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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois 
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learned with regret of the death of Samuel Robert Swanson II of 
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Galesburg on Monday, December 1, 2003; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Swanson was born January 28, 1925, in 
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Evanston, to Robert Maynard and Gladys (Van Patton) Swanson;



he 
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was a graduate of Galesburg High School; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Swanson valiantly served his country in the 
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U.S. Army during World War II, where he was a Staff Sergeant in 
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the 45th Division; he was in the invasion of Sicily, Messina, 
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Salerno, Naples, Anzio, Venafro, and was a squad leader when he 
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was captured in southern France; he was a German prisoner of 
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war in Stalag IIIC; he was awarded the Purple Heart with two 
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Oak Leaf Clusters and five bronze battle stars; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Swanson attended Knox College, where he was a 
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member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, as well as the University 
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of Southern California; he was married to Virginia "Ginny" 
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Peterson on December 29, 1946, at the Trinity Lutheran Church 
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by the Reverend Marvin Raymond; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He moved to North Henderson in 1950 where he was a 
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partner in the Olson Swanson Grain Elevator;



he moved to 
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Galesburg in 1966 and entered the real estate business; he 
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owned Tucker-Swanson Realty until his retirement in 1990; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Swanson was a former President of the 
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Galesburg Board of Realtors and District Vice President of the 
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Illinois Association of Real Estate; he was a past Board Member 
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of the Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce and a Life Member of 
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the First Midwest Bank Board (formerly the Bank of Galesburg); 
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and

 
 


 









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    WHEREAS, Mr. Swanson was active in numerous charitable and 
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civic organizations; he held a Life Membership on the Cottage 
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Hospital Board and was a charter member of the Cottage Hospital 
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Foundation; he also served on Boards of the Harrington Home, 
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the American Cancer Society, and the American Heart 
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Association;



he was a member of the Knox Gale Society and the 
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Knox-Lombard 50 Year Club;



he was a 32nd Degree Mason, a former 
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Rotarian, and a member of both the Veterans of



Foreign Wars 
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Post 2257 and the Ralph M. Noble American Legion Post 285;



he 
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was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The passing of Samuel Robert Swanson II has been 
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deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Virginia "Ginny"; his 
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sons, Steven M. (and Barbara) Swanson and Samuel R. (and Cindi) 
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Swanson III; his daughter, Debbie (and Robb) Svendsen; his 
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sister, Margaret Swanson Welch; and his seven grandchildren; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
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Mr. Samuel Robert Swanson II, and we extend our sincerest 
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condolences to his friends, family, and all who knew and loved 
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him; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Mr. Swanson as an expression of our 
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deepest sympathy.