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SR0212 |
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LRB094 12397 HSS 46675 r |
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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 sadness of the death of Mr. Gale C. Wicks of |
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| Aurora, which occurred on September 30, 2004; and
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| WHEREAS, He was born on August 14, 1921, in Seneca to |
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| Arthur and Bertha Wicks; a Seneca Knight, he dated Mary |
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| Catherine Schaefer, the love of his life, who became his wife |
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| of nearly 60 years and whom he often called Katie; she preceded |
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| him in death in September of 2000; and
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| WHEREAS, He studied surveying briefly at Penn State, until |
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| he was called to duty in World War II in Europe; he served his |
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| unit as a medic and saw first hand the ravages of war; he |
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| always expressed how grateful he was to return home; and
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| WHEREAS, Mr. Wicks settled his family in Aurora, and he |
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| began a career; he had fond memories of working for the |
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| Burlington Northern Railroad; his business career included 20 |
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| years at Thor Power Tools in Aurora and 20 years at Ajax Tool |
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| Works in Franklin Park; and
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| WHEREAS, He retired in 1990 and began walking two miles |
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| with his wife in Aurora's Lincoln Park every morning, except on |
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| those days when the temperature or wind chill factor was below |
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| zero; after Mary's passing, he faithfully continued to walk, |
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| enjoying the companionship of his Lincoln Park walking pals; |
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| and
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| WHEREAS, His tendency toward friendliness and |
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| philosophical thinking continued to deepen over the years; he |
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| was a son and grandson, a brother and uncle, a husband and |
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| father, a grandfather and great-grandfather, a friend and |
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| helper, and a tough act to follow; he was a Christian and a |
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| member of Holy Angels Church; and
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