HR0845 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0845 LRB097 20713 KXB 67066 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of George L. Sodemann of Champaign, who passed away on February 19, 2012; and

WHEREAS, He was born on December 7, 1926, in Clinton, Iowa, the only son of Hugo Sodemann and Elsie Schroeder Sodemann; he married Marjorie Edwards Graef on April 1, 1949; and

WHEREAS, He graduated from Lyons High School in Clinton, Iowa, in 1944, followed by a 16-month tour of duty with the United States Navy; he graduated from the University of Iowa College of Engineering in 1950; and

WHEREAS, In 1955, he established the civil engineering firm of Sodemann and Associates, Inc., serving as president until he sold it to his son Steven in 2008; he was a Registered Professional Engineer in the states of California, Florida, Illinois, and South Carolina; he was an honorary member and former president of the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers, former president of the Consulting Engineers Council of Illinois, former board member of the American Consulting Engineers Council, and a member of NSPE, ASCE, APWA, AWWA, and the Water Pollution Control Federation; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his professional activities, his community service included time serving on the Board of Directors of the McKinley YMCA, Mercy Hospital, Provena Covenant Medical Center, Covenant Medical Center Foundation (past chairman), and Covenant Medical Center Hospital Planning Committee; he was a member of the Board of Directors of the United Way of Champaign County, including serving as the president of the board in 1987 and the campaign chairman in 1985; he served as the board chairman for the United Way of Illinois in 1997 and 1998; he was Parkland Community College Foundation Fund Drive co-chair in 2000-2001; he and his wife, Marge, were named the Champaign Chamber of Commerce 2010 Citizens of the Year; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; and

WHEREAS, George Sodemann is survived by his wife, Marjorie; his children, Pamela Sodemann, Steven (Lauren) Sodemann, Nancy (Lynn) Standish, and Scott (Lonna) Sodemann; his grandchildren, Terri Pones, Kara (Chris) Olsen, Erica Tyler, Kirsten (Ben) Zumbahlen, Drew (Brittany) Tyler, Todd (Sandi) Standish, and Gina Sodemann and Luke Sodemann; his great-grandchildren, Alyssa Cole and Logan Pones, Kaelan Olsen, Ryan Olsen, and Tyler Olsen, Paige Fair, Logan Zumbahlen, Taylor Standish, Zack Standish, and Sofia Standish; 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 George Sodemann; and be it further

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