HR1288 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1288 LRB093 24185 CSA 54381 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Charles Edward McChesney of Gladstone passed away on November 6, 2004; and

WHEREAS, He was born in Burlington, Iowa on May 18, 1928 to Clarence Dale and Maud Della Charles McChesney; he graduated from Biggsville High School in 1945 and attended Iowa State University; on April 23, 1948, he married Edith Marie Conner; and

WHEREAS, He was a farmer and a livestock feeder, a grassroots politician and a life-long public servant; he was one of the founders of Gladstone Grain Company and the Gulfport River Terminal; for several years he operated Cheap Charlie's, a retail outlet for salvaged goods; and

WHEREAS, He was a 4-H Club leader and president of the Gladstone PTA; he served on the Unit #115 School Board; he served on the Henderson County Fair Board; he was a director on the Western Illinois Electric Cooperative board; he was a co-founder of the Tri-County Cattlemen's Association and Hend-Co-Hills Golf & Country Club; he was a host farmer to Japanese exchange students through the Japanese Agricultural Training Program and was one of only two farmers to tour Japan compliments of the Program; and

WHEREAS, He served as chairman of the Henderson County Young Republicans; he founded and organized the Highway 34 Coalition and lobbied elected officials in Washington for federal funds to re-route the U.S. Route 34 project between Monmouth, Illinois and Burlington, Iowa; he was a member of Biggsville Methodist Church and, later, of Monmouth's First Baptist Church; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Charles Edward McChesney will be deeply felt by many, especially his wife of 56 years, Edith; his daughters, Dr. Cheryl (Kevin Garrett) McChesney, Linda (Tom) Eisenmayer and Marlene McChesney; his son, Kurt McChesney; his 11 grandchildren; his great-granddaughter; his brothers-in-law, Marvin Pohren, Francis Conner and Paul Conner; his niece, Pat Brown; and his nephew, Don Simmons; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Charles Edward McChesney along with all who knew and loved him and we extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends during their time of bereavement; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to his family as an expression of our deepest sympathy.