HR0399 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0399 LRB102 18978 ECR 27706 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Charles "Charlie" W. Dukes of Georgetown, who passed away on June 15, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Charlie Dukes was born in Georgetown on March 30, 1923 to Russell and Florence {Taylor} Dukes; he enlisted in the Army in 1942; he was wounded and captured on Thanksgiving Day in 1944; after his discharge from the Army on December 14, 1945, he finished college and married his college sweetheart, Grace Marie Schwab; they had four children, Debra (David) Small, Laurie Holman, Kent (Melinda) Dukes, and Robin (Diane) Dukes, as well as eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren and celebrated 71 years together; and

WHEREAS, Charlie Dukes worked as a banker and had other self-employed ventures; in retirement, he spent his time speaking to students as a living link to history; he emphasized self-discipline and cautioned young people to guard their freedom; and

WHEREAS, Charlie Dukes was a lifetime member of American Legion Dornblaser Post #203 in Georgetown; he helped to establish the Memorial Honor roll located on the square in Georgetown where he loved to go camping in his younger years; and

WHEREAS, Charlie Dukes wrote a book called Good Morning (But the Nightmares Never End) in 1997, and it was published; the book is a tell-all about his experience of being a POW in Germany and is planned to be made into a movie in the future; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Charles "Charlie" W. Dukes 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 Charlie Dukes as an expression of our deepest sympathy.