HR1121 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1121 LRB097 21760 KXB 70266 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Raymond L. Schaeffer of Carlyle, who passed away on May 1, 2012; and

WHEREAS, He was born on the family farm south of Beckemeyer on August 13, 1922, to Louis and Cecilia, nee Beckmann, Schaeffer; after his mother passed away in December of 1927, he was raised by his uncle and aunt, Fred "Fritz" and Elizabeth Beckmann in Bartelso; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from grade school in Bartelso in 1936, he worked as a farmhand in the Bartelso area; he went to work at the Moran shoe factory in Carlyle in 1941 and it was there that he met his future wife, Dorothy Schiermann of Carlyle; he and Dorothy were married at St. Mary Church in Carlyle, on July 11, 1944; and

WHEREAS, As a member of the "Greatest Generation," Ray served in General Dean's 44th Infantry Division of the United States Army in Europe in World War II; he worked as a bricklayer and contractor for many years and later was a life insurance salesman for CK&L of I; Ray was an active member and past commander of the VFW Post 3523 in Carlyle; he was also a charter member of the Bartelso Catholic War Veterans, and a member of the Beckemeyer American Legion Post 1227 and Carlyle Knights of Columbus; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, John Schaeffer and Cyril Schniers; his sister, Mary Gehrs; his sister-in-law, Mary Alice Schaeffer; and his brothers-in-law, Ferdy Gehrs and Kenny Koenig; and

WHEREAS, Raymond L. Schaeffer is survived by his wife of 67 years, Dorothy; their children and spouses, Kay (Ed) Agustin, Barb (Dan) Haselhorst, Marilyn (Gary) Setser, Dan (Maureen) Schaeffer, Pat (Rich) Boien, and Dave (Kathy) Schaeffer; his brother, Vic Schaeffer; his sister, Stella Koenig; and his sisters-in-law, Alvina Schaeffer and Janet Schniers; and

WHEREAS, Ray is survived by 16 grandchildren who were his greatest joy; he passed away one week after the birth of his tenth great-grandchild; and

WHEREAS, Ray was laid to rest in St. Mary's Cemetery following a service with Reverend George Mauck at St. Mary's Church in Carlyle, the same church where he and his wife married, commemorated their 60th wedding anniversary, attended church regularly for the majority of their lives, and recognized innumerable milestones in the growth of their loving family; and

WHEREAS, Ray lived every day with a grateful heart and a radiant sense of humor, playing bingo regularly with his brother Vic, becoming a Wii bowling team member at the Carlyle Healthcare Center, singing to his wife Dorothy, gathering the family together for his 89th birthday celebration, and cheering his beloved St. Louis Cardinals to their 2011 World Series win; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Raymond L. Schaeffer; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we pledge to continue to remember and cherish in our hearts the time spent in uniform by all of our American veterans; our country is what it is today because of these brave men and women; and be it further

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