SR0974 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0974 LRB096 23810 GRL 43195 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Gorden G. Gass of Granite City, who passed away on September 17, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Gorden Gass was born on February 11, 1929, in Virden; he married Mary Jane Brugger on January 24, 1959, in Woodriver; and

WHEREAS, Gorden Gass proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army's 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division during the Korean War; he received a Purple Heart for injuries sustained on July 9, 1952, in the Chor'wan Valley while assaulting an enemy machine gun position and recovered from those wounds at the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington D.C.; and

WHEREAS, Gorden Gass worked as a farmer in the Granite City area since the 1950s; he served as a board member of the Madison Service Company; he was a member of the Farm Bureau for more than 60 years; he served on the Madison County Ditch and Drainage Committee as a Commissioner; he also served on the University of Illinois Extension Council; and

WHEREAS, Gorden Gass was a member of American Legion Post 199 of Edwardsville and the Sons of the American Revolution; and

WHEREAS, Gorden Gass held a pilot license for more than 20 years and enjoyed his days of flying; and

WHEREAS, Gorden Gass was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde R. Gass and Lillian K., nee Smith, Gass; his brothers, Clyde Gass, Robert Gass, Kenneth Gass, William Gass, and Richard Gass; his sisters, Doris McNaughton, Helen Felts, and Ruth Wilson; and his son-in-law, Rick Harvey; and

WHEREAS, Gorden Gass is survived by his wife, Mary Jane, nee Brugger, Gass; his son, Jeff Gass; his daughters, Marilyn Harvey and Linda (Patrick) Burgess; his sister, Esther Quinn; and his many extended family members and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Gorden G. Gass; and be it further

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