SR0563 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0563 LRB097 19872 KXB 65155 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of William "Bill" Francis Dettmers of Bethalto, who passed away on January 28, 2012; and

WHEREAS, He was born May 30, 1923, in Bethalto, the son of William Herman and Blanche (Rosin) Dettmers; he married Shirley A. Warren on April 10, 1948, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Bethalto; and

WHEREAS, He served his country in the United States Army in the European Theater during World War II, earning the Purple Heart and retiring as a Master Sergeant; and

WHEREAS, He retired as Bethalto Postmaster after 38 years; he was a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, the Bethalto American Legion Post No. 214, and the Bethalto Knights of Columbus Council No. 4688, where he was a 3rd degree knight; he was a coin, stamp, and baseball card collector, enjoyed wood crafting, and was an avid dancer; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and one sister, Katherine Blastic; and

WHEREAS, William Dettmers is survived by his children and their spouses, William and Sandra Dettmers, Pamela and John Gass, Craig Dettmers, Gary and Denise Dettmers, Paul Dettmers, Teresa and Jim Langford, Susan and Steve Mitchell, Mary and Kevin Hagerty, and Steve and Crystal Dettmers; his 21 grandchildren; his 12 great-grandchildren; his sister, June DeLong; his special companion, Betty Bast; and his nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of William Dettmers; and be it further

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