SR0829 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0829 LRB099 13467 GRL 37397 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Joseph Mortier of Moline, who passed away on July 25, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Joseph Mortier was born on March 3, 1925 in Moline; his parents were Oscar and Emily (nee Mestdagt) Mortier; he married Patricia Runge Wilson on April 19, 1947 at Sacred Heart Church in Moline; and

WHEREAS, Joseph Mortier was inducted into the United States Navy in June of 1943; he served on the USS Quincy, where Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt met Joseph Stalin for the signing of the Yalta Treaty; his campaigns included the European-African Middle Eastern Campaign, Occupational Services in Japan, where he was docked in Tokyo Bay when the surrender papers were signed, and the Atlantic and Pacific Campaigns; his ship was the first to fire at the beaches at Normandy on D-Day; he was honorably discharged from the service in March of 1946; and

WHEREAS, Joseph Mortier graduated from Moline High School; after his discharge from the military, he attended DeVry Technical School in Chicago; he later attended Moline Community College and graduated from Western Illinois University in Macomb, where he earned his master's + 30 degree; and

WHEREAS, Joseph Mortier was employed as a teacher at John Deere Junior High for 32 years and later worked at Moline High School; he also held a journeyman's card in printing; and

WHEREAS, Joseph Mortier was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Moline, the Illinois Retired Teachers Association, the Milan Rifle Club, and the Scott County Sportsman's Gun Club, where he was the State Champion Skeet Shooter in 1983; he was also an instructor for 55 Alive and founded the Moline Archery Club at Moline Community College; and

WHEREAS, Joseph Mortier was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Walter Mortier; and 3 children, John Michael, Christopher Paul, and Marcia Dawn Mortier; and

WHEREAS, Joseph Mortier is survived by his wife, Pat; 2 children, Mark Joseph Mortier and Melanie Beth (Scott) Verstraete; 7 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of Joseph Mortier; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Joseph Mortier as an expression of our sympathy.