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| 1 | SENATE RESOLUTION | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened | ||||||
| 3 | to learn of the death of Ernest "Ernie" Pentek Jr. of Chicago, | ||||||
| 4 | who passed away on April 4, 2025; and | ||||||
| 5 | WHEREAS, Ernie Pentek was born in Chicago to Earnest Sr. | ||||||
| 6 | and Ann Pentek on July 27, 1954; he grew up with a strong sense | ||||||
| 7 | of duty and a heart for service; after graduating from high | ||||||
| 8 | school, he served honorably with the United States Marine | ||||||
| 9 | Corps; and | ||||||
| 10 | WHEREAS, Ernie Pentek joined the Chicago Fire Department | ||||||
| 11 | in 1980, where he served proudly for 33 years and responded to | ||||||
| 12 | thousands of calls, saving lives and mentoring countless young | ||||||
| 13 | friends along the way; he was known for his quick wit and for | ||||||
| 14 | remaining calm under pressure in the toughest situations; and | ||||||
| 15 | WHEREAS, Ernie Pentek found joy in simple pleasures in | ||||||
| 16 | retirement; he never passed up a garage door job and loved | ||||||
| 17 | visiting with the Piscateer's club, making sausage with his | ||||||
| 18 | kids, and sharing stories over Hungarian Bacon Frys; and | ||||||
| 19 | WHEREAS, Ernie Pentek's greatest pride and joy was his | ||||||
| 20 | family; he planned every holiday party, attended every major | ||||||
| 21 | life event, and passed on his values of hard work, honesty, and | ||||||
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| 1 | kindness to his grandchildren; he was deeply committed to his | ||||||
| 2 | faith, a devoted Christian, and a member of Ashburn Baptist | ||||||
| 3 | Church; he was especially proud of his sons and family members | ||||||
| 4 | who served with distinction with the Chicago Police and Fire | ||||||
| 5 | Departments; and | ||||||
| 6 | WHEREAS, Ernie Pentek is survived by his wife of 47 years, | ||||||
| 7 | Susan; his children, Ernest Pentek III, Christina (Dave) | ||||||
| 8 | Riedel, Sean (Kaeley) Pentek, Zachary (Angela) Pentek, | ||||||
| 9 | Nicholas (Amy) Pentek, Jeremiah (Deidre) Pentek, Rebecca | ||||||
| 10 | (Daniel Finn) Pentek, Emily (Michael) Moore, Lucas (Ruby) | ||||||
| 11 | Pentek, and Samuel (Caitlin) Pentek; his brothers, John (Jay) | ||||||
| 12 | and Bobby; his sisters, Katherine and Jan; 19 grandchildren; | ||||||
| 13 | his firehouse community; and his three dogs; therefore, be it | ||||||
| 14 | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL | ||||||
| 15 | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of | ||||||
| 16 | Ernest "Ernie" Pentek Jr. and extend our sincere condolences | ||||||
| 17 | to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be | ||||||
| 18 | it further | ||||||
| 19 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
| 20 | presented to the family of Ernie Pentek as an expression of our | ||||||
| 21 | deepest sympathy. | ||||||