SR1158 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1158 LRB100 15941 MST 31057 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James E. "Jim" Keefe of Woodstock, who passed away on November 21, 2017; and

WHEREAS, Jim Keefe was born in Chicago to James H. and Florence M. (Cooney) Keefe on January 13, 1932; his family moved to Woodstock in 1938 and he attended St. Mary's School in Woodstock through 9th grade, followed by St. Mary's Seminary School in Crystal Lake, where he had planned to become a priest; he attended college at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, where during his sophomore year, he was drafted, serving stateside in the United States Army as a military policeman during the Korean War; he returned to college after being discharged and graduated from St. Ambrose in 1957; two weeks following his college graduation he married Mary Ellen Burmeister at St. Mary Catholic Church in Woodstock; and

WHEREAS, Jim Keefe worked as an insurance agent for over 43 years, working for Country Companies Insurance for 38 of those years; and

WHEREAS, Jim Keefe was an active member of St. Mary Catholic Church throughout his life and a Knight of the Roman Catholic Order of the Holy Sepulchre; he was a charter member of the Woodstock Rotary Club, serving as vice-president when the club was founded in 1968; he later served as club president and in many other roles, with a record of over 49 years of perfect attendance at Rotary meetings; he was a Paul Harris fellow; he was elected to the Woodstock City Council in 1969, serving two terms, in addition to serving on the Police & Fire Commission, the Woodstock Library Board, and the Memorial Hospital Board; he was presented with the Buschkopf Award for community service in 2002; he was a past member of the Woodstock Jaycees, the Lions Club, and the Elks Club; and

WHEREAS, Jim Keefe loved history and was well-known for his "History of Woodstock" slide presentation which he gave to many groups over the years; he was also a long-time member of the McHenry County Civil War Roundtable serving as treasurer; he was an avid photographer who loved to travel and document his trips; he traveled all over the world with Mary Ellen; and

WHEREAS, Jim Keefe was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary Ellen; his granddaughter, Sara Schacht; and his son-in-law, Richard Anderegg; and

WHEREAS, Jim Keefe is survived by his children, Kelly (Mark) Afeld, Erin (Steve Walters) Anderegg, Patrick (Katherine) Keefe, and Quinn Keefe; his grandchildren, Kendra (Patrick) Johnson, Trevor (Grace) Schacht, Greta (Zachary) Walters, Lauren (David Phu) Keefe, Bridget (Ara Pardini) Afeld, Hanna Schacht, Joseph Keefe, Hailey Keefe, and Katelyn Keefe; his great-grandchild, Ella Schacht; his sister, Jane (Robert) Larson; his brothers-in-law, Henry (Kay) Burmeister and Thomas (Sally) Burmeister; his sister-in-law, Kathleen (Robert) Hemsen; many nieces and nephews; and numerous Rotary Exchange students from all over the world who were hosted by Jim and Mary Ellen throughout the years; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of James E. "Jim" Keefe, 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 Jim Keefe as an expression of our deepest sympathy.