SR2448 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2448 LRB099 24059 MST 51684 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Rev. Rollin Gordon Oswald, who passed away on November 17, 2016; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Oswald was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Gordon and Myrtle Oswald on June 17, 1925; he graduated from Roosevelt Senior High School in 1943 and enlisted in the United States Marines during World War II; he transferred to the United States Navy V12 program, where he earned a bachelor's degree from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania during his service; upon being discharged, he studied at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, completing a Bachelor of Divinity; he married Loraine Jones in Cedar Rapids on June 20, 1948, and a year later, he was ordained in the Methodist Church; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Oswald served as the Superintendent for the Cedar Rapids School District; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Oswald and his wife served in churches across the state of Iowa, including in St. Ansgar, Little Cedar, Dubuque, Mount Vernon, Iowa Falls, and West Des Moines; in 1982, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Simpson College; after retirement in 1988, he continued his ministry as an associate at St. James United Methodist Church and as Chaplain at Meth-Wick Community in Cedar Rapids; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Oswald was an avid gardener, photographer, reader, and strong supporter of education; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Oswald was preceded in death by his wife, Loraine; his brother, Gene Oswald; his sister, Doris West; his parents; his parents-in-law, Thomas and Mabel Jones; and his sister-in-law, Patricia Jones; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Oswald is survived by his sons, Mark (Jo) Gordon, and Peter (Maureen) Thomas; his daughters, Deborah (Ed) Jones Tierney, and Rebekah Ann (Bob) Lane; his brother-in-law, Thomas Marion (Joyce) Jones Jr.; his grandchildren, Anne (Mark) Dysinger, Elizabeth (Alex) Pinnell, Amanda Oswald, Jessica (Jason) Davis, Peter (Brogan) Oswald II, Samuel Oswald, Jacob (Amanda) Steward, Jill (Tim) Henninger, Kate (Ross) Huff, Patrick Tierney, Allison Lane, and Ryan Lane; his great-grandchildren, Olivia and Benjamin Pinnell, Lucy Dysinger, Piper, Max, and Remy Davis, Carter Zilm, Charlee Steward, Kasten Henninger, and Rhett and Reid Huff; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Rev. Rollin Gordon Oswald, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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