HR0039 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0039 LRB096 05907 KXB 15988 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of former Illinois House of Representatives member Carl Soderstrom of Streator, who passed away on January 13, 2009; and

WHEREAS, He was born in Streator on December 14, 1915, and graduated from Streator High School in 1931; he attended the University of Illinois, was a member of the marching band, and graduated from there with a B.S. degree in 1937; he obtained his law degree from the University of Illinois Law School in February of 1943; and he was admitted to the Illinois Bar in March of the same year; and

WHEREAS, In 1941, he married the former Virginia Merriner of Streator and they had five children, who were born and raised in Streator; Virginia Soderstrom taught German and world history at Streator High School for many years; during World War II, he worked in the Seneca shipyards, where the LST's, Landing Ship Tanks, were built; he worked in the steel procurement department, ensuring a constant supply of steel necessary to keep the ship line in constant production for the 10,000 people who worked there; and

WHEREAS, After the war, he opened his general-practice law office in Streator, specializing in worker's compensation cases; he first was elected to the Illinois State Legislature in 1950 and was always proud of the fact that he consistently received strong endorsements from labor, farmers, and educators; while in the Legislature, he sponsored numerous pieces of legislation for the benefit of labor and served as chairman of the House Education Committee; he retired in 1974; in 1964, due to reapportionment, Illinois held a statewide election, and he was the leading Republican with the most votes of any downstate candidate, tallying over 1 million votes; and

WHEREAS, In May of 2003, he received a rare invitation from House Speaker Michael Madigan to return to Springfield to address the Illinois House of Representatives; and last fall he was invited by the AFL-CIO to open ceremonies in Peoria commemorating the 50th anniversary of the merger of the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his father, Reuben G. Soderstrom, a former State legislator from Streator and president of the American Federation of Labor, and then the AFL-CIO, from 1930 to 1970; his mother, Jeanne Shaw; his brother, Robert; his sister, Jeanne; and his daughter, Jane; and

WHEREAS, He is survived by his children, Dr. Carl Soderstrom (Cris), Virginia Pace (Jack), Dr. Robert Soderstrom (Susan), and William Soderstrom (Lorna); his 14 grandchildren, Carl Soderstrom, Robert Soderstrom, Steven Soderstrom, Erik Soderstrom, John Soderstrom, Denise Pace, David Pace, Phillip Pace, Sara Soderstrom, Paul Soderstrom, Lance Soderstrom, Nathan Soderstrom, Annie Soderstrom, and Lucas Soderstrom; his five great-grandchildren, Drew Soderstrom, Mira Soderstrom, Isaac Soderstrom, Dillon Soderstrom, and Jackson Soderstrom; and

WHEREAS, His memory was honored by the Fighting Illini Marching Band, who played three songs in his honor after his funeral; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of former State Representative Carl Soderstrom; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Carl Soderstrom as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.