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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Fred Edward Widman of Godfrey, who passed
4away on December 24, 2017; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Fred Widman was born in Jersey County to Fred Sr.
6and Edna (Bregenzer) Widman on July 4, 1928; he learned the
7value of hard work at an early age by helping his father on the
8family farm; he married Ruth Bastien in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin
9in 1952; they later divorced, and he married Linda Klopmeier on
10December 10, 1995; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Fred Widman served with the United States Army 6th
12Armored Division during the Korean War and was stationed at
13Camp McCoy, Wisconsin from 1950 until his honorable discharge
14in 1952; he then served in the Army Reserves until 1957; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Fred Widman formed F.E. Widman Trucking and
16Excavating in 1952; he joined the Teamsters Local 525 in Alton
17and also became a member of Operating Engineers Local 520 in
18Granite City; one of his first accomplishments was assisting in
19the construction and completion of the Nike Military Missile
20Base above Pere Marquette Park; he contributed to the
21completion of Gordon Moore Park; his legacy lives on through
22Widman Construction Company Inc. of Godfrey; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Fred Widman was a member of the Mid-West Truckers
2Association and served on its Executive Board and as its
3President; he was a longtime Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner of
4Masonic Lodge 341; he was also a charter member and past
5President of the Gateway Piasa's Motorhome Club; he was a past
6member of the Tri-County Antique Club, the American Legion, the
7Alton Motorboat Club, the Southern Illinois Builders
8Association, and the Associated General Contractors of
9America; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Fred Widman was an avid hunter; he was interested
11in antique cars, tractors, and motorcycles; he and his wife
12enjoyed traveling in their motorhome, wintering in Florida, and
13spending time with family at their place on the lake; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Fred Widman was preceded in death by his parents;
15his sons, Gary and James Widman; and his son-in-law, Dan Lewis;
16and
 
17    WHEREAS, Fred Widman is survived by his wife, Linda; his
18former wife and friend, Ruth; his children, Sandy (Collin)
19Meyer, Kathy Lewis, Terry (LaNae) Widman, and Keith (Susie)
20Widman; his stepson, Brad Whitlock; his 14 grandchildren; his
2115 great-grandchildren, plus one on the way; his brother, Ray
22(Marge) Widman; and his many nieces, nephews, and friends;

 

 

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1therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
4Fred Edward Widman and extend our sincere condolences to his
5family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
6further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to the family of Fred Widman as an expression of our
9deepest sympathy.