SR0717 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0717 LRB097 21151 KXB 68621 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Fred Joseph Snodgrass of Virden, a proud Doorman for the Illinois Senate, who passed away on April 15, 2012; and

WHEREAS, He was born on May 29, 1925 to Fred Wayne and Stella Kalaher Snodgrass; he married Phyllis May Fitzpatrick on August 23, 1948 and together they raised 3 children; and

WHEREAS, He was a United States Navy Veteran serving in World War II in the Pacific; he enjoyed the Veteran's Day celebrations hosted by the Carlinville School District where he was a guest speaker for his great-grandchildren's classes, telling them to all join the Navy so they would have a nice comfortable bed instead of sleeping on the cold, hard ground like you have to do in the Army; and

WHEREAS, He worked for over 30 years for G. H. Schanbacher and Sons painting many churches and places of worship in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Indiana; he retired from painting and worked for the State of Illinois at the Jacksonville Developmental Center until his retirement; he then served as a Doorman for the Illinois Senate, where he received recognition certificates from the Illinois Senate, and where he regaled his co-workers as well as the Senators with very amusing stories, most of which he made up; and

WHEREAS, He served on the County Board for Macoupin County and was active in political circles in the area; he was an active participant in his faith, serving as the Grand Knight of the Virden Knights of Columbus as well as being a member of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus; he participated and assisted with the bingo nights as well as the charity fund drives for the Knights of Columbus, enlisting his grandkids in helping during the annual Tootsie Roll drives; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Francis W. Snodgrass and James Snodgrass; his sisters, Loretta Ranger, Dorothy Barnes, and Marie Heien; and his grandson, Fred Joseph Snodgrass III; and

WHEREAS, Fred Snodgrass is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Phyllis; his daughters, Pam (Peter) Gebhardt and Linda (Charlie) Fritz; his son, Fred J. (Barb) Snodgrass, Jr.; his grandchildren, Jodi (Dennis) Jamieson, Nick (Caroline) Gebhardt, E. Michael Smith, Laura (fiance, Chad Thomas) Snodgrass, Steven Snodgrass, Brian Snodgrass, and Josh (Jessica) Fritz; his great-grandchildren, Dalton, Kayla, Shelbi, and Payton Jamieson, Kayelea-Ann Smith, Cole Gebhardt, Jocelyn, Jake, and Jordayn Fritz; his sister, Eileen Banner; and numerous nieces and nephews who all have stories to tell of "Uncle Fred" and when he came to stay with them while traveling for his job; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family, friends, and the members and staff of the Illinois Senate, the passing of Fred Snodgrass; and be it further

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