SR1407 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1407 LRB101 22115 ECR 73138 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Judge Fred William Reither, who passed away on August 10, 2020; and

WHEREAS, Judge Fred Reither was born to Fred G. Reither and Lydia A. (Kingston) Reither in Beardstown on April 5, 1924; he graduated from Beardstown High School in 1942; he served during World War Two with the 75th Infantry Division during the Battle of the Bulge, the Battle of Rhineland, and the Colmar Pocket; his division served in Wales, England, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany, with his group being among the first troops to arrive in Germany; they also helped liberate Holland; during his service, he held the prestigious Combat Infantryman Badge; he attended Blackburn College, Alfred University, and City College of New York and finished law school on the GI Bill at the University of Illinois College of Law, earning a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1950; and

WHEREAS, Judge Fred Reither served as Circuit Court Judge of the 8th Judicial Circuit for Cass County for 45 years; he also served one term as Chief Judge; he retired in 2001 as one of the longest serving justices in the State of Illinois; he was known for his grace, fairness, and kindness as a judge; and

WHEREAS, Judge Fred Reither served as the vice president of the Young Democrats of Illinois under then President Paul Simon; he also served as a Delegate at Large to the 1952 Democratic National Convention; he was a life long member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the Illinois State and Cass County Bar Associations; he was also a lifelong member of St John's Lutheran Church and served in various capacities over the years; and

WHEREAS, Judge Fred Reither was a wonderful dancer and enjoyed dancing at the Blackhawk Village Inn Pump Room, the Jacksonville VFW, Nichols Park, the Illinois State Fair dance floor, the Elks, and Leo and Bud's; he loved music and will be remembered for singing with great gusto; he was also a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan; and

WHEREAS, Judge Fred Reither was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Virgil (Louise Guthrie), Ralph (Isabelle Jeffries), and Charles (Valerie Stephens); and two of his favorite dance partners and loves, Mary Esther Knight and Robertine Erixon; and

WHEREAS, Judge Fred Reither is survived by his two children, Fred Virgil Reither (Trey) and Shelley Lydia (Elizabeth Belletire House); his grandchildren, Steven and Leah Reither; his step-grandson, Jacob House (Taylor Ley); his great-granddaughter, Charlotte House; his brother, Clarence John Walter Reither (Vera nee Merz); his five nieces and nephews, David Reither (Brenda), Karen Reither (Bill Wallace), Mark Reither (Kathy), Gwen Schumacher (Tom), and Paul Reither; and his great-nieces and great-nephews; 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 Judge Fred William Reither 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 Judge Fred Reither as an expression of our deepest sympathy.