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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Robert Joseph "Bob" Stecher of West
4Peoria, who passed away on January 11, 2015; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Robert Stecher was born on November 19, 1951 to
6Joseph G. and Mary G. (nee Cotter) Stecher; he graduated from
7Bergan High School in Peoria; he married Carol Ann Bedell on
8December 2, 1972 at Saint Mark Catholic Church in Peoria; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Robert Stecher joined his father at Stecher's
10Automotive Service Inc.; when his father retired in 1987, he
11became the owner, making him the third generation to run the
12family business; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Robert Stecher joined the West Peoria Fire
14Department in 1970, becoming an emergency medical technician
15and working his way up through the ranks; he was a firefighter,
16engineer, Captain, and Assistant Chief before becoming Chief of
17the department in 1987; he was the longest serving Chief in the
18history of the department, before retiring in 2012; that same
19year, he was granted Chief Emeritus status by the Illinois Fire
20Chiefs Association; he also began serving as a Trustee for the
21West Peoria Fire Protection District, a position he held until
22his passing; he received numerous honors and awards for his

 

 

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1service to his community, including the West Peoria's
2Firefighter of the Year Award, the Emergency Medical Technician
3of the Year Award, the American Red Cross Heartland Hero Award
4(2003), and the Hardees Hometown Hero Award presented by
5Illinois Governor Jim Edgar (1994); and
 
6    WHEREAS, Robert Stecher was a member and officer of
7numerous organizations, including the West Peoria
8Firefighter's Association, the Illinois Firefighter's
9Association, the Peoria Area Fire Chiefs Association, the
10Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, the International
11Association of Fire Chiefs, the Central Illinois Fire
12Investigators Association, the International Association of
13Arson Investigators, and the Peoria County Emergency Services
14and Disaster Agency; he worked with others to help incorporate
15the City of West Peoria in 1993 and he served on the committee
16to select the city's first Mayor; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Robert Stecher was a member of St. Ann Catholic
18Church in Peoria; he grew up in Saint Mark Catholic Church and
19was a past member of Holy Family Parish; he was passionate
20about flying and earned his pilot's license in 1970; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Robert Stecher was preceded in death by his
22parents; his brother, William; and his sister, Patricia Bulfer;
23and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Robert Stecher is survived by his wife, Carol; his
22 daughters, Melissa (Eric) Siebenthal and Karen Stecher; his
3son, Robert (Jennifer Nicole) Stecher, Jr.; his 5
4grandchildren, Hadley, Luke, Emma, Ryan, and Alex; his
5siblings, Richard (Christine Karl) Stecher, James (Mary
6Wikoff) Stecher, Ann (Scott) Peterson, Mark (Kim Denman)
7Stecher, and Thomas (Connie Peterson) Stecher; his
8brother-in-law, William Bulfer; and several aunts, uncles,
9nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; therefore,
10be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
12ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
13Robert Joseph "Bob" Stecher, and extend our sincere condolences
14to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
15it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
17presented to the family of Robert Stecher as an expression of
18our deepest sympathy.