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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Michael "Mike" Assalley of
4Taylorville, who passed away on January 11, 2024; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Mike Assalley was born in Bloomington to William
6"Bill" and Carolyn (Koehler) Assalley on November 12, 1985; he
7attended school in Mahomet before his family moved to
8Effingham; he graduated from Effingham High School in 2004,
9where he was voted homecoming king and was co-captain of the
10football team; he was also voted as most talkative by his
11peers; he married Lauren E. Sanders in Effingham on August 4,
122012; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Mike Assalley spent his post high school years
14working as a pharmacy technician for Walgreens before
15graduating with honors from mortuary school at Carl Sandburg
16College in 2014; he spent his early career working for Butler
17Funeral Homes in Springfield as a school intern, licensed
18funeral director apprentice, and licensed funeral director; he
19then acquired four funeral homes from Perfetti Funeral Homes,
20Inc. in May of 2017; he acquired Young Funeral Home in July of
212021; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Mike Assalley served as president of the

 

 

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1executive board of directors for the Greater Taylorville
2Chamber of Commerce; he was a committee member for the
3Sangchris & Taylorville Chapters of Ducks Unlimited and served
4on numerous other community agency boards, including the board
5of directors for DowntownTaylorville.org; he was also past
6president of the Christian County United Way; he provided and
7awarded many scholarships to local high school students; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Mike Assalley had a multitude of interests and
9skill sets, including music, playing multiple instruments, and
10writing and recording songs; he enjoyed hunting, especially
11ducks and waterfowl, and outdoorsmanship; he also enjoyed
12traveling, history, politics, and sports, especially following
13the Chicago Cubs, Bears, and Notre Dame football; he collected
14family heirlooms such as his ancestral Koehler duck decoys; he
15was a parishioner of St. Mary's Church in Taylorville and a 4th
16Degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council 2120; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Mike Assalley hardly knew a stranger and touched
18many lives in his short time on earth with generosity,
19compassion, and authenticity; his quick wit and gifted mind
20brought much laughter and joy to all who loved him; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Mike Assalley was preceded in death by his
22paternal grandfather, Frank E. Assalley; his maternal
23grandfather, Kent L. Koehler; his paternal uncle, Robert H.

 

 

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1Assalley; and a best friend, Zachary Fish; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Mike Assalley is survived by his wife, Lauren;
3his children, Ila Belle Assalley, Vincent Francis Kent
4Assalley, and John William Assalley; his parents, Bill and
5Carolyn Assalley; his mother-in-law, Debbie Sanders; his
6father-in-law, Derek Sanders; his sisters, Lauren (Wesley)
7Layton and Sydney Assalley (Dillon Williams); his
8sister-in-law, Nikki (Richard) Vahling; his brother-in-law,
9Logan Sanders (Catherine Zumwalt and her sons, Noah and
10Nicholas); his niece and goddaughter, Aubrey Vahling; his
11grandmothers, Jacquelyn Assalley and Linda Koehler; and many
12aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends; therefore, 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
15Michael "Mike" Assalley 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 Mike Assalley as an expression of
20our deepest sympathy.