HR0471 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0471 LRB103 34572 LAW 64409 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Gerald "Jerry" R. Vander Meer of Antioch, who passed away on April 20, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Vander Meer was born to Bertha (DeYoung) Vander Meer and Robert Vander Meer in Roseland on December 19, 1932; he served in the U.S. Army; he married Susan Paarlberg in South Holland on January 17, 1957, and they settled in Antioch to raise their family in 1964; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Vander Meer worked as an agency manager for Country Companies for over 30 years; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Vander Meer was a very active and loyal member of the Lions Club of Antioch for approximately 60 years, and his unrelenting service earned him the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, the organization's highest international honor; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Vander Meer loved fishing, especially in Canada, where he had fished for over 150 weeks in total over the course of his life; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Vander Meer was a dedicated, hardworking, selfless, patriotic, and good man; he will be remembered for offering wise advice to his friends and employees and for the love, care, passion, and exemplary leadership he provided to his family; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Vander Meer was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his daughter, Kathleen; and his sisters-in-law, Dale Paarlberg and Linda Paarlberg; and

WHEREAS, At the time of his passing, Jerry Vander Meer was survived by his children, Tim (Tina) Vander Meer, Tammy (Lee) Taylor, and Tom (Lisa) Vander Meer; his grandchildren, Tyler (Ellen) Vander Meer, Mary (Dallas) Mathews, Justin (Katie) Vander Meer, Devon Vander Meer, and Zak Gibson; and his great-grandchildren, Beau Mathews, Georgia Mathews, and Jackson Vander Meer; his sister, Jane (Howard) Goldsworthy; his brothers-in-law, John Paarlberg and Robert Paarlberg; and many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Gerald "Jerry" R. Vander Meer 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 Jerry Vander Meer as an expression of our deepest sympathy.