SR0461 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0461 LRB101 12223 MST 59880 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Vernon J. "Vern" Lukowicz on July 23, 2018 at the age of 91; and

WHEREAS, Vern Lukowicz was born on March 15, 1927 and raised in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, In 1944, Vern Lukowicz enlisted in the U.S. Navy during his senior year of high school; he was only 17 and worked out an agreement between the government and the school to receive his diploma; he then went to boot camp in California and was assigned to an LSM-145, an amphibious landing ship with a crew of 62 seamen; the ship sailed off to Wake Island, Saipan, Guam, and Marcus Island; and

WHEREAS, Vern Lukowicz and his fellow shipmates delivered aviation fuel and supplies for troop support and, at times, were sent out on armed clean up patrols; he was stationed in the Pacific Islands for a year; he returned to the United States and was assigned to a yard oiler ship that served the naval base on Catalina Island, California; he was an Electricians Mate Third Class Petty Officer and was discharged in 1946 through the Great Lakes Naval Station; and

WHEREAS, Vern Lukowicz and his wife, Lynn, eventually settled in Leyden Township in 1961 and raised their family; and

WHEREAS, Vern Lukowicz stayed involved in his community after the war and served as Northlake Fire Department Commissioner; he was a longtime member and former Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus and an active member of St. John Vianney Church; and

WHEREAS, Vern Lukowicz was honored in 2012 when he was brought on a one-day all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C., along with 94 World War II veterans from the Chicago area through a non-for-profit organization called "Honor Flight Chicago"; and

WHEREAS, Vern Lukowicz is survived by his beloved wife, Marilyn "Lynn" Lukowicz; his children, Thomas J. (Jane) Lukowicz, Debra A. (Duain) Tischer, and Carole (Edwin) Brooks; his grandchildren, Kimberly (Mike) Nordvall, Marty Tischer, Daniel Brooks, and Mary Kate Brooks; and his great-grandchildren, Jacque, Allison, and Lauren Nordvall; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Vernon J. "Vern" Lukowicz and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Vern Lukowicz as an expression of our deepest sympathy.