SR0809 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0809 LRB101 15395 MST 64641 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Arthur L. Leenerman of Mahomet, who passed away on November 4, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Arthur Leenerman was born in Sibley to Alonzo Louis and Ida Brucker Leenerman on July 5, 1924; he married Ethel L. Bryant in Champaign on July 26, 1969; and

WHEREAS, Arthur Leenerman served in the U.S. Navy during World War II aboard the USS Indianapolis; he was a Radarman 3 class; he survived the sinking of the USS Indianapolis after it was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in the closing days of the war; he was one of only 317 sailors who survived the sinking and spent four and a half days adrift in the sea before being rescued; he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds inflicted during the sinking and his ordeal in the sea; and

WHEREAS, Arthur Leenerman was a member of the USS Indianapolis Survivors Organization and attended numerous reunions since its inception in 1960; he has been honored in several of the books and documentaries about the sinking of the ship; and

WHEREAS, Arthur Leenerman was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing; he also enjoyed gardening and grew trees from seedlings which he planted at Mount Hope Cemetery in Sibley; and

WHEREAS, Arthur Leenerman was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Ethel, and his stepdaughter, Cynthia Cooper; and

WHEREAS, Arthur Leenerman is survived by his son, Gregory (Susan) Leenerman; his sister, Marilyn Gudenrath; his granddaughters, Emma and Kristen Leenerman; his grandsons, Jason Eaton and Ryan Cooper; three great-grandchildren; and many cherished nieces, nephews, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Arthur L. Leenerman 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 Arthur Leenerman as an expression of our deepest sympathy.