SR1583LRB100 21463 MST 38171 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Joseph A. "Joe" Morrissey, who passed
4away on April 2, 2018; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Joe Morrissey was born on the family farm near
6Amboy to William R. and Aileen (Brady) Morrissey on August 16,
71929; early on, he learned discipline by milking cows at 5 a.m.
8every day, bailing hay, and feeding pigs and chickens; he
9scrapped metal and sold eggs to make side money during World
10War II; he attended St. Anne Elementary School and graduated
11from Amboy High School in 1947 and St. Ambrose University in
121951; he served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and
13earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois
14School of Law in 1958; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Joe Morrissey worked in the State Farm Claims
16Department until 1964 when he began a private law practice in
17Rockford, concentrating in personal injury claims for over 50
18years; and
 
19    WHEREAS, On December 13, 1978, Joe Morrissey took his last
20drink of alcohol and his first step into Alcoholics Anonymous,
21where he not only received the help he needed, but gave back by
22helping numerous others; and
 

 

 

SR1583- 2 -LRB100 21463 MST 38171 r

1    WHEREAS, Joe Morrissey loved the community of Rockford and
2spent countless hours and nearly all of his life savings to
3help redevelop downtown Rockford and other impoverished parts
4of the city; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Joe Morrissey enjoyed practicing his Catholic
6faith, gardening, morning coffee with his buddies, and
7campaigning for his son, former Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey;
8and
 
9    WHEREAS, Joe Morrissey was preceded in death by his
10parents; his grandson, Michael Joseph Morrissey; his brothers,
11Robert, John "Tiny", and Reverend William Morrissey; his
12sisters, Rosie and Bette; his brothers-in-law, Leroy Goy, Doug
13Koch, George Hawks, Louis Wilhelm, Alvin Glenn, Gene Carroll,
14Lloyd Considine, Jack Scorby, and Joe (Marge) Matranga; his
15brother and sister-in-law, Cosmo and Antonette Matranga; three
16infant Matranga brothers-in-law; his nephew and godson, Tim
17Considine; and his nephews, Jay Hawks and Brian Goy; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Joe Morrissey is survived by his wife, Josephine;
19his kids, Bill (Melissa), Eileen (Joe), and Larry (Stacy); his
20grandchildren, Larissa, Joseph, Josh, Matt, Andrew, Grace,
21Seanna, Sophia, Dillon, and AJ; his sisters, Rita, Lois,
22Frances, Monica, Barb, and Colleen; his sisters-in-law,

 

 

SR1583- 3 -LRB100 21463 MST 38171 r

1Corrine and Linda; and his brother, Larry; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
4Joseph A. "Joe" Morrissey, and extend our sincere condolences
5to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
6it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to the family of Joe Morrissey as an expression of
9our deepest sympathy.