SR0021LRB097 06518 KXB 46602 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Nick Perica of Alton, who passed away on
4September 22, 2010; and
 
5    WHEREAS, He was born on November 5, 1921, in Alton, to Ivan
6and Bozica Perica, immigrants from Dalmatia, Austria-Hungary;
7he attended Alton schools and in 1941, while working for
8Standard Oil Barge Line, became a United States Army soldier;
9in 1942, he was a Presidential Honor Guard for President
10Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and was then selected to be a member
11of the elite and top secret intelligence organization, the
12(OSS) Office of Strategic Services; due to his knowledge of
13foreign languages and the combination of mental and physical
14toughness, the patriotic duty was to help America win the war;
15and
 
16    WHEREAS, His World War II duties included saving the lives
17of many downed airmen behind enemy lines, and he trained
18resistance fighters to help fight for freedom in their
19countries; while working as a covert undercover agent in Italy
20he met and married his wife of 65 years, Ivka Eva Perica; and
 
21    WHEREAS, After the war, he worked at Laclede Steel Company
22of Alton for 40 years; he was a lifelong Roman Catholic and

 

 

SR0021- 2 -LRB097 06518 KXB 46602 r

1member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alton; he was a proud
2member of the Disabled American Veterans, the VFW Alton Post
31308, the Eagles of Alton F.O.E. 254, Wood River Moose Lodge
41349, the Knights of Columbus in Highland Council # 1580, and
5the old Rock Springs Caddies; and
 
6    WHEREAS, His interests included dancing, photography,
7golf, bird watching, nature, woodworking, and telling war
8stories; his favorite activity was visiting with friends and
9family; and
 
10    WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; his
11brothers and sisters, Peter (Mary), John (Minnie), Louis
12(Gladys), Mary (Joe) Tasso, Lelia (Russell and Frank)
13Harris-Stimac, Julia (John) Schneto, and Joe (Jean); and
 
14    WHEREAS, Nick Perica is survived by his wife, Ivka; their
15sons and families, Marion (Kathy), Nick A., Bob (Melissa),
16David, and George (Pat); their grandchildren, Michelle Kiger,
17Jennifer (Todd) Russell, Amy (Leonard) Madalon, Stephanie
18(Dan) Fitzgerald, Nicole (Brandon) Gerken, Danielle Perica,
19Alex Perica, and Leigh and Tess Perica; their
20great-grandchildren, Lenny and John Madalon; his sister, Rose
21Sorbie Secord; and many nieces and nephews, both in the USA and
22Croatia; he will also be deeply missed by many family and
23friends, especially, Pete Perica and friends, Mark Gentry and

 

 

SR0021- 3 -LRB097 06518 KXB 46602 r

1Cal Ennis; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
4his family and friends, the passing of Nick Perica; and be it
5further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to the family of Nick Perica as a symbol of our
8sincere sympathy.