SR2294 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2294 LRB099 23577 GRL 51064 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of John H. "Jack" Barickman of Streator, who passed away on October 4, 2016; and

WHEREAS, John Barickman was born on January 28, 1921; his parents were Bert and Agnes Barickman; he married Pauline Vanko on October 17, 1953; and

WHEREAS, John Barickman attended St. Anthony Grade School and graduated from Streator High School in 1939 after earning letters in three sports; and

WHEREAS, John Barickman served with the 101st Airborne Division during World War II and parachuted into Normandy on June 6, 1944, and into Holland in September of 1944; he also participated in the defense of Bastogne, Belgium with his unit, the 506th Parachute Regiment, where he was wounded; he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantry Badge, and four Battle Stars for his service; after being wounded, he served as a parachute instructor at Fort Benning, Georgia and was discharged as a Staff Sergeant in November of 1945; one of his fondest memories is meeting General Omar Bradley during the 25th anniversary of D-Day in 1969; and

WHEREAS, John Barickman worked at Owens-Illinois Glass in various departments, spending most of his years in the steel gang in the maintenance department; he retired in November of 1983 after 33 years of service; he also worked in construction for 10 years; and

WHEREAS, John Barickman was a member of the former St. Stephen's Church; and

WHEREAS, John Barickman was a Red Cross volunteer for 25 years during which time he donated 30 gallons of blood; he was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1492 and participated in the Color Guard at funerals; in 1983, he was elected to La Salle County Old Timers Hall of Fame in recognition of his years playing baseball in the 1940s and 1950s; he enjoyed reading about history, visiting Civil War battlefields, attending Army reunions, and being with good friends at the VFW and the YMCA; he also enjoyed baseball, particularly the New York Yankees; and

WHEREAS, John Barickman was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Pauline; his brothers, Dan and Bert Barickman; his sisters, Alba Reihl, Julia Donaldson, and an infant sister, Nancy Barickman; and

WHEREAS, John Barickman is survived by his children, Suzanne and Paul, and his grandsons, Matthew and Nathaniel; 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 John H. "Jack" Barickman; and be it further

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