SR0833 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of William H. "Bill" Seesland of Moline, who passed away on June 5, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Bill Seesland was born at Camp Logan in Houston, Texas on November 18, 1917 to Eileen (nee O'Reilly) and Glen J. Seesland, while his father, an officer in the 132nd Illinois Infantry, was serving under General Pershing who was attempting to capture Pancho Villa; he grew up in several locations, living with relatives in Chicago; Detroit, Michigan; Sycamore; and Juda, Wisconsin; he attended Northwestern University in Evanston and Centre College in Danville, Kentucky; he married Alberta "Billie" in 1939; in October of 1942, he enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program and was called to active duty in January of 1943; he went overseas in January of 1945, joining the 487th Squadron of the 352nd Fighter Group at Chievres, Belgium; he was stationed at a base in Bodney, England, flying the P-51 Mustang and earning the rank of Captain; and

WHEREAS, Bill Seesland and his wife moved to Moline in 1946; he worked for John Deere & Co., retiring in 1980; and

WHEREAS, Bill Seesland and his wife enjoyed retirement, visiting Alaska, the Panama Canal, Europe, and Africa; he was also an avid golfer and tennis player; in 2008, he flew on the Q-C Honor Flight with his daughters, Eileen and Bonnie; he was an enthusiastic advocate of the Moline Fire Department in the early 1950s and was a founding member of the Moline Second Alarmers; in November of 2007, he was made an honorary member of Fire Fighters Union 581; and

WHEREAS, Bill Seesland was preceded in death by wife, Alberta, and his sons-in-law, Curtis P. Hoegner and Jerry L. Brewer; and

WHEREAS, Bill Seesland is survived by his 3 daughters, Bonnie Tyler, Billie Brewer, and Eileen Hoegner, and his granddaughter, Darcy Tyler; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of William H. "Bill" Seesland, 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 Bill Seesland as an expression of our deepest sympathy.