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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Anthony
4Yaw Sarfo Kwateng of Munster, Indiana, who passed away on July
51, 2015; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Anthony Kwateng was born in Atimatin, Maase, Ghana
7on September 27, 1948 to Nana Akwasi Kyere Kwateng, Boagyaa
8Yokohene, and Obaa Panin Akosua Obour Serwaa; he began his
9early education at Kwabere, Maase and later transferred to St.
10Joseph Catholic School in Kumasi, Ghana; he was class captain
11and a leader in the Baiden Powell Boys Scout Group at St.
12Joseph's School; he played soccer, establishing himself as a
13brilliant goalkeeper; after graduating from St. Joseph's, he
14continued his education at the Tamale Government Technical
15School in the northern part of Ghana; he completed his
16technical school education at Takoradi Polytechnic in the
17Western Region of Ghana in 1963, with a diploma in building
18technology; and
 
19    WHEREAS, In 1964, Anthony Kwateng began working in Accra,
20Ghana with the Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation as an
21Assistant Quantity Surveyor; he married Mary Winifred Nyam in
22Agona Asafo, Ghana in 1971, and, in 1972, immigrated to the
23United States in search of better opportunities; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Anthony Kwateng's wife joined him in the U.S. in
21973 and they settled in Maywood; he studied at Triton College
3and began working for the Holloway Tiling Company as an
4estimator and then J. Wright & Sons; he moved his family to
5Gary, Indiana and began working for Means Developers as a Chief
6Estimator and Project Manager; on May 23, 1982, he graduated
7from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in
8Construction Technology and 2 associates degrees in
9supervision and architectural technology; and
 
10    WHEREAS, While continuing his work with Means Developers,
11Anthony Kwateng began pursuing his own entrepreneurial goals;
12he invested in a restaurant in Gary, Indiana called Cindy's and
13opened an office supply store; in 1984, he co-founded Oakley
14Construction Company, Inc. in Chicago, the first major
15Ghanaian-African/American construction company with offices in
16the U.S. and Ghana; he served as Vice-President and Secretary
17of the company from its founding until his passing; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Anthony Kwateng was a founding member of the
19Asanteman Association of Chicago and the Ghana USA Chamber of
20Commerce; he was an active member of Black Contractors United
21and an avid supporter of local chapters of the National Society
22of Black Engineers; he often did philanthropic work in the 15th
23Ward/Englewood neighborhood, feeding the homeless, supporting

 

 

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1battered women's shelters, and donating to the Chicago Housing
2Authorities' Children's Christmas programs; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Anthony Kwateng volunteered during Black History
4Month, visiting local Gary schools to educate children on
5Ghanaian culture and history; during his free time, he could be
6found blasting Ghanaian music throughout the house, supporting
7family and friends in the local Ghanaian community at various
8events, working on his latest business venture, or working out,
9which for him included a long walk on the treadmill and an even
10longer stay in the steam room at his local gym; he also enjoyed
11watching CNN or sports; he served as President of the Parent
12Teacher's Association at his children's school and was always
13the loudest spectator at their events; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Anthony Kwateng was a greeter at his church St.
15Thomas Moore in Munster, Indiana until he became a founding
16patron of the Ghanaian Catholic Community Church of Chicago; he
17devoted the last several years of his life to the church; he
18was also a dedicated member of the Catholic Charismatic Prayer
19Group; as a patron and member of the church choir, he always
20provided for the needs and welfare of the choir; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Anthony Kwateng is survived by his wife, Mary; his
22daughters, Odilia Kwateng, Antoinette Kwateng-Brimah (Ali),
23and Akua Kwateng-Bonsu (William); his son, Prince Kwaku Afriyie

 

 

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1Kwateng (Ashley); his grandchildren, DeAnthoni, Malachi, Myia,
2McKenzie, and Nathaniel; and a host of nieces, nephews, family,
3and friends; therefore, be it
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
5NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
6mourn the passing of Anthony Yaw Sarfo Kwateng, and extend our
7sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew
8and loved him; and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
10presented to the family of Anthony Kwateng as an expression of
11our deepest sympathy.