SR0539 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0539 LRB099 12347 MST 35476 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James M. "Jim" Balmes, who passed away on April 21, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Jim Balmes was born in Wilmette on March 15, 1921 to Joseph and Theresa (nee Pestka) Balmes; he attended St. Anastasia Grade School and Warren Township High School; he served in the United States Army Air Corps from 1941 to 1944; he married Lois Potter on April 15, 1944 at St. Patrick's Church in Wadsworth and they settled in Gurnee; and

WHEREAS, Jim Balmes worked as a bookkeeper for Gurnee V & S Hardware; he then obtained his IRS certificate and became a tax accountant for the Illinois Hardware Association; and

WHEREAS, Jim Balmes was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing horseshoes, both of which he did into his 90s; he was an active member of St. Gilbert's in Grayslake and belonged to the Holy Name Society and the St. Vincent DePaul Society; he was an avid fan of the Warren Township High School athletic teams and served on the school board; he and his wife volunteered many hours to both the Lake County Historical Society and the Lake County Museum; in his retirement years, he returned to his grade school as a volunteer for the St. Anastasia Outreach Program; and

WHEREAS, Jim Balmes was preceded in death by wife, Lois; his parents; and his siblings, John, Fran, Bill, Fred, Aggie, and Dick; and

WHEREAS, Jim Balmes is survived by his children, Dianne (Lanny) Cummings, Janet (Dick) Sleyster, Pat Balmes, Ed Balmes, Charlie (Kathy) Balmes, and Nancy (Russ) Panzarella; his grandchildren, Heather (Ron) Kaufmann, Keith Cummings, Rich, Dave (Jen), and Darin (Kristy) Sleyster, Anne (Nate) Timmons, Nick (Elena), Mary, James, CJ, Nicole, and Eric Balmes, Stacy (Chris) Hutchcraft, and Brad and Alli Panzarella; his great-grandchildren, Daniel Kaufmann, Kayleigh and Breccan Sleyster, Owen, Isaiah, Eli, and Evelyn Timmons, Dylan Hutchcraft, and soon to arrive, William Balmes; his siblings, Mark Balmes, Theresa Crowley, and MaryAnn Grum; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of James M. "Jim" Balmes, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Jim Balmes as an expression of our deepest sympathy.