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SR0398 |
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LRB096 14548 GRL 29381 r |
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| SENATE RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to |
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| learn of the death of
Ernest Opp of Bethalto, who passed away |
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| on September 4, 2009; and
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| WHEREAS, Ernest Opp was born on November 9, 1924 in Good |
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| Hope; he married Doris (Goddard) Opp on December 26, 1948 in |
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| Macomb; and
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| WHEREAS, Ernest Opp served his country with pride and |
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| distinction as a submariner during World War II; and
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| WHEREAS, Ernest Opp was raised in Bushnell; he attended the |
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| University of Illinois and graduated from Western Illinois |
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| University in 1949; and
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| WHEREAS, Ernest Opp had a long and distinguished career as |
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| a teacher in the Havana and Bethalto school districts and at |
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| Lewis and Clark and Belleville-area colleges; he also taught at |
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| the St. Louis Regional Airport, where he gave the freedom of |
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| flight to thousands in his area through his student plane |
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| rides, flight instructions, and aerobatic shows; and
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| WHEREAS, Ernest Opp gave the joy of music and history to |
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| thousands through his band and choral performances with the CM |
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SR0398 |
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LRB096 14548 GRL 29381 r |
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| Band and Chorus and the Old Timers; he also shared his love of |
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| boating and sailing with hundreds from Alton to the Florida |
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| Keys and his love of motorcycles with friends from coast to |
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| coast; and
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| WHEREAS, Ernest Opp was a lifetime member of Rotary, the |
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| Masonic Lodge, VFW, the Experimental Aircraft Association, the |
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| Illinois Pilots Association, Aerobatic Pilots, Western |
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| Illinois Alumni, the Young Eagles, and the St. Louis Aero Club; |
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| and
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| WHEREAS, Ernest Opp is survived by his children and their |
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| spouses, Sharon Opp, Austin and Marg Opp, LaVeta and Kevin |
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| Kirby, and Irene Opp; his grandchildren, Brandon and Lizz |
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| Tinker, Ashleigh and Tim Peterson, Anthony and Fawn Tinker, |
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| Kathleen, Jim and Jessica Kirby-Butts, Todd, Ty, and Corrie, |
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| Sam and Melanie, and Ross Laux, Chris and Wendy Webster, and |
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| Jared and Jen Watson; and his 7 great-grandchildren; therefore, |
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| be it
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| RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL |
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| ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with |
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| his family and friends, the passing of Ernest Opp; and be it |
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| further
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| RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be |