HR0767 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0767 LRB095 13985 GRL 39802 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Louis M. Christen of Mattoon; and

WHEREAS, Louis M. Christen was born on February 5, 1921 in Fieldon; he was the second son of Frank and Anastacia (Goddee) Christen; he married Jean Ashmore, who preceded him in death, in 1944; he married Freda Donnell in 1979; and

WHEREAS, Louis M. Christen served as a navigator with the 303rd Bombardment Group flying missions from Molesworth, England during the Second World War; during one of his missions, after his plane was crippled by anti-aircraft fire, he successfully navigated his B-17 Bomber to a crash landing in eastern Poland, with every crewman surviving the crash; he enjoyed attending annual reunions with his compatriots until the group was disbanded in 2007; and

WHEREAS, Louis M. Christen dedicated his professional life to the field of agricultural development; he began as an educator in Humboldt before becoming an assistant extension agent in Shelbyville; he served as a Coles County Cooperative Extension Service Farm Adviser from 1957 until his retirement in September 1982; many farmers would turn to him as a source of agricultural information, a valuable commodity before the advent of the Internet; after his retirement, he maintained an active presence as a regular at the twice-yearly meetings held by a group of retired Extension area advisers; and

WHEREAS, Louis M. Christen maintained a keen interest in local affairs; during his retirement, he served on the board of directors of The Bank in Charleston; he also served as The Bank's agricultural advisor; and

WHEREAS, Louis M. Christen positively affected the lives of many young people; he was one of the founders of the 4-H Club livestock auctions at the Coles County Fair in 1957 and was recently honored during the 50th anniversary of this tradition; and

WHEREAS, Louis M. Christen always enjoyed the fellowship of humans and animals; for many years, he maintained a "menagerie" of peacocks, guineas, turkeys, and other strange feathered friends; he recently kept back yard feeders well-stocked and enjoyed watching his birds and keeping the squirrels at bay; and

WHEREAS, Louis M. Christen was a devoted member and supporter of St. Paul's Lutheran Church; and

WHEREAS, Louis M. Christen is survived by his loving wife, Freda; his sons, David and wife Sandy and Darryl and wife Mona; his sister, Madonna Berry; his grandchildren, Holly Talbert and husband Chris, Elan Christen, Nathan Christen, and Dylan Christen; his stepchildren, Robert Donnell (wife Carol, deceased), Nancy Breningmeyer and husband Lloyd, William Donnell and wife Shirley, Linda Gargus (husband Kenny, deceased), J. Tom Donnell, Rena Roberts and husband Hilton; and his numerous step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Louis M. Christen was preceded in death by his first wife, Jean; his parents, Frank and Anastacia; his brothers, Frank, Eugene, Henry, Everett, and Neil; and his sister, Anastacia; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Louis M. Christen; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Louis M. Christen as a symbol of our esteem and respect.