HR0767

LRB095 13985 GRL 39802 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are saddened to  learn of the death of
Louis M. 
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Christen of Mattoon; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Louis M. Christen was born on February 5, 1921 in 
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Fieldon; he was the second son of Frank and Anastacia (Goddee) 
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Christen; he married Jean Ashmore, who preceded him in death, 
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in 1944; he married Freda Donnell in 1979; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Louis M. Christen served as a navigator with the 
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303rd Bombardment Group flying missions from Molesworth, 
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England during the Second World War; during one of his 
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missions, after his plane was crippled by anti-aircraft fire, 
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he successfully navigated his B-17 Bomber to a crash landing in 
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eastern Poland, with every crewman surviving the crash; he 
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enjoyed attending annual reunions with his compatriots until 
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the group was disbanded in 2007; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Louis M. Christen dedicated his professional life 
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to the field of agricultural development; he began as an 
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educator in Humboldt before becoming an assistant extension 
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agent in Shelbyville; he served as a Coles County Cooperative 
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Extension Service Farm Adviser from 1957 until his retirement 
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in September 1982; many farmers would turn to him as a source 
 


 






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of agricultural information, a valuable commodity before the 
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advent of the Internet; after his retirement, he maintained an 
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active presence as a regular at the twice-yearly meetings held 
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by a group of retired Extension area advisers; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Louis M. Christen maintained a keen interest in 
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local affairs; during his retirement, he served on the board of 
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directors of The Bank in Charleston; he also served as The 
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Bank's agricultural advisor; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Louis M. Christen positively affected the lives of 
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many young people; he was one of the founders of the 4-H Club 
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livestock auctions at the Coles County Fair in 1957 and was 
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recently honored during the 50th anniversary of this tradition; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Louis M. Christen always enjoyed the fellowship of 
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humans and animals; for many years, he maintained a "menagerie" 
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of peacocks, guineas, turkeys, and other strange feathered 
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friends; he recently kept back yard feeders well-stocked and 
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enjoyed watching his birds and keeping the squirrels at bay; 
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and
 
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    WHEREAS, Louis M. Christen was a devoted member and 
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supporter of St. Paul's Lutheran Church; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, Louis M. Christen is survived by his loving wife, 
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Freda; his sons, David and wife Sandy and Darryl and wife Mona; 
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his sister, Madonna Berry; his grandchildren, Holly Talbert and 
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husband Chris, Elan Christen, Nathan Christen, and Dylan 
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Christen; his stepchildren, Robert Donnell (wife Carol, 
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deceased), Nancy Breningmeyer and husband Lloyd, William 
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Donnell and wife Shirley, Linda Gargus (husband Kenny, 
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deceased), J. Tom Donnell, Rena Roberts and husband Hilton; and 
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his numerous step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Louis M. Christen was preceded in death by his 
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first wife, Jean; his parents, Frank and Anastacia; his 
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brothers, Frank, Eugene, Henry, Everett, and Neil; and his 
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sister, Anastacia; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Louis 
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M. Christen; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Louis M. Christen as a symbol of our esteem and 
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respect.