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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Francis M. "Brink" Brinkmeyer of Rock
4Island, who passed away on March 14, 2022; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Francis Brinkmeyer was born to Emil and Ida
6(Lehmeier) Brinkmeyer at the Brinkmeyer homestead in the
7Hubbard/Radcliff, Iowa area on August 14, 1919; he graduated
8from Hubbard High School in 1937, where he served as class
9president; he earned his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural
10Engineering in 1942 from what is now known as Iowa State
11University; he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II; he
12married Margaret "Peg" Kurtz on August 22, 1953; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Francis Brinkmeyer had a lifelong passion for
14aviation; he learned to fly through the Civilian Pilot
15Training Program, and he first flew solo in June 1942; he
16trained as a U.S. Navy pilot at the Corpus Christi Naval Air
17Station in the fall of 1942 and received his Navy wings in
18August 1943; he was assigned to the Navy's Special Task Air
19Group, testing the first combat drones using radio control and
20TV monitors; he joined JM-13, a Navy utility squadron, as a
21patrol plane commander in November 1944; he ferried personnel,
22towed targets, and patrolled throughout the South Pacific
23while flying out of airfields in Guadalcanal and later Samar;

 

 

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1he retired as a lieutenant commander from the U.S. Naval
2Reserve in 1965; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Francis Brinkmeyer worked as a product design
4engineer at Deere & Company for 36 years, retiring in 1982;
5collaborating with others, he is credited with four patents
6during his time at Deere and was most proud of the work related
7to the JD570 Motor Grader; alongside his wife, he owned and
8operated the Kwik-Kleen Laundromat in Rock Island for over 23
9years; he was proud of his long support and association with
10the HWH Corporation; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Francis Brinkmeyer was a 76-year member of First
12Congregational Church in Moline, where he taught Sunday school
13for many years; he and his wife loved hosting July 4th
14barbecues each year that culminated with his own fireworks
15display; more recently, with Peg in tow, he never missed his
16grandsons' sporting events and loved to brag about their
17accomplishments both on and off the field; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Francis Brinkmeyer was preceded in death by his
19brothers, Frederick, Orville, and Dennison; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Francis Brinkmeyer is survived by his wife of
21nearly 69 years, Margaret "Peg" (Kurtz) Brinkmeyer; his
22children, Jim (Joyce) Brinkmeyer, Kurt Brinkmeyer, Tom

 

 

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1Brinkmeyer, John Brinkmeyer, and Sara (David) Wells; his
2grandchildren, Justin Brinkmeyer, Shannon (Dan) Johnson, Eric
3(Rachel) Wells, Mark Wells, and Jack Wells; his two
4great-grandchildren; and his brother, Gary (Melva) Brinkmeyer;
5therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
8Francis M. "Brink" Brinkmeyer and extend our sincere
9condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
10him; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12presented to the family of Francis Brinkmeyer as an expression
13of our deepest sympathy.