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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Verlyn "Swede" Roskam, who passed away on
4March 13, 2015; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Verlyn Roskam was born in Iowa Falls, Iowa; he
6graduated from Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington,
7Missouri and from Knox College in 1951; he served as a company
8commander in the Korean War and was honored by the government
9of Korea at a 50th anniversary ceremony; for more than 50
10years, the Roskams have made their home in the Glen Ellyn and
11Wheaton areas; and
 
12    WHEREAS, On July 26, 1952, Verlyn Roskam married the love
13of his life, Martha Lou Jacobsen, in Oak Park; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Verlyn Roskam worked full-time as an
15international salesman for the sorbent minerals company
16Oil-Dri Corp. of America until last year at the age of 84 - a
17career that spanned 45 years; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Verlyn Roskam formed Educational Assistance
19Limited, an organization that uses surplus inventory from
20colleges and universities and contributions from outside
21donors to fund scholarships and supplies for college students

 

 

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1who could not otherwise afford to go; Educational Assistance
2Limited has raised millions of dollars and helped more than
310,000 students nationwide; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Verlyn Roskam was an active member of the Glen
5Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Verlyn Roskam was known for sponsoring trips
7overseas for young people within his church or paying for the
8education of others who were once in his situation; in 2002, on
9a business trip in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, his wife, Martha,
10noticed a basket of military dog tags; they purchased all 37 of
11them and hired a private investigator to track down the
12families of the 37 men; they spent the next decade personally
13delivering them to each family they could find; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Although not political themselves, Verlyn Roskam
15and his wife supported their son, Peter, in his political
16aspirations - often seen campaigning and participating in
17parades on their son's behalf; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Verlyn Roskam is survived by his wife of 62 years,
19Martha (nee Jacobsen) Roskam; his 5 children, Stephen
20(Chandler), Dick (Phyllis), Sarah, U.S. Representative Peter
21(Elizabeth), and Maribeth (Jon Coote); and his 16
22grandchildren, Gracey Roskam, Frankie Roskam, Steve Roskam, AJ

 

 

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1Roskam, Jacob Roskam, Mica Roskam, Hilary Roskam, Jon Roskam,
2Lilly Roskam, Bryan Simpson, Hope Simpson, Jayne Averitt, Ian
3Coote, Peter Coote, Jonathan Coote, Jr., and Philip Coote;
4therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
6ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
7Verlyn "Swede" Roskam, and extend our sincere condolences to
8his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
9further
 
10    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
11presented to the family of Verlyn Roskam as an expression of
12our deepest sympathy.