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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Joseph P. Colgan of Wyoming, Illinois,
4who passed away on April 28, 2015; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Joseph Colgan was born on September 24, 1913 in
6Wyoming, Illinois; his parents were John I. Colgan and Sophia
7Frances (nee Coyle); he married Majella Harty on May 25, 1940
8at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Kinsman; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Joseph Colgan attended Wyoming schools and
10graduated as valedictorian of Wyoming High School in 1931; he
11subsequently attended St. Bede Academy in Peru and St. Ambrose
12College in Davenport, Iowa; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Joseph Colgan began his career as a farmhand at
14home and as a store clerk at Johnson's Drugstore during his
15high school years; after college, during the Great Depression,
16he worked 4 years as a clerk at the John Deere farm implement
17business in Wyoming; he was then recruited to be a regional
18sales representative for the John Deere Company, working for 10
19years covering central Illinois; in 1947, he returned to
20Wyoming to purchase and manage the John Deere dealership; his
21Colgan Company implement business served area farmers for 40
22years and sold and constructed Behlen grain bins; he was later

 

 

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1joined in business by his son, Tim, who succeeded him as the
2dealer; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Joseph Colgan was a member of St. Dominic Catholic
4Church, where he served as a lector, Eucharistic minister, and
5cemetery trustee; he was a member of the Knights of Columbus
6for 76 years, attaining the 4th Degree and Grand Knight levels;
7he was a 67-year charter member and former president of the
8Wyoming Lions Club; he also served as a Wyoming Fire District
9trustee, a Chamber of Commerce member, and a member of the
10Stark County Heart Association, the Health Improvement
11Association, the Crop Extension Resource Development Council,
12and the Soil and Water Conservation District; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Joseph Colgan enjoyed spending time with his
14family and friends, sharing amusing stories, helping others,
15reading, travel, and the Chicago Cubs; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Joseph Colgan was preceded in death by his
17parents; 4 siblings, (Germaine) Sr. Maurita, O.P. (Sinsinawa
18Dominicans), John E. "Manny," Mary Gasperich, and Peter James
19"Jim" Colgan; and a grandson, Daniel J. Gill; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Joseph Colgan is survived by his wife of 75 years,
21Majella; 12 children, Judy (Bob) Curran, Joanne (Gene) Gill,
22Pat, Tim (Patty), Colleen Colgan, Paul (Phyllis), Philip (Geol

 

 

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1Weirs), Jane (John) Francis, Susan (Ken) Knapp, Marty (Sue),
2Greg, and Tom (Gloria); 22 grandchildren; 34
3great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews; therefore,
4be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
6ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his
7family and friends, mourn the passing of Joseph P. Colgan; and
8be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
10presented to the family of Joseph Colgan as an expression of
11our sympathy.