SR0144 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0144 LRB097 11344 KXB 53495 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of John W. Harper of Gifford, who passed away on March 21, 2011; and

WHEREAS, He was born on June 10, 1926, in Gifford, the son of Leonard and Nellie (Jeakins) Harper; he attended Gifford and Rantoul schools, graduating from Rantoul Township High School in 1944; and

WHEREAS, He served two years in the United States Army during World War II in the Philippine Islands and Japan; upon returning home, he worked for the Illinois Central Railroad, retiring after more than 40 years; and

WHEREAS, He was a member of the Gifford United Methodist Church, the Penfield-Gifford American Legion Post 1153, and a charter member of the Gifford Fire Department; he was also the radio operator for the Gifford Fire Protection District; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; and

WHEREAS, John Harper is survived by his sisters, Edith Brinker and Edna Bowen; his brother-in-law, Herb Bowen; and his niece, Janette Eger; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of John Harper; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of John Harper as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.