SR0390 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0390 LRB096 14497 KXB 29325 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Albert Bergquist of Elburn, who passed away on August 29, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Albert F. "Al" Bergquist was born September 17, 1933, the son of Hilmer and Irene (Powers) Bergquist in Aurora; he grew up on the family farm in the La Fox and attended local St. Charles and Geneva Schools; his two passions in life were farming and racing motorcycles; and

WHEREAS, He was drafted into the United States Army in 1955 and faithfully served his country until being discharged to help his family, after his father suffered a stroke; and

WHEREAS, Al and Joan Oksas were united in marriage December 29, 1955; and

WHEREAS, He was a "jack of all trades", but he was a farmer at heart; he drove a truck part-time over the years for Stover's, Bowgren's, and White Brothers' Trucking; he served for twenty years as the Road Commissioner for Blackberry Township, retiring in 1997; upon retirement, he continued to work for the township plowing the snow in winter, and he helped put together John Deere lawn tractors for Ehlers Lawn and Recreation in Elburn for many years; and

WHEREAS, In 1992, Joan and Al bought a used Goldwing motorcycle from a neighbor and traveled together for many years; he was a life member of the American Motorcycle Association as well as Chapters B-2 (Crystal Lake), DK (DeKalb), and V (Batavia) of the Gold Wing Road Rider Association, and served as director of Enduros District 17; he followed family tradition by serving on the board of the Elburn Co-op for seventeen years and was a long-time member of the Illinois Highway Commissioners' Association; and

WHEREAS, When not riding or working, he and his wife loved to spend their time dancing as part of the Fox Valley Mixers square dancing club, later called the Sugar Squares; he also was a member of the Fox Hunters' Club; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister-in-law, Diane Oksas; his brother-in-law, Joseph Fabrizius; and his mother-in-law, Hazel Oksas; and

WHEREAS, He now leaves his loving wife, Joan Bergquist; his four children, Vicki Bergquist, Al "Butch" (Connie) Bergquist, Barbara (Patrick) Bradford, and Mary (Chuck) Liss; his grandchildren, Rebecca (née, Bradford), (Ronald Jr.) Edwards, Ben Bradford, Blake Bradford, Mackenzie Liss, Allison Liss, and Chucky Liss; his great-grandchildren, Shelby and Bradford Edwards; his siblings, Carl (Sharon) Bergquist, Alice Nickels, and Norm (Diane) Bergquist; his sister-in-law, Carol Fabrizius; his brother-in-law, Bob Oksas; many nieces and nephews; and a family of friends; 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 and friends, the passing of Albert Bergquist; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Albert Bergquist as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.