Full Text of SR0417 97th General Assembly
SR0417 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to | 3 | | learn of the death of John Joseph "Johnny" Gerl of Joliet, who | 4 | | passed away on October 30, 2011; and
| 5 | | WHEREAS, He was born in Joliet on February 7, 1920; he | 6 | | attended St. Joseph's Grade School, and was a graduate of | 7 | | Joliet Township High School class of 1938; he was a proud | 8 | | member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and was a lifetime member | 9 | | of the Rival's Park Athletic Association, and the Will County | 10 | | Old-Timers Baseball Association; and
| 11 | | WHEREAS, He was a United States Army Veteran serving with | 12 | | the 113th Engineers C Company, during World War II; he received | 13 | | the Bronze Star for his bravery and heroism while engaged in | 14 | | action in the Philippine Islands and 3 additional Bronze Battle | 15 | | Stars, World War II Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theater | 16 | | Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, 3 Overseas Service Bars, | 17 | | and one Service Stripe; and
| 18 | | WHEREAS, He was a life member of V.F.W. Stone City Post | 19 | | #2199; he was also a fast pitch softball standout; he played | 20 | | for various local teams, including the Joliet Rivals Baseball | 21 | | Club and the esteemed Aurora Sealmasters; in 1977, he was | 22 | | inducted into the Fast Pitch Softball Hall of Fame; during the |
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| 1 | | 1950's the Chicago White Sox offered him a minor league | 2 | | baseball contract; and he was the owner and operator of Johnny | 3 | | and Lou's Tavern for over 40 years; and
| 4 | | WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his first wife, Bertha | 5 | | (nee Perush) Gerl; his parents, John and Mary Gerl; his | 6 | | brother, Edward Gerl; his sisters, Marie Wojeski, Bern Kickles, | 7 | | and Dorothy Savich; and his grandsons, Frank John Rury and | 8 | | Andrew Scott Taras; and
| 9 | | WHEREAS, John Gerl is survived by his wife, Alene C. (nee | 10 | | Pearcy) Gerl; his sons, Andrew (Tania) Taras and John (Ronae) | 11 | | Gerl; his daughters, Karen DeBenedetti, Helen (Larry) | 12 | | Setmeyer, and Rachelle (Larry) Prodehl; his grandchildren, | 13 | | Mario, Dawne, Darin, and Dedra DeBenedetti, Scott and Nicholas | 14 | | Taras, Wally, Andy, and Adam Setmeyer, Jayme Rury, Racheal | 15 | | Todd, and Rebecca Burlingame, and Johnny and Haley Gerl; his | 16 | | great-grandchildren; his sisters, Helen Kachel and Leone Will; | 17 | | his devoted sister-in-law, Irene Capista; and numerous nieces, | 18 | | nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it
| 19 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL | 20 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with | 21 | | his family and friends, the passing of John Gerl; and be it | 22 | | further
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| 1 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 2 | | presented to the family of John Gerl as a symbol of our sincere | 3 | | sympathy.
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