SR0882 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0882 LRB101 16212 MST 65584 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of John Allen "Al" Mergens, who passed away on December 7, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Al Mergens was born in Chicago to John and Ana Mergens; he served as an engineer and firefighter in damage control with the U.S. Coast Guard from 1955 to 1957; and

WHEREAS, Al Mergens became a volunteer member of the Elk Grove Fire Department in 1961; he became a full-time, paid firefighter in 1967; he worked his way up from firefighter to lieutenant and ultimately captain in 1972, a role he held until he retired in 1999; and

WHEREAS, Al Mergens served as the first chief of the fire department, a group of 40 volunteer firefighters who worked out of a barn; he took the department from a volunteer force to a full-time, professional agency with multiple stations; and

WHEREAS, Al Mergens was affectionately known as "Capt. Al"; in his retirement, he visited Elk Grove's fire stations regularly, staying in touch with the latest technology and advancements in fire safety; and

WHEREAS, Al Mergens was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Celine, and his parents; and

WHEREAS, Al Mergens is survived by his children, Allen J. (Nancy), James L. (MaryBeth), and Robin A. (Anthony) Fabisiak; his grandchildren, Daniel Mergens, Kelly (Nick) Hildebrandt, Meaghan (Aaron) Sanfillippo, Adam (Colleen) and Scott (Andrea) Mergens, and Sarah Fabisiak; his great-grandchildren, Brady Nicholas and Melanie Grace Hildebrandt; and his siblings, Marilyn Gliniecki, Robert (Dorothy) Mergens, Donald (Diane) Mergens, and Susan (John) Renner; 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 John Allen "Al" Mergens 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 Al Mergens as an expression of our deepest sympathy.