SR1281 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1281 LRB101 21816 ECR 72770 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of William "Bill" Ahrenkiel of Athens, who passed away on July 5, 2020; and

WHEREAS, Bill Ahrenkiel was born to William Sr. and Marie Ahrenkiel in rural Sangamon County on January 24, 1926; he graduated from Athens High School, where he had been a starter on the 1944 Warrior basketball team; while in school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and immediately reported for active duty in May of 1944; he served on a destroyer escort along the Icelandic route and was involved in the battle of the North Atlantic; after the war, he joined the Army Reserve and was called to active duty at the start of the Korean War; he served two years in the U.S. Army before returning to civilian life; and

WHEREAS, Bill Ahrenkiel was employed by the State of Illinois as a driver's license examiner, with the park service, and with the Illinois Department of Transportation; and

WHEREAS, Bill Ahrenkiel was a great help to the Athens Municipal Library's Special Collections Room, where he shared pertinent historical information about Athens; and

WHEREAS, Bill Ahrenkiel was well known for his fishing and hunting skills; he raised and trained hunting dogs and was acclaimed for his duck decoy, duck call, and fishing lure collections; and

WHEREAS, Bill Ahrenkiel was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 46 years, Mary Ahrenkiel; and his two sisters, Ruth Austin and Evelyn Ehrengart; and

WHEREAS, Bill Ahrenkiel is survived by his brother, Richard Ahrenkiel; his nephews, Richard and Daniel Austin, John Ehrengart, Richard Ahrenkiel Jr., and S. Phillip Ahrenkiel; his niece, Jane (Ahrenkiel) Hittle; and his numerous grandnephews and grandnieces; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of William "Bill" Ahrenkiel 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 Bill Ahrenkiel as an expression of our deepest sympathy.