Full Text of SR0205 103rd General Assembly
SR0205 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened | 3 | | to learn of the death of Reverend Thomas B. "Tom" Christell Jr. | 4 | | of Springfield, who passed away on April 14, 2023; and
| 5 | | WHEREAS, Rev. Christell was born to Thomas B. and Viola | 6 | | Arline (Evans) Christell Sr. in Chicago on May 16, 1951; he | 7 | | married Patricia Chelgren on June 16, 1973; and
| 8 | | WHEREAS, Rev. Christell retired from Grace Lutheran Church | 9 | | after 29 years of service; he previously served at St. Peter's | 10 | | Church in Arenzville for seven years; and
| 11 | | WHEREAS, During his time at Grace Lutheran Church, Rev. | 12 | | Christell traveled with adults and youth to the Boundary | 13 | | Waters for fishing, canoeing, and fellowship; he was committed | 14 | | to working with the youth of his church and served as a mentor | 15 | | to young members, attending many trips, retreats, and other | 16 | | adventures; and
| 17 | | WHEREAS, Rev. Christell participated in Confirmation Camp | 18 | | for all 36 years of his ministry; while providing oversight of | 19 | | the Central Southern Illinois Synod Lutheran Youth | 20 | | Organization, he organized and operated many youth conventions | 21 | | and gatherings, and he was an integral part of the Leadership |
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| 1 | | Lab program for decades; after serving as coordinator of the | 2 | | Advanced Level of Leadership Lab for several years, he became | 3 | | the co-director in 2000; during his tenure, he prided himself | 4 | | on creating scholarship funding for kids to attend the | 5 | | Leadership Lab; and
| 6 | | WHEREAS, Rev. Christell expanded the Grace Lutheran Food | 7 | | Pantry to be one of the largest in Springfield, taking pride in | 8 | | the fact that he never used administrative funds for the food | 9 | | pantry as it was a self-sufficient program that ran on | 10 | | donations, volunteers, and the desire to help those in need; | 11 | | and
| 12 | | WHEREAS, Rev. Christell served many charities and | 13 | | organizations outside the parish, including Lutheran Social | 14 | | Services in Illinois, Habitat for Humanity, the Springfield | 15 | | Choral Society, and Downtown Springfield Incorporated; he also | 16 | | took part in the Lincoln Funeral reenactment and procession | 17 | | from the train station to Oakridge Cemetery in 2015; and
| 18 | | WHEREAS, Rev. Christell loved golfing, fishing, and | 19 | | watching the Chicago Cubs; and
| 20 | | WHEREAS, Rev. Christell loved being a grandfather and was | 21 | | very proud of his grandchildren; he enjoyed spending time | 22 | | playing and laughing with his grandchildren and |
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| 1 | | great-grandchild; and
| 2 | | WHEREAS, Rev. Christell was preceded in death by his | 3 | | parents and his son, Matthew Charles Christell; and
| 4 | | WHEREAS, Rev. Christell is survived by his wife of 49 | 5 | | years, Patti; his children, Thomas B. "Chip" (Erica) Christell | 6 | | III, Amy (Jason) Harshman, Stephen (Katie) Christell, and | 7 | | Katie (Gabriel) Gonzalez; his grandchildren, Collin, Nathan, | 8 | | Addison, Chase, Owen, Emily, Max, Jacob, Hallie, Sofia, David, | 9 | | and Benjamin; his great-grandson, Zane; his brothers, Kevin | 10 | | (Linda) Christell and Craig (Michelle) Christell; and several | 11 | | nieces, nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it
| 12 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL | 13 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of | 14 | | Reverend Thomas B. "Tom" Christell Jr. and extend our sincere | 15 | | condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved | 16 | | him; and be it further
| 17 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 18 | | presented to the family of Rev. Christell as an expression of | 19 | | our deepest sympathy.
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