SR1976 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1976 LRB099 22165 GRL 49528 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Edwin George Kolk of Fulton, who passed away on May 31, 2016; and

WHEREAS, Edwin Kolk was born on October 27, 1934 in Clinton; his parents were Harry and Jennie Kolk; he married Nancy Kamphuis on May 31, 1957 at the Second Reformed Church in Fulton; and

WHEREAS, Edwin Kolk grew up in Fulton and graduated from Fulton High School with the class of 1952; after graduation, he delivered milk for Goodenough Dairy; in 1957, he was drafted into the United States Army, where he trained as a medical lab technician and served primarily in Stuttgart, Germany; after his stint in the Army, he began working in research at the Clinton Corn Processing Company and continued in lab work throughout his career; he retired from Archer Daniels Midland in 1999; he and his wife also owned River Huis Traders Antiques in downtown Fulton; and

WHEREAS, As a child, Edwin Kolk loved to read encyclopedias, and his curiosity for discovering new things and ideas lasted his entire life; he and his wife traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe; his paradise was his home on the Mississippi River; he loved to work in the garden, monitor boat traffic, watch the wildlife, teach the next generations about family traditions, and create good memories for his grandchildren; he had a joy of music that he learned from his parents and his grandfather, John Flikkema, and he taught his daughters to break into song at any time; he enjoyed attending classical and rock concerts; he also spent many summer nights at Clinton LumberKings baseball games; and

WHEREAS, Edwin Kolk was a member of the Fulton Lions Club and AFS; he served on the boards of the Community Fund, the Fulton Chamber of Commerce, Fulton Retail Development, and Fulton Zoning; he was a volunteer miller at "de Immigrant" windmill in Fulton since the mill opened in 2000; he also trained under master miller Derk Jan Tinga from Groningen, the Netherlands, and they formed a friendship so strong that many called Derk Jan his Dutch son; and

WHEREAS, Edwin Kolk was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; and his brother, Robert John Kolk; and

WHEREAS, Edwin Kolk is survived by his daughters, Gina Kolk (Thomas Walsh) and Heidi Kolk; his AFS daughter, Ana Maria da Camara Silva; his grandchildren, Jon Thomas Walsh, Liliana Jennie Walsh, and Duke Harrison Walsh; his sister-in-law, Carol Kolk; his sister-in-law, Judy Zuidema; his nephews, Kevin, Dan, and Mike Kolk, and his nieces, Lisa (Zuidema) Seaman and Amy (Zuidema) Venhuizen; 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 Edwin George Kolk; and be it further

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