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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Reverend William "Bud" Ipema, who passed
4away on April 14, 2019 at the age of 81; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Reverend Ipema was born in Evergreen Park to Dutch
6immigrants Ben and Gertrude (Venhuisen) Ipema on March 14,
71938; he graduated from high school in 1956; he enrolled in
8Calvin College and, after his father suffered a heart attack,
9withdrew for a period of time to help lead his family's
10construction business; he later re-enrolled and graduated with
11a master's degree from the Calvin Theological Seminary in 1969;
12and
 
13    WHEREAS, As an ordained minister in the Christian Reformed
14Church, Reverend Ipema was a trailblazing and compassionate
15preacher; he joined Young Life in 1968, moving into Chicago's
16Englewood neighborhood to work with gangs as the organization's
17National Urban Trainer; he tirelessly created opportunities
18and raised funds that supported the individuals and communities
19he was called to serve; he felt that struggling communities are
20"crowded with people who have good ideas; they just need
21resources, helping hands, and a chance"; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Each summer, Reverend Ipema would take busloads of

 

 

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1young people from Chicago's urban communities to a Young Life
2camp at Star Ranch in Colorado; he gave many of the kids their
3first experience outside of the confines of their immediate
4neighborhood, as well as providing many with a faith-filled and
5life-changing transformation; in 1975, he became the associate
6pastor of Lawndale Christian Reform Church, a position he held
7until his death; he also served on the faculty at North Park
8Seminary, creating a master's degree program for Young Life
9staff; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Reverend Ipema either launched or played a
11significant leadership role in many organizations, including
12the founding of the MidAmerica Leadership Foundation, now known
13as Goodcity, which included over 40 non-profits, the Seminary
14Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education (SCUPE), the Chicago
15Orleans Housing, the Council of Leadership Foundations, the
16Timothy Leadership Foundation (TLTI), where he served as
17Executive Director, and the Synodical Committee on Race
18Relations (SCORR), with whom he traveled to South Africa with a
19delegation sent by SCORR to examine its oppressive apartheid
20system; afterwards, the delegation made recommendations about
21the U.S. denomination's continued relationship with the South
22African church; and
 
23    WHEREAS, Reverend Ipema played an important role, along
24with leaders from a number of area churches, in creating the

 

 

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1landmark Atrium Village, a 300-unit housing project located
2near Cabrini Green, which was one of Chicago's first
3mixed-income housing developments; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Reverend Ipema touched the lives of many people;
5throughout his life, he befriended and mentored many, making an
6impression on everyone he met with his strength, faith, wisdom,
7and sense of humor; he never backed down from a challenge and
8worked against the race-biased systems that he felt were
9factors in creating negative environments; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Reverend Ipema was a true renaissance man; he was
11a skilled carpenter who loved woodworking and completed many
12projects for his extended family; among other things, he
13enjoyed traveling, 1957 Chevys, British comedies, and a good
14debate; he relished spending summers at his son's home in
15Holland, Michigan in the company of his children and
16grandchildren, whom he loved dearly; at the time of his death,
17he was finalizing his memoir, which, among other topics,
18covered his 60-year legacy in urban ministry on Chicago's South
19and West sides; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Reverend Ipema was preceded in death by his wife
21of 52 years, Donna (Huizenga); his son, Brad; and his brother,
22Henry; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Reverend Ipema is survived by his children, Gardi
2Wilks and Ben Ipema and their spouses; his daughter-in-law,
3Kirstin Wells; his seven grandchildren; his twin sister,
4Annamae (Richard) VanderVelde; and several brothers-in-law and
5sisters-in-law; therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
8Reverend William "Bud" Ipema and extend our sincere condolences
9to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
10it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12presented to the family of Reverend Ipema as an expression of
13our deepest sympathy.