HR0335 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0335 LRB104 13586 LAW 26180 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Richard Kellerhals of Bloomington, who passed away on May 5, 2025; and

WHEREAS, Richard Kellerhals was born to Nolen and Esther Kellerhals in Weldon on January 5, 1929; he spent time at Father Flanagan's Boys Home, now known as Boys Town, in Nebraska in his youth; he returned to Central Illinois and worked on a farm in Saybrook for a year before enlisting in the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Italy for three years; after returning home, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve, through which he served on occupational duty in Okinawa, Japan for a year; and

WHEREAS, Richard Kellerhals, upon completing his military service in Japan, returned home again and began working as an attendant at the Murphy's gas station on North Main Street in Bloomington; he proceeded to work as a laborer on construction sites in June 1953, joining Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 362 in the process; and

WHEREAS, Richard Kellerhals was a dedicated member of LIUNA Local 362, serving as a union officer, the president, the first president of its retiree charter council, and a faithful attendant of union meetings; during his tenure as president, he was noted for his leadership in keeping the union together through some difficult times while laying the foundation for its pension fund, which still provides for members and their families to this day; he was a steadfast volunteer, assisting in LIUNA Local 362's many community donated labor efforts, which included work for the Compassion Center, the World War II Monument, the Boys and Girls Club, the Bloomington Housing Authority, the Salvation Army, YWCA McLean County, and the annual Children's Christmas Party; and

WHEREAS, Richard Kellerhals was named the 2000 Laborer of the Year by radio station WJBC and received the Robert Gibson Community Service Award from Illinois AFL-CIO in 2004; and

WHEREAS, Richard Kellerhals lived his life with good humor and deep caring for all, and he was happiest when surrounded by his family, his fellow workers, his retirees, and his Apollo Acres neighbors; and

WHEREAS, Richard Kellerhals was preceded in death by his wife, Doris; his parents; and his brothers, Wayne, Louis, Ivan, and John; and

WHEREAS, Richard Kellerhals is survived by his children, Paul (Katerina Venetis) Kellerhals and Martha Kirk; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Richard Kellerhals 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 Richard Kellerhals as an expression of our deepest sympathy.