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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Arthur L. Leenerman of Mahomet, who 
4passed away on November 4, 2019; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Arthur Leenerman was born in Sibley to Alonzo 
6Louis and Ida Brucker Leenerman on July 5, 1924; he married 
7Ethel L. Bryant in Champaign on July 26, 1969; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Arthur Leenerman served in the U.S. Navy during 
9World War II aboard the USS Indianapolis; he was a Radarman 3 
10class; he  survived the sinking of the USS Indianapolis after it 
11was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in the closing days of 
12the war; he was one of only 317 sailors who survived the 
13sinking and spent four and a half days adrift in the sea before 
14being rescued; he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds 
15inflicted during the sinking and his ordeal in the sea; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Arthur Leenerman was a member of the USS 
17Indianapolis Survivors Organization and attended numerous 
18reunions since its inception in 1960; he has been honored in 
19several of the books and documentaries about the sinking of the 
20ship; and
  
 
21    WHEREAS, Arthur Leenerman was an avid outdoorsman and  
 
 
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1enjoyed hunting and fishing; he also enjoyed gardening and grew 
2trees from seedlings which he planted at Mount Hope Cemetery in 
3Sibley; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Arthur Leenerman was preceded in death by his wife 
5of 47 years, Ethel, and his stepdaughter, Cynthia Cooper; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Arthur Leenerman is survived by his son, Gregory 
7(Susan) Leenerman; his sister, Marilyn Gudenrath; his 
8granddaughters, Emma and Kristen Leenerman; his grandsons, 
9Jason Eaton and Ryan Cooper; three great-grandchildren; and 
10many cherished nieces, nephews, and friends; therefore, be it
  
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL 
12ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
13Arthur L. Leenerman and extend our sincere condolences to his 
14family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
15further
  
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17presented to  the family of  Arthur Leenerman as an expression of 
18our deepest sympathy.