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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Gerald L. "Jerry" Klein of Germantown 
4Hills, who passed away on August 21, 2017; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Gerald Klein was born in Peoria to Erwin and 
6Louise (Lammers) Klein on December 19, 1926; he graduated from 
7Spalding High School in 1945; he joined the United States Navy 
8and served aboard an escort aircraft carrier during  World War 
9II; he received a bachelor's degree in music from Bradley 
10University in 1950 and completed two years of graduate study at 
11the University of Illinois; he married Mary Dudas on June 4, 
121955; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, Gerald Klein joined the Peoria Journal Star in 
141953, where he spent most of his professional life as music and 
15drama critic and author of the "Once over Lightly" column; he 
16was a passionate supporter of the arts in central Illinois; he 
17authored several books: "Played in Peoria" (1980), "Father's 
18Day" (1981), "Peoria!" (1985), and "A Century of Music" (1997); 
19after his retirement from the Journal Star in 1992, he 
20continued to write opinion articles for the Peoria Journal Star 
21and the "It Seems to Me" column for The Catholic Post; and
  
 
22    WHEREAS, Gerald Klein was honored with the Distinguished 
 
 
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1Alumni Award from the Spalding Institute in 2010 for his 
2exceptional service and dedication to the principles and values 
3of Peoria Notre Dame; he was formerly the organist at St. Mary 
4of Lourdes in Germantown Hills and later a pontifical usher at 
5St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Gerald Klein was preceded in death by his wife, 
7Mary, and his brother, Richard; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Gerald Klein is survived by his children, Jerry 
9(Linda), Jeff (Rita), Lisa (Rob Reed), Marilou (Paul Moore), 
10Jim, Jeanne, and Barbara; nine grandchildren; 10 
11great-grandchildren; his brother, Ed; and his sister, Sue; 
12therefore, be it
  
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL 
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
15Gerald L. "Jerry" Klein, and extend our sincere condolences to 
16his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
17further
  
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
19presented to  the family of  Gerald Klein as an expression of our 
20deepest sympathy.