SR0503 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0503 LRB096 15437 KXB 30643 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of former Illinois State Treasurer and State Legislator James H. Donnewald of Breese, who passed away on September 18, 2009; and

WHEREAS, James Donnewald was born on January 29, 1925 in Carlyle; his parents were John Henry "Hank" and Cecilia (Luepke) Donnewald; he married Ruth Holtgrave on June 24, 1953 in Breese; and

WHEREAS, James Donnewald was a veteran of the Korean War, serving from 1950 until 1951; and

WHEREAS, After attending college at St. Louis University, James Donnewald graduated from the Lincoln College of Law in 1949; following his admission to the Bar of the State of Illinois in 1951, he began to practice law in Breese and maintained his office for nearly 58 years; and

WHEREAS, James Donnewald's political career began in 1948 while he was still a law student, when he was elected Democratic precinct committeeman; a year later, he became Carlyle Township Supervisor, a post he held for 2 years; in 1960, he was elected to the first of 2 terms in the Illinois House of Representatives for the 51st District (now the 55th); in 1964, he was elected to the Illinois State Senate; he subsequently won elections in 1966, 1970, 1974, and 1978; and

WHEREAS, Beginning in the 77th General Assembly, he was asked by his colleagues to serve as Assistant Democratic Leader in the Illinois Senate; he also served as a member of various committees, including the Rules Committee, the Assignments Committee, the Appropriations Committee, the Executive Committee, and the Executive Appointments Committee; he also served as chairman of the Reapportionment Commission until his retirement from the legislature at the conclusion of the 82nd General Assembly in January of 1983; in the election of 1982, he was elected to serve as Treasurer of the State of Illinois, a position he served until 1986; and

WHEREAS, James Donnewald was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church, Breese American Legion Post 252, and Breese Knights of Columbus 2869; and

WHEREAS, James Donnewald was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth; his parents; his brother, Raymond "Bud" Donnewald; his sister, Mary Tierney-Ackmann; and his brothers-in-law, Michael Tierney and Alfred Romo; and

WHEREAS, James Donnewald is survived by his sons, Eric (Pam) Donnewald and Craig (Theresa) Donnewald; his daughter, Jill (Ken) Kailin; his grandchildren, Katie and Steven Donnewald and Mitchell, Jenna, and Elise Kailin; his sisters, Irene Romo and Juanita (Robert) Moore; his brother-in-law, Carl Ackmann; and his sister-in-law, Alvina Donnewald; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of James H. Donnewald; and be it further

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