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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives wish to congratulate Peter Paul Ruksza, an
4 esteemed resident of Elmwood Park, on the occasion of the
5 celebration of his 90th birthday on April 7, 2005; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Mr. Ruksza's children, grandchildren, and
7 great-grandchildren are coming together from Montana, New
8 York, Alaska, California, Texas, and Nevada, as well as Crete,
9 Elmwood Park, Willow Brook, Steger, Tinley Park, and Chicago,
10 to join in a commemoration of his 90th birthday; and
 
11     WHEREAS, On April 7, 1915, a midwife delivered Peter Paul
12 Ruksza into the loving arms of his parents, Constant Ruksza and
13 the former Mary Dudek; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Peter grew up in the back-of-the-yards
15 neighborhood in Chicago, was the proud brother of Mary and
16 Sophia, and learned carpentry skills at the elbow of his
17 father; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Peter learned the importance of American
19 citizenship from his immigrant father, and was a model citizen;
20 and
 
21     WHEREAS, Peter learned a love for the violin from his
22 grandfather, Karl Dudek, played the fiddle for relaxation
23 throughout his life, and passed on his love for music to his
24 children and grandchildren; and
 
25     WHEREAS, Peter attended Tilden High School until the Great
26 Depression when he was forced to drop out and work to help his
27 family survive; and
 
28     WHEREAS, Peter began work for Percy Wilson Mortgage and

 

 

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1 Finance Company as a "gofer" and office boy, went to night
2 school to finish his education, was recognized by his employer
3 for his financial genius, worked for the same firm for over 50
4 years, exhibited the true spirit of the American work ethic,
5 and retired as a Vice-President; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Peter danced, fell in love with, then married the
7 former Mary Eugenia Ignasiak on May 20, 1939, at St. Joseph
8 Church in Chicago; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Peter and Mary were the proud parents of Dorothy
10 Mary (John Trail), Geraldine Marion (Robert Baader), Arlene
11 Marie (Robert Lenz), and Peter Paul (Victoria Syren); they
12 instilled the value of family in the hearts of their children;
13 and
 
14     WHEREAS, Peter and Mary extended the same dedication and
15 family commitment to their grandchildren and grandchildren's
16 spouses: Robert Kinsella Baader (Ann Pignatiello), Mary
17 Katherine Baader (Thomas Kaley), Cecilia Ann Ruksza Baader,
18 Brian Andrew Ruksza Baader (Vivian Mendez), Melissa Kreger,
19 Michelle Kreger, Matthew Paul Trail (Jeri Roberson), and
20 Christopher Glenn Trail; and to their sixteen
21 great-grandchildren; and
 
22     WHEREAS, Peter and Mary passed on their belief in the
23 importance of education to their children, ensuring that each
24 earned their college degree, becoming teachers, journalists,
25 marketing analysts, and engineers; and to their grandchildren,
26 who became musicians, a psychologist, computer experts,
27 teachers, a Marine and a Chicago policeman, chemists, and a
28 lumber mill operator, all working to strengthen their
29 communities and country; and
 
30     WHEREAS, Peter and Mary instilled strong Christian values
31 in their children, and were members of Assumption Church and

 

 

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1 St. Mary Magdalene Church in Chicago and St. Anne Church in
2 Hazel Crest; and
 
3     WHEREAS, Peter and Mary modeled those values through
4 Christian works and regularly visiting family members and
5 friends in hospitals and nursing homes as long as their health
6 permitted; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Peter and Mary enjoyed 58 years of wedded bliss
8 and were observed with warmth as they daily walked hand-in-hand
9 through the streets of Hazel Crest until the Lord parted them
10 in 1997; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Peter enriched the life of his daughter Geraldine
12 and her husband Robert when he moved into their Crete home and
13 was able to warm their hearts with his never-ending sense of
14 humor; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Peter now resides with his daughter Arlene and her
16 husband Robert in their Elmwood Park home bringing the same
17 kind of warmth and humor to their household; therefore, be it
 
18     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
19 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
20 we extend our heartiest congratulations and wishes to Peter P.
21 Ruksza on the occasion of his 90th birthday; that we commend
22 him for achieving a long and fulfilling life, and we wish him
23 continued happiness and good health in the future; and be it
24 further
 
25     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
26 presented to Peter P. Ruksza as an expression of our respect
27 and esteem.