SR0326 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0326 LRB096 13235 KXB 27895 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of United States Army Specialist David A. Schaefer Jr. of Smithton, who died while serving his country in Baghdad, Iraq on May 16, 2009; and

WHEREAS, David A. Schaefer Jr. was born March 27, 1982, in Belleville; he attended Freeburg High School in Freeburg and worked as a diesel mechanic for Beelman Trucking Company in St. Libory; he later worked for a trucking center in Troy; and

WHEREAS, Specialist Schaefer served with the Illinois National Guard for 1 1/2 years before being called to active duty in the regular Army; he was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Schweinfurt, Germany; and

WHEREAS, He was a strong-willed, very determined young man and a loving father and husband; he fought for our freedom with bravery and integrity and was proud to be a United States Army soldier; and

WHEREAS, David Schaefer was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Alan and Ada Schaefer; his maternal great-grandparents, William and Violet Bumann; his great-uncle, William Bumann Jr.; and his grandparents-in-law, Aloma Y. Lawrence, Betty J. Sauer, and John Phillips; and

WHEREAS, United States Army Specialist David A. Schaefer Jr. is survived by his wife, Shelly, nee Phillips, Schaefer; his children, Jason Phillips, Logan Schaefer, and Savanna Schaefer; his father, David A. Schaefer Sr.; his mother, Rhonda, nee Ernst, Kemper; his sisters, Courtney Schaefer and Theresa Schaefer; his brothers, Dwayne (Tiffany) Schaefer and Adam Schaefer; his niece and nephew, Tiffany and Jerry Goodwin; his maternal grandparents, Walter "Red" and Viola, nee Bumann, Ernst; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Richard and Sherry, nee Lawrence, Phillips; his brother-in-law, Jeremy C. (Rachel) Phillips; his sister-in-law, Chrystal Phillips; his grandfather-in-law, Robert Lawrence; and his aunts, uncles, and cousins; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family, friends, and a grateful nation, the passing of United States Army Specialist David A. Schaefer Jr.; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of United States Army Specialist David A. Schaefer Jr. and his willingness to serve his country, which led to him making the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of United States Army Specialist David A. Schaefer Jr. as a symbol of our sincere sympathy and respect.