360 years, Jo Ann; his daughters, Deborah (Timothy) Strako, and
4Christina (Robert) Dietzen; his grandchildren, Amanda Widell
5(Dylan McKenzie), Matthew (Eryca) Strako, Joslyn Dietzen, and
6Aleksas Dietzen; his great-grandchildren, Abigail Widell,
7Grady Widell, and Esther Strako; his step-great-grandchild,
8Emani Nelson; his brothers, Carl Thompson (Pat Stitt), Faustyn
9(Shirley) Thompson, and Iyrann (Hazel) Thompson; his sister,
10Adry Ann Swaney; his brother-in-law, William Sakotnik; his
11special niece, DiAnn Cottle; and many other nieces, nephews,
12relatives, and friends; therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
15John Thomas Thompson Jr., and extend our sincere condolences to
16his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
17further
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19presented to the family of John Thompson Jr. as an expression
20of our deepest sympathy.