HR1289 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1289 LRB096 22452 KXB 41690 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Ferdinand "Ferd" Emil Litsch on the occasion of his 90th birthday; and

WHEREAS, Ferdinand Emil Litsch was born July 5, 1920 in St. Louis, Missouri, to Ferdinand Mathew Litsch and Mathilda (Schmitt) Litsch; he was raised in south St. Louis where his parents owned and operated a bakery shop; and

WHEREAS, On September 1, 1941, Ferd married his sweetheart Bertha (Bert) Venoski in St. Louis; their first daughter, Marilyn Kay Litsch, was born in St. Louis in September 1942; Ferd went on the serve in the United States Navy during World War II as a cook/gunner on LST 587; their second daughter, Christine Elaine Litsch, was born in St. Louis in July of 1947; and

WHEREAS, In 1948, Ferd moved his family to Zeigler, to be near Bert's family; they later moved to neighboring West Frankfort in 1952; his third daughter, Karen Kathleen Litsch, was born in July of 1951; and

WHEREAS, Ferd was store manager of the West Frankfort Brokerage clothing store for many years; he later co-owned and operated a chain of shoe stores in southern Illinois, and then owned his own shoe business; he also served as City Clerk for the town of West Frankfort; and

WHEREAS, Over the years he has purchased rental property and also remodeled and sold houses; he and his wife have gone through phases of recreation such as boating and fishing, owning properties on the city lake, archery, and golf; they have also traveled extensively throughout the United States; and

WHEREAS, Ferd is an accomplished artist, working in oils, and has taken lessons from various instructors in the United States and has sold many of his paintings; he also taught oil painting classes in the art gallery in his home; he is a proficient musician, having played a variety of keyboard, wind, and string instruments over the years, including saxophone, clarinet, mandolin, guitar, and accordion; he played the two horns in a band in St. Louis when he was young; and

WHEREAS, Ferd is a dedicated Christian and for many years was an active member of the Full Gospel Businessmen's organization; he has led the song services in his church accompanying himself on the guitar in the past; now he is content to sing an occasional hymn during his church's Sunday services; Ferd is blessed with ten grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Ferdinand "Ferd" Litsch on this momentous occasion and wish him good health and happiness for years to come; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Ferdinand "Ferd" Litsch as a symbol of our respect and esteem.