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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Lt. Col. James "Jim" Joseph Gende, USMC
4Ret., who passed away on December 13, 2019; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Jim Gende was born in Chicago to Eva (Bawiec) and
6Joseph Francis Gende; he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in
71951 and was commissioned at the age of 18 as a First
8Lieutenant; he served in the Korean War and joined the USMC
9Reserve, serving for a time as commanding officer of the local
10Reserve; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Jim Gende attended the University of Illinois for
12his undergraduate studies and then earned his Juris Doctor in
131962 from the University of Illinois School of Law; he married
14Susan B. Rypstat in 1962; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Jim Gende practiced law for 35 years and founded
16his own firm; he helped create the Hungry Hobo and was one of
17the founders and owners of SnowStar, the only ski area in the
18Quad Cities; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Jim Gende was committed to helping others in his
20community; he served on numerous boards, including for the
21local Epilepsy foundation, the Rock Island County Council of

 

 

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1Addictions, Legal Aid in the Quad Cities, Marriage and Family
2Counseling, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Mississippi Valley;
3he also served as the attorney for the St. Anthony's Nursing &
4Rehabilitation Center and Summit Ridge; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Jim Gende was a lifelong member the Democratic
6Party and ran for U.S. Congress in 1973; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Jim Gende was a member of the American Legion and
8the Knights of Columbus; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Jim Gende was an avid fan of the Chicago Bears and
10the Fighting Illini; he loved the Mississippi River and spent
11many happy hours boating in its muddy waters; he and Sue lived
12on their second boat, De Novo, during the winters for two
13decades; they traveled all over the world with family and
14friends; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Jim Gende is survived by his wife of 57 years, the
16Honorable Susan B. Gende; his children, Dr. Sarah Gende (Bob
17Castle), James Gende, Gretchen Gende (Steve Willey), and Dr.
18Amy (John) Piperato; and his grandchildren, Mason, Nolan,
19Giana, Lucien, Sian, Caden, John Jr., Alexa, and Vincent;
20therefore, be it
 
21    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL

 

 

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1ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
2Lt. Col. James "Jim" Joseph Gende, USMC Ret. and extend our
3sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew
4and loved him; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6presented to the family of Jim Gende as an expression of our
7deepest sympathy.