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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Melvin John "Mel" Rullman of Moline,
4who passed away on October 24, 2021; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Mel Rullman was born to Harry and Alma (Benning)
6Rullman in Aurora, Indiana on June 9, 1933; he graduated from
7Aurora High School; he attended Valparaiso University before
8he served in the U.S. Army in Germany for two years; after
9returning from service, he graduated from Valparaiso
10University; he married Arline Sprague in 1957, and they raised
11three children together; he obtained his master's degree in
12Education from Indiana University; he married Judy Brooks in
131990; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Mel Rullman began his career in education as a
15teacher and school principal in Lake Zurich; he served as
16superintendent of schools in Grant, Michigan from 1967 to
171974; he served as superintendent in East Jordan, Michigan
18from 1974 to 1981; he retired early to turn his part-time
19farming hobby into his full-time occupation; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Mel Rullman's career was marked by a number of
21accomplishments; he led the Twin Valley School District
22through a demerger to assure both cities, East Jordan and

 

 

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1Boyne City, could thrive educationally; he led the campaign
2for a bond millage to build a new high school and end split
3session scheduling, which successfully passed; he developed a
4new vocational education program; he was also recognized by
5the American Legion and U.S. Army General William C.
6Westmoreland for instituting a notable Veterans Day
7educational program; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Melvin Rullman was a member of Trinity Lutheran
9Church; alongside his wife, Judy, he served the community
10through Habitat for Humanity by volunteering in Quad Cities
11ReStore and traveling with Habitat Builds Worldwide; he was
12honored to be an Eagle Scout; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Melvin Rullman was known for possessing an
14uncommon sense of duty and being proud of the family that he
15raised, loved, and encouraged; at his core, he was an
16outdoorsman and craftsman; he loved spending time in farm
17fields, canoeing waterways, walking in the woods, admiring
18wildlife, and vacationing with family and friends at the log
19home he built on Lake Michigan in the Upper Peninsula; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Mel Rullman was preceded in death by his parents;
21his sister, Phyllis; and his brother, Millard; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Mel Rullman is survived by his wife, Judy; his

 

 

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1son, Brad (Tami); his daughter, Brenda (Jim) Julovich; his
2son, Loren (Allison); his stepdaughter, Kristin (James)
3Keller; his stepson, Craig Brooks; his grandchildren, Sam
4Julovich, Sarah Julovich, Cailey Rullman, Miranda Rullman,
5Zachary Stolbom, Ashely (Nolan) Vardinakis, Gregory Biggs, and
6Stephanie Biggs; his brothers, Roger (Patty) Rullman and Roy
7(Linda) Rullman; his sister, Joyce (Gordon) Rich; his
8sister-in-law, Katherine (Jon) Lundvall; and his numerous
9nieces and nephews; 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
12Melvin John "Mel" Rullman and extend our sincere condolences
13to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
14it further
 
15    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
16presented to the family of Melvin Rullman as an expression of
17our deepest sympathy.