SR0623 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0623 LRB103 35529 LAW 65601 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of August Edward "AugE" Kerres of Edgington, who passed away on November 24, 2023; and

WHEREAS, August Kerres was born to August J. Kerres and Miriam (Hartman) Kerres in Kewanee on March 1, 1931; he graduated from Reynolds High School in 1949, where he was a football player and cheerleader and was named Homecoming King; he served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, where he maintained Bell helicopters and earned multiple letters of commendation and a Bronze Star for his service; he married Mary Rose McGee in Rock Island on May 19, 1956, and they settled in Edgington and raised four children together; and

WHEREAS, After working several jobs, August Kerres began working at Ben Rummel's service station in Edgington; he then partnered with his brother-in-law, Louis Fowler, to run the station, eventually becoming sole owner of Kerres Garage; he ran the garage until officially closing it in 1988, but he never stopped working, continuing farm and machinery repair from 1953 to 2023; and

WHEREAS, August Kerres was a member of the American Legion for 68 years, serving as commander several times; he also drove the VA van for 25 years, arranged and participated in Honor Guard for 35 years, and put flags up at the Legion and the Edgington Cemetery three times a year for many years; and

WHEREAS, August Kerres was involved with the Rockridge Rockets for decades, and he attended school board meetings for more than 35 years, parked cars at the high school for 50 years, painted hashmarks on the Rockridge band practice field for 15 years, drove school buses for 25 years, and worked on buses in the bus barn until a few months before his passing; and

WHEREAS, August Kerres enjoyed donating his time to his community in a number of ways, including serving as a volunteer fireman for 64 years, singing in the choir at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Taylor Ridge for 54 years, making ice cream for local churches and the fire station, and conducting kiddie tractor pulls for 57 years; and

WHEREAS, August Kerres was very proud of his family and enjoyed supporting their activities; he loved dogs and had many beloved pets over the years, including Brownie, Tripod, Cricket, and Fleabe; and

WHEREAS, August Kerres was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Martha Jean and Dorothy (Louis) Fowler; his brother, Gary Kerres; and his brother-in-law, Roger Spivey; and

WHEREAS, August Kerres is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary Rose; his children, Kathleen (Pat) Begyn, Diane (Tim) Keller, Mike (Julie) Kerres, and Christine (Joe) Malecki; his grandchildren, Erica (Travis) Figanbaum, Ben (Kristi) Keller, Dustin (Lindsay) Begyn, Holley (Tyson) Blaser, Cole (Abbey) Kerres, Sarah (Tony) Brown, Annie Malecki, Jonah Malecki, and Luke Malecki; and 12 great-grandchildren, with one more baby due next year; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of August Edward "AugE" Kerres 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 August Kerres as an expression of our deepest sympathy.