SR0672 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0672 LRB103 36161 ECR 66253 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Jeffrey George Spear of Quincy, who passed away on December 8, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Jeffrey Spear was born to George Harry and Charlotte Hansen Spear in Quincy on December 16, 1955; he graduated as valedictorian from Quincy High School in 1974, where he was on the basketball team and was a co-founder of the athletic supporters pep group; he received his bachelor's degree in biology and graduated magna cum laude from Kenyon College in 1978, where he was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity; he married Theresa Lynn (Powers) Spear in Quincy on June 9, 1978, and he was valedictorian of his graduating class at the Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 1979; and

WHEREAS, Jeffrey Spear, along with his wife, owned and operated Hansen-Spear Funeral Home; and

WHEREAS, Jeffrey Spear was active in a number of community organizations, where many of his endeavors revolved around raising money for youth-based organizations; since 1987, he provided children's sermons at Luther Memorial and Hope Lutheran Churches; and

WHEREAS, Jeffrey Spear was elected to the Quincy High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2000; and

WHEREAS, Jeffrey Spear's interests evolved as he grew older; post college, he ran three Chicago Marathons in under three and a half hours; always an avid Chicago Cubs fan who loved discussing baseball strategy and statistics with other fans, he later began supporting the Bears, the Bulls, and the Blackhawks; most recently, he enjoyed reading, cutting down trees and splitting firewood, working in the yard, going to rock and roll concerts, and sipping some fine California Chardonnay; he was an extreme recycler and had a deep love of nature; he cherished time spent with his family and was especially proud of their individual accomplishments; and

WHEREAS, Jeffrey Spear was preceded in death by his parents and his pets and grandpets, Gussie, Cassie, Sonoma Red, Aspen, Artemis, and a host of cats; and

WHEREAS, Jeffrey Spear is survived by his wife of 45 years, Theresa; his sons, William (Dr. Kristin) Spear, Nicholas (Sarah) Spear, and Kristjan (Lilian) Makke; his grandsons, Zeus Spear, Theo Spear, Erik Makke, Sebastian Makke, and Oskar Makke; his brothers, John (Lisa) Spear and Dr. Robert (Jan) Spear; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Dr. Francis and Jean Powers; his brothers-in-law, Tom (Tina) Powers and Tim (Laura) Powers; his sisters-in-laws, Peggy Phillips, Faye (Mike) Ericson, and Joanne (Jeff) Bergman; his numerous nieces and nephews; and his Irish Setter, Cutrer; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Jeffrey George Spear 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 Jeffrey Spear as an expression of our deepest sympathy.