SR0278 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0278 LRB101 11691 MST 58146 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Archie Melvin Strandlund of Moline, who passed away on March 16, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Archie Strandlund was born in Mora, Minnesota to Leo and Ethel Billstrom Strandlund on January 16, 1921; he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and became a "plank owner" when he was assigned to the commissioning crew of the USS New Jersey, which became the Navy's most decorated battleship; he was a Gunner's Mate Second Class and manned a 40-millimeter anti-aircraft gun during combat operations in the Pacific; he married Lavina Dillman on June 6, 1945; and

WHEREAS, Archie Strandlund was a tool and die maker with John Deere Farm Implement Manufacturers and John Deere Plow and Planter for 37 years, retiring in 1983; he continued to take classes and teach for 20 years in the Davenport Community School District and community college machine technology programs; and

WHEREAS, Archie Strandlund enjoyed reading books written in Swedish in his spare time; his home workshop was open to all, and if he could not make a repair, the project could be deemed "unfixable"; and

WHEREAS, Archie Strandlund was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Lavina; his parents; his brother, Ernest; and his sister, Jeanne; and

WHEREAS, Archie Strandlund is survived by his daughter, Gloria (John) Vana; his son, Roger (Carol) Strandlund; his grandchildren, Craig (Rouxle) Vana, Kristin Vana, Amy (Travis) Jargo, and Tim Strandlund; his great-grandchildren, Natalie Roelofse Vana and Heidi Lavina Vana; his brothers, Marvin, Vernon, and John; his sister, Louise Broehl; and numerous nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Archie Melvin Strandlund and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Archie Strandlund as an expression of our deepest sympathy.