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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Chester "Chet" Leroy Wentz, Jr. of
4Peoria, who passed away on August 9, 2015; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Chester Wentz, Jr. was born on January 22, 1933 in
6Allentown, Pennsylvania; his parents were Chester L. Wentz, Sr.
7and Dorothy Mae Cook; he married Carolyn Ann Eicher on January
81, 1957 while on military leave; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Chester Wentz, Jr. lived with his parents and his
10brother in Bartlett and Dearborn, Michigan; while attending
11high school in Michigan, he was an All-Conference halfback on
12the football team and an All-Area sprinter on the track team;
13he obtained his bachelor's degree from Michigan State
14University as a business and journalism major in March of 1955;
15while there, he was active in a Christian fellowship group
16known as Intervarsity; and
 
17    WHEREAS, In 1955, Chester Wentz, Jr. enlisted in the United
18States Army, where he was assigned to basic training, Russian
19language school, and radio voice intercept school; he served a
202-year tour of duty in Heilbronn, Germany until his honorable
21discharge in 1958; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Upon returning to civilian life, Chester Wentz,
2Jr. was employed with Humble Oil Company and Darco Business
3Forms while he and his wife raised their young family in Glen
4Ellyn; he later worked for Moody Press in Chicago and as a bus
5operator for Laidlaw International in Chicago and Peoria; and
 
6    WHEREAS, After retirement, Chester Wentz, Jr. and his wife
7moved to Peoria, where they became active members at Grace
8Presbyterian Church; he sang in both the sanctuary and GFC
9choir and participated in a vibrant Sunday school class; he
10remained a member of Gideon's and Child Evangelism and was
11loyal to his grandchildren's many extracurricular activities;
12and
 
13    WHEREAS, Chester Wentz, Jr. was a member of the Glen Ellyn
14Bible Church, where he served as Deacon, choir member, and
15Boy's Brigade leader; he was also a member of Gideon's
16International and the ton Lions Club; he was a devoted family
17man who was very active in each of his children's sporting,
18music, and school activities; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Chester Wentz, Jr. was preceded in death by his
20parents and his brother, Jack (Carol); and
 
21    WHEREAS, Chester Wentz, Jr. is survived by his wife,
22Carolyn; 4 children, Karen (Rod) Haggerty, David (Tonya) and

 

 

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1Dan (Stacy) Wentz, and Rob (Anna) Wentz; and 8 grandchildren,
2Ryan, Kathryn, Kelsey, Haley, Luke, Zach, Amanda, and Jack;
3therefore, be it
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
5ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his
6family and friends, mourn the passing of Chester "Chet" Leroy
7Wentz, Jr.; and be it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9presented to the family of Chester Wentz, Jr. as an expression
10of our sympathy.