SR0414LRB103 33380 ECR 63192 r


  
1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened 
3to learn of the death of James C. "Jim" Steele of Des Plaines, 
4who passed away on July 18, 2023; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, James Steele was born to John "Ray" Steele and 
6Ruth Hellen (Elsner) Steele in Sandusky, Ohio on May 14, 1944; 
7and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Jim Steele   was a budding amateur magician in high 
9school, later touring the country professionally at county and 
10state fairs, carnivals, and the Clyde Beatty Cole Brothers 
11Circus; he was  also an illusionist, a mentalist, an escape 
12artist, a sword swallower, and a fire eater; throughout the 
131960s,  he had many opportunities in show business, including 
14small parts in movies and theater; he toured as part of a 
15vaudeville troupe, and he was master of ceremonies in various 
16nightclubs and variety shows in Ohio, New York City, New 
17Jersey, and Chicago; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, In the 1970s, Jim  Steele worked as a consultant, 
19writer, and promoter of fine wines; he  organized large wine 
20tastings and auctions for various liquor stores in the 
21Chicagoland area; he was  a two-time winner of Geja's Annual 
22International Wine Tasting Contest; and
 
 
 
SR0414- 2 -LRB103 33380 ECR 63192 r

1    WHEREAS, Jim Steele was a dedicated grandfather who loved 
2dining, traveling, and movie watching with his grandchildren; 
3he will be most remembered for his fun, outgoing nature, and 
4his open and accepting personality; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Jim Steele was the husband of the late Nanci 
6Steele for 45 years; the   stepfather to Barbra (Richard 
7Spychalski) Versino and the late Robert Versino; the 
8grandfather of Jonathan Spychalski and Emma Spychalski; the 
9brother of Ruth Williams, Mary Sue Clifton, the late Jane 
10Adelman, the late Carol Steele, Johnny Steele, and the late 
11Rose Steele; and the uncle to many nieces and nephews; 
12therefore, be it
  
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL 
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of

15James C. "Jim" Steele and extend our sincere
condolences to 
16his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
him; and be it 
17further
  
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be

19presented to the family of Jim Steele as an expression of
our 
20deepest sympathy.