SR0736 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0736 LRB101 13318 ALS 62318 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Reverend William "Bud" Ipema, who passed away on April 14, 2019 at the age of 81; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Ipema was born in Evergreen Park to Dutch immigrants Ben and Gertrude (Venhuisen) Ipema on March 14, 1938; he graduated from high school in 1956; he enrolled in Calvin College and, after his father suffered a heart attack, withdrew for a period of time to help lead his family's construction business; he later re-enrolled and graduated with a master's degree from the Calvin Theological Seminary in 1969; and

WHEREAS, As an ordained minister in the Christian Reformed Church, Reverend Ipema was a trailblazing and compassionate preacher; he joined Young Life in 1968, moving into Chicago's Englewood neighborhood to work with gangs as the organization's National Urban Trainer; he tirelessly created opportunities and raised funds that supported the individuals and communities he was called to serve; he felt that struggling communities are "crowded with people who have good ideas; they just need resources, helping hands, and a chance"; and

WHEREAS, Each summer, Reverend Ipema would take busloads of young people from Chicago's urban communities to a Young Life camp at Star Ranch in Colorado; he gave many of the kids their first experience outside of the confines of their immediate neighborhood, as well as providing many with a faith-filled and life-changing transformation; in 1975, he became the associate pastor of Lawndale Christian Reform Church, a position he held until his death; he also served on the faculty at North Park Seminary, creating a master's degree program for Young Life staff; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Ipema either launched or played a significant leadership role in many organizations, including the founding of the MidAmerica Leadership Foundation, now known as Goodcity, which included over 40 non-profits, the Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education (SCUPE), the Chicago Orleans Housing, the Council of Leadership Foundations, the Timothy Leadership Foundation (TLTI), where he served as Executive Director, and the Synodical Committee on Race Relations (SCORR), with whom he traveled to South Africa with a delegation sent by SCORR to examine its oppressive apartheid system; afterwards, the delegation made recommendations about the U.S. denomination's continued relationship with the South African church; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Ipema played an important role, along with leaders from a number of area churches, in creating the landmark Atrium Village, a 300-unit housing project located near Cabrini Green, which was one of Chicago's first mixed-income housing developments; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Ipema touched the lives of many people; throughout his life, he befriended and mentored many, making an impression on everyone he met with his strength, faith, wisdom, and sense of humor; he never backed down from a challenge and worked against the race-biased systems that he felt were factors in creating negative environments; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Ipema was a true renaissance man; he was a skilled carpenter who loved woodworking and completed many projects for his extended family; among other things, he enjoyed traveling, 1957 Chevys, British comedies, and a good debate; he relished spending summers at his son's home in Holland, Michigan in the company of his children and grandchildren, whom he loved dearly; at the time of his death, he was finalizing his memoir, which, among other topics, covered his 60-year legacy in urban ministry on Chicago's South and West sides; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Ipema was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Donna (Huizenga); his son, Brad; and his brother, Henry; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Ipema is survived by his children, Gardi Wilks and Ben Ipema and their spouses; his daughter-in-law, Kirstin Wells; his seven grandchildren; his twin sister, Annamae (Richard) VanderVelde; and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; 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 Reverend William "Bud" Ipema 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 Reverend Ipema as an expression of our deepest sympathy.