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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The Illinois House of Representatives is saddened
3 to learn of the passing of Rodney "Rocky" Rockenbach, formerly
4 of Grayslake, who passed away on March 30, 2007; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Mr. Rockenbach was born on June 5, 1917; he was
6 the eleventh born child to Almon and Elizabeth (Catlow)
7 Rockenbach; he graduated from Crystal Lake High School in 1935,
8 then attended one year of college at Northern Illinois
9 University, finishing his degree at night schools in Elgin and
10 Waukegan; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Mr. Rockenbach worked for his brother Robert at
12 Rockenbach Chevrolet Sales in Grayslake; after the death of his
13 brother in 1944 Mr. Rockenbach and his nephew Douglas purchased
14 Rockenbach Chevrolet Sales; he ran the business as President
15 until 1974 when he sold the business to his partner; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Mr. Rockenbach joined the Grayslake Volunteer
17 Fire Department in December 1944, was appointed Assistant Chief
18 in 1951 and became Chief in November 1954; he retired in
19 November 1993 as Chief after 48 years of service; in September
20 1979, he became the first volunteer fire chief to become
21 President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs in
22 its 120 years of existence; he was also a member of the Lake

 

 

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1 County Fire Chiefs Association and the North Eastern Illinois
2 Fire Chiefs Association; he was past Director, past
3 Secretary-Treasurer, and past President of the South
4 Wisconsin-Northern Illinois Firemen's Association; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Mr. Rockenbach was very active in the Grayslake
6 community, participating in many local organizations; he was a
7 life member of the Grayslake Lions Club since 1944, serving as
8 President from 1951-1952 and as Treasurer from 2005-2006; he
9 was a charter member of the Grayslake Exchange Club and the
10 United Protestant Church; he was also a life member of the
11 Grayslake Historical Society; he served 28 consecutive years on
12 the Avon Township Board of Trustees; he was elected "Man of the
13 Year" by the Grayslake Jaycees, as well as receiving Lake
14 County's P.R.O.U.D. Award; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Mr. Rockenbach moved to the town of Bloomfield,
16 Wisconsin in May 1993; he served for 3 years as President of
17 the Tuscany Property Association; he also served on the
18 Bloomfield Public Works Committee, and was elected Supervisor
19 on the Town Board in 2000, serving as Supervisor until his
20 death; and
 
21     WHEREAS, Mr. Rockenbach was preceded in death by his
22 parents, Almon and Elizabeth (Catlow) Rockenbach; his
23 brothers, Robert, George, Joseph, Raymond, and Lyle; his

 

 

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1 sisters, Esther Mills, Ruth Hare, Elizabeth Wolf, and Shirley
2 Spear; and
 
3     WHEREAS, Mr. Rockenbach is survived by his wife, Doris; his
4 children, Cynthia Lee, Wayne (Karen) Rockenbach, Edward
5 (Nancy) Bluhm III, and Georgia (Steven) Fleming; his
6 grandchildren, Kathryn (James) Johnson, Jeffrey (Deborah) Lee,
7 Bryan (Jeanine) Lee, Kristin (Timothy) Mahoney, Carolyn
8 (Christopher) Sipiora, Kenneth Rockenbach, Edward Bluhm IV,
9 Alexandra, Zachary, and Ryan Fleming; his great grandchildren,
10 Michael Knight, Tyler and Trevor Santi, Tiffany, Jack Rodney
11 and Abigail Lee, William, Grace, Chloe Mahoney, Eric, Emma,
12 Marlee and Avery Sipiora; his sisters, Mary Knox, Dorothy
13 Forsythe, Sarah Belcher; his brother Philip Rockenbach; his
14 many nieces and nephews; therefore, be it
 
15     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
16 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
17 mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Rodney
18 "Rocky" Rockenbach; and be it further
 
19     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20 presented to the family of Rodney "Rocky" Rockenbach as an
21 expression of our deepest sympathy.