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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Kenneth "Ken" Ritzert; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Ken Ritzert was raised in Naperville and
5graduated from Naperville High School and North Central
6College; he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and
7was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska; he was part of the USO
8during this time and made numerous trips to bases around the
9state, including in the Arctic Circle; he returned to Illinois
10and continued his education at Northern Illinois University
11and the University of Illinois; he settled his family in
12Darien in 1968; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Ken Ritzert was employed as a social studies
14teacher at Blackhawk Jr. High School in Bensenville, where he
15helped to shape the minds of thousands of students for over 30
16years; he wrote and directed plays at the school, conducted
17legendary Constitutional Conventions, and received teaching
18awards, including the Valley Forge Freedom Foundations Award;
19he worked at the family sand and gravel business, Ritzert
20Materials Inc., during the summers; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Ken Ritzert served as the Downers Grove Township
22Republican Precinct Committeeman in Precinct 66 for 40 years;

 

 

SR0160- 2 -LRB102 17648 MST 23446 r

1he had an outstanding singing voice that radiated across the
2many countries and continents to which he traveled; he
3performed in operas, was a member of the Joyful Voices Choir,
4and was the long time cantor at the masses at Our Lady of Peace
5Church in Darien; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Ken Ritzert was the beloved husband of 61 years
7of Joan (Kanikula) Ritzert; the dear father of John
8(deceased), William, and Edward (Lori) Ritzert; and the adored
9grandfather of Matthew Ritzert; therefore, be it
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
11ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
12Kenneth "Ken" Ritzert and extend our sincere condolences to
13his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
14further
 
15    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
16presented to the family of Ken Ritzert as an expression of our
17deepest sympathy.