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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Lawrence R. "Larry" Herbig, who passed
4away on April 2, 2015; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Larry Herbig was born in rural Pecatonica on
6January 16, 1918 to Raymond and Urilla (nee Seibert) Herbig; he
7attended Watson Grade School and graduated from Pecatonica High
8School; in 1943, he graduated from the University of
9Wisconsin-Platteville, with a Bachelor of Science in
10Agriculture and Biological Sciences; he married Nellie V.
11Pickett in Platteville, Wisconsin on November 26, 1943; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Larry Herbig enlisted in the United States Navy in
131942 and received a commission as an Ensign from United States
14Naval Reserve Midshipmen School at Columbia University in New
15York City, New York; he served as engineering officer and First
16Lieutenant aboard the USS LST 268 in the Asiatic-Pacific area
17from 1943 to 1946, where his ship was involved in 7 invasions
18during World War II; he was awarded 3 service ribbons and 6
19Bronze Stars; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Larry Herbig returned to Freeport in 1946, where
21he worked as assistant farm advisor in Stephenson County and
22for the University of Illinois Extension Service for 2 years;

 

 

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1he became an agriculture and industrial engineer for
2Commonwealth Edison in 1948 and worked for them for 32 years,
3retiring in 1980 as a senior commercial sales engineer; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Larry Herbig was a prominent figure in Freeport;
5he served as a Chairman of the Stephenson County March of
6Dimes, as County Chairman of the Red Cross, as a winning
7manager for Freeport baseball teams for 15 years, as Director
8of the Stephenson County Fair Association for 25 years, and as
9Chairman of the commercial exhibits representing the Freeport
10Chamber of Commerce; he was also an honorary member of the
11District I Future Farmers of America and a past member of the
12Toastmasters Club, the Elks Club, and the Illinois Agricultural
13Engineering Society; he was involved in the United Way and the
14Freeport Chamber of Commerce and was recognized by the City of
15Freeport with the Outstanding Community Service Award for the
16new street lighting program; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Larry Herbig was a 50-plus year member of Embury
18United Methodist Church, where he served as usher and church
19Trustee; he was an active and dedicated conservationist and
20sportsman and loved hunting and fishing, especially at the
21family cabin in Wisconsin; he was past President of the
22Freeport Kiwanis Club and was named "Kiwanian of the Year";
23during his 47-plus years as a Kiwanis member, he was directly
24involved in naming a new road "Kiwanis Drive"; he and Nellie

 

 

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1were the prime advocates in 187 trees being planted along the
2road way with the theme "Color it green with trees"; with his
3care, dedication, and hard work, Kiwanis Drive flourishes
4today; on September 15, 2009, Freeport's Mayor Gaulrapp
5proclaimed the day as "Larry Herbig Day" along with a
6resolution to request Kiwanis Drive receive an honorary street
7name of "Larry and Nell Herbig Drive"; he was featured in the
8Freeport Journal Standard for outstanding community service;
9through the Kiwanis, he engineered the planting of the trees
10along the center drive in the city cemetery and Freeport High
11School; he developed the service club's "Welcome to Freeport"
12signs, managed the Kiwanis Buckle-Up signs program, and
13initiated and helped maintain the Kiwanis benches that are
14placed around the city; he developed the Kiwanis Pancake Day
15placemats; he was presented the Kiwanis International
16Distinguished Service Award and Division 12 District
17Outstanding Service Activity; he also spearheaded the building
18of the Brewster boat landing at Winslow on the Pecatonica
19River; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Larry Herbig was preceded in death by his wife,
21Nellie, and his brother, LaVerne; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Larry Herbig is survived by his 2 daughters,
23Marsha Forsythe and Susan (Don) Sutton; his 2 sons, Terry
24(Donna) Herbig and Todd Herbig; his 8 grandchildren, Justin

 

 

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1Forsythe, Tyler Forsythe, Kellie (David) Henry, Amanda (Greg)
2Boitnott, Kyle Herbig, Casie Harden, Timothy Herbig, and Daniel
3(Natalie) Herbig; his 9 great-grandchildren; his brother,
4Floyd Herbig; and his 2 sisters, Alice Chandler and Evelyn
5Dahl; therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
8Lawrence R. "Larry" Herbig, and extend our sincere condolences
9to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
10it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12presented to the family of Larry Herbig as an expression of our
13deepest sympathy.