SR0987 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0987 LRB100 14183 MST 28952 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Gerald L. "Jerry" Klein of Germantown Hills, who passed away on August 21, 2017; and

WHEREAS, Gerald Klein was born in Peoria to Erwin and Louise (Lammers) Klein on December 19, 1926; he graduated from Spalding High School in 1945; he joined the United States Navy and served aboard an escort aircraft carrier during World War II; he received a bachelor's degree in music from Bradley University in 1950 and completed two years of graduate study at the University of Illinois; he married Mary Dudas on June 4, 1955; and

WHEREAS, Gerald Klein joined the Peoria Journal Star in 1953, where he spent most of his professional life as music and drama critic and author of the "Once over Lightly" column; he was a passionate supporter of the arts in central Illinois; he authored several books: "Played in Peoria" (1980), "Father's Day" (1981), "Peoria!" (1985), and "A Century of Music" (1997); after his retirement from the Journal Star in 1992, he continued to write opinion articles for the Peoria Journal Star and the "It Seems to Me" column for The Catholic Post; and

WHEREAS, Gerald Klein was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Spalding Institute in 2010 for his exceptional service and dedication to the principles and values of Peoria Notre Dame; he was formerly the organist at St. Mary of Lourdes in Germantown Hills and later a pontifical usher at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria; and

WHEREAS, Gerald Klein was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, and his brother, Richard; and

WHEREAS, Gerald Klein is survived by his children, Jerry (Linda), Jeff (Rita), Lisa (Rob Reed), Marilou (Paul Moore), Jim, Jeanne, and Barbara; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; his brother, Ed; and his sister, Sue; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Gerald L. "Jerry" Klein, 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 Gerald Klein as an expression of our deepest sympathy.