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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Joseph Louis "Bud" Gasparich of Joliet,
4who passed away on March 21, 2019; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Joseph Gasparich was born in Joliet to Mary
6(Plese) and Matthew Joseph Gasparich; his childhood nickname
7was Knute after his hero, Knute Rockne, and his love of Notre
8Dame football; he attended Saint Mary's Nativity grade school
9and Joliet Township High School; immediately following
10graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army, where he
11became a Technical Sergeant in the 555th Engineer Heavy Ponton
12Battalion and served in the European Theatre during World War
13II; he married Helen Lazar in 1949; and
 
14    WHEREAS, After the war, Joseph Gasparich worked as an
15electrician at US Steel for 40 years, where he was a union
16organizer and then served as its treasurer; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Joseph Gasparich was a talented baseball player
18and played on several Joliet championship teams; his athletic
19ability helped him bowl a perfect 300; he became an
20accomplished golfer and played in leagues until he was 85; a
21lifelong fan of the Chicago Cubs, he relished in the team's
22World Series victory; he was an avid reader and astute

 

 

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1investor; he always put his family first; he emphasized the
2importance of education and believed his children could achieve
3anything they set their minds to; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Joseph Gasparich was preceded in death by his
5wife, Helen; his oldest son, Joseph A. (Anna) Gasparich; his
6grandson, Matthew Joseph Gasparich, and his siblings, Marie
7(Frank) Spesia and Thomas (Mary) Gasparich; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Joseph Gasparich is survived by children, James
9(Mary Jo) Gasparich, Mary Beth (Rusty) Jessee, JoAnn (Leonard)
10Rittof, Robert (Adriana) Gasparich, William Gasparich, Micki
11(John) Naal, and Patty (Scott) Multack; his daughter-in-law,
12Anna Gasparich; his brother and sisters-in-law, Mary (Peter)
13Lazar and Anne and Richard Thayer; his grandchildren, Christina
14(Andrew) Witt, Stephanie (Chico Gersappe) Gasparich, Sara
15(Hendrick) Van Hemert, Joe Jessee, Danielle (Steven) Houston,
16Nicole, Kelley, and Jacob Gasparich, Austin, Nate, and Jack
17Naal, Adrianna, Christopher, David, and Erica Diviero; his
18great-grandchildren, Alex and Ryan Witt, Aleta Van Hemert, and
19Emma Houston; and his many cousins, nieces, and nephews;
20therefore, be it
 
21    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
22ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
23Joseph Louis "Bud" Gasparich and extend our sincere condolences

 

 

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1to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
2it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
4presented to the family of Joseph Gasparich as an expression of
5our deepest sympathy.