SR0095 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0095 LRB096 11103 KXB 21685 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of longtime DeKalb community leader and a friend to many, Charles Siebrasse, who passed away on February 5, 2009; and

WHEREAS, He was born March 13, 1947, in DeKalb, the son of Earl and Neva (Fraedrich) Siebrasse; he married Kathy Vance on March 8, 1980, in Sycamore; he attended Sycamore schools until 11th grade and graduated in 1965 from Genoa-Kingston High School; and

WHEREAS, Charles Siebrasse served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1968, including as a medic in Vietnam in 1967; as a member of the 25th Infantry Division Wolfhounds, he earned the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on June 1, 1967, in Vietnam; the Bronze Star Medal for Heroism in Ground Combat in Vietnam August 3, 1967; the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Achievement in Ground Operations Against Hostile Forces in Vietnam from January to December 1967; The Army Commendation Medal for Heroism in Vietnam, July 12, 1967; and the Army Commendation Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) for Meritorious Achievement in Vietnam, September 17, 1967; and

WHEREAS, He earned a fire science degree from Kishwaukee College in 1981 while working as firefighter/paramedic for DeKalb Fire Department from 1971 to 1983; he bought The MidWeek newspaper with wife, Kathy, in January 1982 and owned it until March 2001; he was currently employed as the executive director of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce; and

WHEREAS, He was the manager of the DeKalb Elks Lodge from October 2003 to 2005 and manager of the Wright Way Pontiac Body Shop from 1969 to 1971; he was a current board member of Suicide Prevention Services in Batavia; current co-chairman of DeKalb Corn Fest Corn Boil, since 1985; the chairman of the fund drive for Kishwaukee Community Hospital Atrium for Cardiac Rehabilitation, 2001; the chairman of the DeKalb County Chapter American Heart Association Heart Walk, 2000; the past president of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, 1985; the past president of the DeKalb High School Barb Boosters, 1995 to 1997; a committee member of Illinois State Senator Brad Burzynski's Annual Golf Outing; and a chairman of the Boy Scouts of America Fund Drive; and

WHEREAS, He was involved over the years helping various charitable activities, including the Salvation Army, Let's Talk Turkey, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, the Family Service Agency's Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Voluntary Action Center, the Children's Learning Center, the Kishwaukee YMCA, the DeKalb Moose Lodge, the DeKalb Elks Lodge, DeKalb County VietNow, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American Legion; and

WHEREAS, He was the recipient of the Phoenix Award from Suicide Prevention Services in 2007; as a part of WLBK Radio's Suicide Prevention Program, he was awarded the Illinois Broadcasters' Silver Dome Award in 2007; he also received the Tribute to Heroes Award from the Boy Scouts of America in 2006; the Kishwaukee Community Hospital Heritage Award in 2003; and the "Business of the Year Award" from DeKalb Chamber of Commerce while owner of Siebrasse Publications, publisher of The MidWeek and DeKalb County Business; the MidWeek earned more than 100 awards for excellence from professional newspaper associations during his ownership; and

WHEREAS, He was honored in January of 2009 by his community with a "roast", celebrating this "community cheerleader", as he was titled by a local newspaper; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his son, Michael Siebrasse; his sister, Penny Bunnell; his parents and grandparents; and

WHEREAS, Charles R. Siebrasse is survived by his wife, Kathy; his son, Bradley Siebrasse (Amber Fischer); his sisters, Linda (Charlie) Davidson, Lynn (Ken) Dander, Carol Storm, and Heidi (Scott) Gray; his father-in-law, Don Vance; his brother-in-law, Craig Vance; his aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; and a community of loving friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family, friends, and the DeKalb community, the passing of Charles Siebrasse; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Charles Siebrasse as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.