SR1243 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1243 LRB103 42843 LAW 76094 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James Raymond "Jim" Scheskie of Des Plaines, who passed away on September 10, 2024; and

WHEREAS, Jim Scheskie, the son of Fred and Harriet Scheskie, was born in Evanston on October 2, 1927; he dropped out of high school during his senior year at age 17 to enlist in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and he continued to serve in the occupation forces in Japan after the war; he married Beverly Wirth on July 2, 1949, and they built a home on Henry Avenue in Des Plaines; he was a resident of Des Plaines until he moved into a care home in Oswego in 2022; and

WHEREAS, Upon his return from military service, Jim Scheskie initially joined the women's garment industry, where both of his parents worked; he later joined the Des Plaines Police Department in 1956, where he concluded an almost 30-year career as a lieutenant; he taught defensive driving classes and started a local chapter of Crime Stoppers in Des Plaines; and

WHEREAS, Jim Scheskie was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), serving with his wife as a missionary at a LDS church history site in Liberty, Missouri for a year; he also served as an ordinance worker at the Chicago Temple for nearly 25 years; and

WHEREAS, Jim Scheskie was proud of his career and loved his community, but his greatest joy was being with his family; he enjoyed taking his grandsons to their Little League games and attending their sporting events as well as their Boy Scout activities, and he continued helping with the local Boy Scout campouts after his grandsons were grown; he adored his great-grandchildren, and he thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them; and

WHEREAS, Jim Scheskie was known for helping others, his great sense of humor, and his love of making people laugh; and

WHEREAS, Jim Scheskie was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly; his parents; his stepfather, Al Zupfer; his infant daughter, Karen Scheskie; his daughter, Susan (Gary Pavlenkov) Scheskie; his sister, Annabel Wolf; and other loved ones; and

WHEREAS, Jim Scheskie is survived by his daughter, Debbie (David) Buchanan; his grandchildren, Scott (Emily) Leonard, James (Jaime) Leonard, Jared (Amanda) Leonard, and Ryan Leonard; 14 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; 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 James Raymond "Jim" Scheskie 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 Jim Scheskie as an expression of our deepest sympathy.