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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of Ernest Opp of Bethalto, who passed away
4 on September 4, 2009; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Ernest Opp was born on November 9, 1924 in Good
6 Hope; he married Doris (Goddard) Opp on December 26, 1948 in
7 Macomb; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Ernest Opp served his country with pride and
9 distinction as a submariner during World War II; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Ernest Opp was raised in Bushnell; he attended the
11 University of Illinois and graduated from Western Illinois
12 University in 1949; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Ernest Opp had a long and distinguished career as
14 a teacher in the Havana and Bethalto school districts and at
15 Lewis and Clark and Belleville-area colleges; he also taught at
16 the St. Louis Regional Airport, where he gave the freedom of
17 flight to thousands in his area through his student plane
18 rides, flight instructions, and aerobatic shows; and
 
19     WHEREAS, Ernest Opp gave the joy of music and history to
20 thousands through his band and choral performances with the CM

 

 

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1 Band and Chorus and the Old Timers; he also shared his love of
2 boating and sailing with hundreds from Alton to the Florida
3 Keys and his love of motorcycles with friends from coast to
4 coast; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Ernest Opp was a lifetime member of Rotary, the
6 Masonic Lodge, VFW, the Experimental Aircraft Association, the
7 Illinois Pilots Association, Aerobatic Pilots, Western
8 Illinois Alumni, the Young Eagles, and the St. Louis Aero Club;
9 and
 
10     WHEREAS, Ernest Opp is survived by his children and their
11 spouses, Sharon Opp, Austin and Marg Opp, LaVeta and Kevin
12 Kirby, and Irene Opp; his grandchildren, Brandon and Lizz
13 Tinker, Ashleigh and Tim Peterson, Anthony and Fawn Tinker,
14 Kathleen, Jim and Jessica Kirby-Butts, Todd, Ty, and Corrie,
15 Sam and Melanie, and Ross Laux, Chris and Wendy Webster, and
16 Jared and Jen Watson; and his 7 great-grandchildren; therefore,
17 be it
 
18     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
19 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
20 his family and friends, the passing of Ernest Opp; and be it
21 further
 
22     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be

 

 

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1 presented to the family of Ernest Opp as an expression of our
2 sympathy.