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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of David F. Rehkemper of Highland, who
4 passed away on May 7, 2010; and
 
5     WHEREAS, He was born July 24, 1944 in St. Rose Township,
6 Breese, to August and Bernetta (Ketterer) Rehkemper; on May 1,
7 1965, at St. Paul Catholic Church in Highland, he married
8 Monica I. Potthast; he attended St. Rose Elementary School and
9 Mater Dei High School, graduating in 1962; and
 
10     WHEREAS, After graduation, he worked as a carpenter for
11 Ralph Korte Construction Company and for Aviston Lumber
12 Company; he served in the United States Army Reserve and later
13 became a barber at Ozzie's Barbershop in Highland; in 1968, he
14 partnered with Ed Moenster and Clinton Rogier to form Tri Ford
15 Inc.; they opened for business in 1969 and rapidly grew it into
16 one of the largest businesses in Highland; today the business
17 also includes a location in Greenville; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Mr. Rehkemper received numerous awards from Ford,
19 including the prestigious Ford Chairman's Award several times;
20 he was named the Time Magazine Quality Dealer among Illinois
21 dealers; he was a Ford Dealer Advertising Association member
22 for more than 20 years, serving as the group treasurer for many

 

 

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1 years; he was a member of the Illinois Automobile Dealers
2 Association and the National Automobile Dealers Association;
3 and
 
4     WHEREAS, He was named the Highland Business Person of the
5 Year by the Highland Chamber of Commerce in 1995 and was an
6 active Chamber member for more than 30 years; he was a charter
7 member of the Highland Area Community Foundation and served
8 many years on the auction committee of the St. Paul
9 Kirchenfest; he was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church in
10 Highland; Mr. Rehkemper was a past president of the Highland
11 Rotary Club, where he achieved perfect attendance awards for
12 nearly two decades and was also named a Paul Harris Fellow of
13 that organization; and
 
14     WHEREAS, He served on the St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation,
15 the St. Joseph's Hospital Advisory Board, and the St. Joseph's
16 Hospital Administration Board for many years; he served on the
17 River Bluffs Girl Scout Council and the Trails West Boy Scout
18 Council for more than 10 years; he served on the Highland
19 Community Schools Advisory Council, and was involved
20 personally or professionally with several Highland community
21 organizations; and
 
22     WHEREAS, Mr. Rehkemper had traveled to China, the British
23 Isles, and extensively through Ford Motor Company trips; he

 

 

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1 enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren and
2 playing golf; he enjoyed working with people at his dealership,
3 where he had a reputation for being a fair, honest, and
4 friendly merchant and employer; and
 
5     WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; his
6 brother, Rich; and his granddaughter, Amanda Lynn Rehkemper;
7 and
 
8     WHEREAS, David Rehkemper is survived by his wife; his
9 daughter, Jenae A. (Shawn) O'Neil; his son, Eric D. (Janean)
10 Rehkemper; his granddaughter, Cori A. Rehkemper; his grandson,
11 Braden E. Rehkemper; his sisters, Betty J. (Cornelius "Dick")
12 Richter and Janet C. (Donald) Huelsmann; and his sister-in-law,
13 Darlene A. Rehkemper; therefore, be it
 
14     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
15 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
16 his family and friends, the passing of David Rehkemper; and be
17 it further
 
18     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19 presented to the family of David Rehkemper as a symbol of our
20 sincere sympathy.