SR0549 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0549 LRB103 34733 MST 64581 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James Edward "Jim" Ketchum, formerly of Auburn, who passed away on September 26, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Jim Ketchum was born in Taylorville to Roy and Maude (Campbell) Ketchum on July 18, 1935; he attended Taylorville High School and graduated from Divernon High School in 1953; he married Wanda Lee Seiders at Divernon Baptist Church on May 29, 1955, and they settled in Auburn, where they lived for 67 years; and

WHEREAS, Jim Ketchum worked as a lineman for the Rural Electric Convenience Co-Operative immediately after high school, where he was employed for 45 years; during that time, he also served two years in the U.S. Army, stationed in the territory of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, Jim Ketchum and Wanda owned and operated the Edgewood Shooting Park, employing dozens of teens over the years; he was also a part-time Shelter insurance agent; and

WHEREAS, Jim Ketchum was a Master Mason and member of Ark & Anchor Lodge #354 since 1967; he became a noble in the Ansar Shriners in 1979, serving on the Director's Staff and was a member of the Court 20 Royal Order of Jesters; he was an accomplished marksman and a state and national trapshooting champion; he also served as the assistant coach for an award-winning youth team from the Scholastic Clay Target Program; he was a hot rod enthusiast and could be seen tooling around town in his red 1939 Chevy Coupe or his 1978 Corvette Stingray; and

WHEREAS, Jim Ketchum was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Wanda; his infant sister, Anna Belle; and his brother, Roy Eugene "Gene" Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Jim Ketchum is survived by his daughters, Becky (Scott) Wiley, Dee Dee (Kevin) Walsh, and twins, Kris (Andy) Nothnagel and Kelly (David) Brown; his brother, Bob (Joyce) Ketchum; his half-brother, Sammy (Janice) Barger; his stepsister, Sharron (Gardner) Nickel; his brother-in-law, Jim (Maris) Seiders; his sisters-in-law, Dorothy (Van Giesen) Seiders and Rita (Janesse) Seiders; his cousin, Irene (Campbell) Rickman; his granddaughters, Rachel Carlson and Melanie Brown; his grandsons, Kevin and Christopher Wiley; his great-granddaughters, Ellia and twins, Noa and Rowyn Wiley; and many nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of James Edward "Jim" Ketchum and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Jim Ketchum as an expression of our deepest sympathy.