SR0700 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0700 LRB100 13405 MST 28006 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Edward F. Waszak of Crystal Lake, who passed away on July 1, 2017; and

WHEREAS, Edward Waszak was born Hammond, Indiana to Frank and Clara (Przystas); he was inducted into the United States Army immediately upon graduation from high school; after basic training, he was admitted into the Army Specialized Training Program and was sent to Socorro, New Mexico to study engineering at the New Mexico School of Mines; and

WHEREAS, Edward Waszak was attached to the 12th Armored Division and was sent to Strasbourg, France; he landed in Europe just in time to begin preparations for the pivotal battle that would later be remembered as "Bloody Herlssheim"; during the retreat, he was captured by the German army and spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner of war in Stalag XI-B; and

WHEREAS, After the war, Edward Waszak completed his chemical engineering degree at Purdue University; he took his first engineering job at American Maize in Hammond, Indiana, where he met his wife, Therese (Krysinski); in 1965, he began what would be a nearly 30-year career at the Morton Chemical Company; he worked his way up through the ranks which took him around the world more times than he cared to count; he went from plant manager to executive vice president before his retirement in 1994; and

WHEREAS, After retirement, Edward Waszak reconnected with the 12th Armored Division Association, intent on understanding the events he experienced as a young soldier from the vantage point of age and maturity; he voraciously read accounts and biographies of those involved in the war's decision-making processes; he became the 12th Armored's historian and wrote articles for the association's newsletter for over a decade; these articles became three books: Hellcat Historian, Hellcat Historian II, and Hellcat Heroes; he was involved in the American Ex-Prisoner of War Association (Fox Valley Chapter) and often gave talks to local grade schools about World War II; and

WHEREAS, Edward Waszak was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Ann Mazzocco (Leonard); and his brother, Richard (Ramona); and

WHEREAS, Edward Waszak is survived by his wife, Therese; his daughter, Mary Ellen; his sons, Michael (Denise) and Daniel (Kimberly); his grandchildren, Christian (Shannon), Brandon (Kathryn), Alexandra, Adam, and Emily; and his sisters, Jeanette Meier (Everett), Elaine Wolfe (Robert), and Bernadette Massaro; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Edward F. Waszak, 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 Edward Waszak as an expression of our deepest sympathy.