SR1203 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1203 LRB099 14573 GRL 38702 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Raymond "Doc" Drebes, who passed away on September 17, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Drebes was born on August 12, 1923 in Chicago; his parents were Paul G. and Mary Helen Luer Drebes; he married Elvira Wiese in 1945; she preceded him in death; he married Linda Irle Dively on June 13, 1987; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Drebes graduated from New Trier High School in Indian Hills in 1941; he subsequently attended Northwestern University from 1941 to 1942 before entering the service; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Drebes served in the United States Army from 1942 to 1945, starting in the Western Defense Command Headquarters under Gen. Delos C. Emmons in a top-secret records room at the Presidio in San Francisco, California; he eventually volunteered for overseas duty, where he served with the 4th Infantry Division under Gen. George Patton in the European theatre; during the Battle of the Bulge, he received 3 gunshot wounds, for which he was awarded the Purple Heart; after 9 months of hospitalization, he was honorably discharged; and

WHEREAS, After returning from the service, Raymond Drebes re-entered college at the University of Iowa, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1950 and his dental degree in 1951; he then returned to Northwestern University, where he received his Master of Science degree in dentistry in 1952; he taught in the oral surgery department at Northwestern University for a year before moving to Champaign, where he practiced general dentistry for 40 years; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Drebes was active in the Illini District Dental Society, serving in all of the offices, and was elected to the Pierre Fauchard Academy; he was also a member of the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Champaign under the pastorate of Father Richard Mullen; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Drebes was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed gardening, photography, and hiking the Rocky Mountains with his wife; he also enjoyed hiking the neighborhood with his dog, Buster, in his later years; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Drebes was preceded in death by his first wife, Elvira; his parents; and his half-brother; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Drebes is survived by his wife, Linda; his daughters, Elizabeth Carver and Barbara Drebes; his sons, Scott (Patti) Drebes and Douglas Drebes; his stepdaughter, Whitney Dively; his stepson, Mason Dively; his 7 grandchildren; and his 3 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 Raymond "Doc" Drebes; and be it further

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