SR0935 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0935 LRB102 26813 LAW 37812 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Francis M. "Brink" Brinkmeyer of Rock Island, who passed away on March 14, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Francis Brinkmeyer was born to Emil and Ida (Lehmeier) Brinkmeyer at the Brinkmeyer homestead in the Hubbard/Radcliff, Iowa area on August 14, 1919; he graduated from Hubbard High School in 1937, where he served as class president; he earned his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering in 1942 from what is now known as Iowa State University; he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II; he married Margaret "Peg" Kurtz on August 22, 1953; and

WHEREAS, Francis Brinkmeyer had a lifelong passion for aviation; he learned to fly through the Civilian Pilot Training Program, and he first flew solo in June 1942; he trained as a U.S. Navy pilot at the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station in the fall of 1942 and received his Navy wings in August 1943; he was assigned to the Navy's Special Task Air Group, testing the first combat drones using radio control and TV monitors; he joined JM-13, a Navy utility squadron, as a patrol plane commander in November 1944; he ferried personnel, towed targets, and patrolled throughout the South Pacific while flying out of airfields in Guadalcanal and later Samar; he retired as a lieutenant commander from the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1965; and

WHEREAS, Francis Brinkmeyer worked as a product design engineer at Deere & Company for 36 years, retiring in 1982; collaborating with others, he is credited with four patents during his time at Deere and was most proud of the work related to the JD570 Motor Grader; alongside his wife, he owned and operated the Kwik-Kleen Laundromat in Rock Island for over 23 years; he was proud of his long support and association with the HWH Corporation; and

WHEREAS, Francis Brinkmeyer was a 76-year member of First Congregational Church in Moline, where he taught Sunday school for many years; he and his wife loved hosting July 4th barbecues each year that culminated with his own fireworks display; more recently, with Peg in tow, he never missed his grandsons' sporting events and loved to brag about their accomplishments both on and off the field; and

WHEREAS, Francis Brinkmeyer was preceded in death by his brothers, Frederick, Orville, and Dennison; and

WHEREAS, Francis Brinkmeyer is survived by his wife of nearly 69 years, Margaret "Peg" (Kurtz) Brinkmeyer; his children, Jim (Joyce) Brinkmeyer, Kurt Brinkmeyer, Tom Brinkmeyer, John Brinkmeyer, and Sara (David) Wells; his grandchildren, Justin Brinkmeyer, Shannon (Dan) Johnson, Eric (Rachel) Wells, Mark Wells, and Jack Wells; his two great-grandchildren; and his brother, Gary (Melva) Brinkmeyer; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Francis M. "Brink" Brinkmeyer 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 Francis Brinkmeyer as an expression of our deepest sympathy.