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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Daniel R. "Dan" Sperry of Normal, who
4passed away on April 11, 2020; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Dan Sperry was born in Batavia to Frank Earl and
6Elsie Jane Banks Sperry on October 16, 1928; he attended the
7University of Illinois; he married M. Irene Hubbs in
8Bloomington on February 24, 1952, and she preceded him in death
9on January 24, 1997; he later married O. Gerada Fonger in
10Bloomington on August 1, 1998, and she preceded him in death on
11December 23, 2019; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Dan Sperry took over his father's company,
13Mechanical Devices, in Bloomington after his father's death in
141956; alongside his wife Irene, he expanded the company to
15include production manufacturing, and the business grew from a
166,000 square-foot site to 20 acres on G.E. Road; his company
17continues under the leadership of family members and is now
18under the management of its fourth generation; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Dan Sperry was a member of the Society of
20Manufacturing Engineers and DeMolay International; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Dan Sperry was known as a skilled draftsman, an

 

 

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1exceptional designer, and a talented musician; he collected the
2works of authors Joseph C. Lincoln and Zane Gray; he enjoyed
3playing a number of sports during high school, Boy Scouting
4with his son and grandsons, going on family vacations, camping,
5sailing, and canoeing; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Dan Sperry was preceded in death by his parents
7and his sisters, Emma Lee Sperry, Bertha-Mae Wilson, and George
8Jean Sperry; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Dan Sperry is survived by his children, Linda Sue
10(Gary) Fillingham, Carol Jean (Steve) Kant, Mark Daniel
11(Laurel) Sperry, and Judy Kay (Mark) Hovren; his grandchildren,
12Yale (Emily) Fillingham, Chase (Kari) Fillingham, Alexis
13(A.J.) Kalitzky, Austin (Doug) Herring, Tyler (Emma) Sperry,
14Courtney Sperry, Emily (Dan) Breazeale, and Sara Hovren; his
15great-grandchildren, Rose Fillingham, Willa Fillingham, Hunter
16Fillingham, Kallen Fillingham, Aubrey Kalitzky, Jonah
17Kalitzky, Emerson Kalitzky, Kate Kalitzky, Trae Herring, Nash
18Herring, and Connor Sperry; and his two special nephews,
19Forrest (Carla) Wilson and John (Judy) Wilson; therefore, be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
21ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
22Daniel R. "Dan" Sperry and extend our sincere condolences to
23his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it

 

 

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1further
 
2    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3presented to the family of Dan Sperry as an expression of our
4deepest sympathy.