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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the passing of Don Offermann, who passed away on
4December 26, 2021 at the age of 84; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Don Offermann was born on April 30, 1937 in Red
6Bud; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Don Offermann was raised by his loving parents,
8Viola (Binder) and the Reverend Theodore Offermann, along with
9his five brothers and sisters; and
 
10    WHEREAS, After graduating from high school in Missouri,
11Don Offermann was eager to see the "big city;" with just a
12pillow and a suitcase, he moved from Lockwood, Missouri to
13River Forest to attend Concordia Teacher's College, now
14Concordia University of Chicago; and
 
15    WHEREAS, During college, Don Offermann pursued a degree in
16English and met his wife, Verna; after graduating in 1958, he
17and Verna were married on June 18, 1960 and were blessed with
18four children; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Don Offermann began his career in education as an
20English teacher at Luther North High School in Chicago; in

 

 

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11964, he joined the faculty of Oak Park River Forest (OPRF)
2High School, where he would remain for a truly remarkable 25
3years; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Don Offermann entered OPRF as an English teacher,
5coaching soccer and track after school; as his career
6advanced, he served as the English department assistant chair,
7English department chair, assistant principal, assistant
8superintendent, associate superintendent, and finally
9superintendent/principal; and
 
10    WHEREAS, As a track coach, Don Offermann trained future
11University of Illinois track star Rich Brooks; together, they
12started the Oak and William (OW) Running Club whose members
13became known as "OWies;" he remained good friends with Rich
14for the rest of his life and continued to run with the "OWies"
15three times a week into his eighties; his running friends
16remember him as "a disciplined guy" who added a "camaraderie
17of purpose" to the group; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Don Offermann was not one to stay idle; less than
19two weeks after his "retirement" from OPRF in 1999, he started
20his next career at Forest Park National Bank and Trust
21Company, where he became senior vice president of business
22development and dedicated himself to serving the community,
23making personal connections with bank patrons, and investing

 

 

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1in the local businesses; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Don Offermann was instrumental in the development
3of Madison Street in Forest Park; this development led to the
4creation of the thriving retail, dining, and entertainment
5district there today; during his career at Forest Park
6National Bank, he, along with his business partner Art Jones,
7created Windmill Industries through which they bought key but
8underutilized properties in Forest Park's business district,
9vetted potential new owners, did some minor renovations, and
10then transferred ownership; this was all with the primary aim
11of helping Forest Park become a better place to live, work, and
12do business; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Don Offermann dedicated himself to helping those
14around him; whether it was educating students at OPRF, running
15with fellow "OWies," or helping to grow small businesses in
16Forest Park, he was always giving back to his community; in
17addition to serving fellow citizens in his educational and
18banking careers, he volunteered on the boards of various local
19organizations, served as president of the River Forest Tennis
20Club, served as chairman of the Board of Directors for West
21Suburban Hospital and Resurrection Hospital, served as a board
22member of the Concordia University Foundation, and served as a
23member of the Advisory Board for the Hemingway Foundation; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Don Offermann is survived by his loving wife of
261 years, Verna; his children, Daniel (Cynthia), Nancy (Doug
3Shea), David (Gina), and Monika (Terrence Nash); and his
4grandchildren, Graham, Lindsey, Colette, Kendra, Matthew,
5Aaron, Paul, Griffin, Drew, and Jackson; therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
8Don Offermann and extend our sincere condolences to his
9family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
10further
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12presented to the family of Don Offermann as an expression of
13our deepest sympathy.