SR1616 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1616 LRB100 21604 ALS 38710 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Leonard Seward Sr. of Effingham, who passed away on April 10, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Leonard Seward Sr. was born in Effingham to Roll and Goldia Osborn Seward on March 11, 1938; he graduated from Effingham High School in 1957, where he participated in football, basketball, and track; his junior year, he joined the Army National Guard of Illinois, Co. F, 130th Infantry and was honorably discharged in August 1957 and then enlisted in the United States Army; after ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons training in New Mexico and Alabama, he was assigned to the 91st Ordinance Co., 371.10 BM Guidance and Control and sent overseas; he was honorably discharged in 1960; he graduated from DeVry Technical Institute, Chicago in 1962; he married Sharon Croft on October 15, 1961; after Sharon's death in 1966, and he married Nancy Walker-Heer on October 18, 1997; and

WHEREAS, Leonard Seward Sr. worked in electronics at Magnavox Corporation and the University of Illinois High Energy Physics Department for 23 years; for over 50 years, he was the owner of Seward Electronics, a company he started while still in high school; in the early 1980s, Seward Electronics entered the world of Satellite TV; he retired his business in 2014; and

WHEREAS, Leonard Seward Sr. was active in the Champaign County Republican party and served as both Vice Chair and Chair; he was Pesotum's precinct committeeman form 1968 until 2000; he served as a football usher supervisor at the University of Illinois for many seasons; he was a QB Club Board Member and a Member of Rebounders; he attended the 1991 Rose Bowl and Final Four tournament games; he became Singing Men of 'GNN member #7 in 1999 and enjoyed singing with his brothers in Christ for almost 20 years; and

WHEREAS, Leonard Seward Sr. was a proud veteran and even more proud of the recent Air Force enlistments of twin grandsons Colin and Cody; he enjoyed growing vegetables, fruits, and flowers; he will be remember for his smile and laugh; and

WHEREAS, Leonard Seward Sr. was preceded in death by his first wife, Sharon; his parents; and his sister, Rose Lee Runner; and

WHEREAS, Leonard Seward Sr. is survived by his wife, Nancy; his children, Leonard Dean (Iwona) Seward Jr., Deanna (Robert) Moll, and Shari (Jeff) Lintner; his grandchildren, Leonard Dean Seward III, Colin Seward, Cody Seward, Hayley Seward, Olivia Seward, Annelise, Samantha, and Allison Mool, and Sharon and Michael Linter; his sister, Delores Berry; his sister-in-law, Diana Whitt; his brother-in-law, John (Mary Beth) Walker; his nephews, Larry (Anne) Berry and Todd (Debbie) Whitt; his nieces, Debbie Berry Schroh and Emily and Sarah Walker; his great-nephews, Jonathan Schroh and Cade Whitt; and his great-niece, Mindy Berry (Michael) Tonderault; therefore, be it

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