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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of John Francis Rourke of McHenry, who
4passed away on September 16, 2013; and
 
5    WHEREAS, John Rourke was born on March 16, 1945 in McHenry;
6his parents were Francis and Beverly (Rimell) Rourke; he
7married Edith Lee Sutherland on February 14, 1969; and
 
8    WHEREAS, John Rourke graduated from McHenry High School in
91963; he went on to attend Northwestern University on a Chick
10Evans Scholarship; and
 
11    WHEREAS, John Rourke was drafted by the United States Army
12in 1967; he served in the Vietnam War as a member of C Troop,
133rd Squadron, 4th United States Cavalry Regiment of the 25th
14Infantry Division; he was the recipient of a Presidential Unit
15Citation, the Vietnam Service Medal with 3 bronze service
16stars, and a Good Conduct Medal for his meritorious service;
17and
 
18    WHEREAS, After working at Lakeland Construction, Inc.,
19John Rourke worked at Northwest Airlines for 26 years until his
20retirement in 2007; during his retirement, he worked on a farm,
21drove a bus, and volunteered at the Centrega Sage Cancer Center

 

 

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1in McHenry; and
 
2    WHEREAS, John Rourke was a natural athlete from an early
3age; he was proud to have thrown the first recorded no-hitter
4in McHenry Little League history and was the first recipient of
5the McHenry High School All-Sports Athlete of the Year Award;
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, John Rourke enjoyed spending time with his family,
8especially his three grandsons; he was a dedicated fan of the
9Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago Bulls; he also loved
10all sports, playing pool, golfing, cribbage, backgammon, a good
11card or dice game, and spending time with his fellow veterans;
12and
 
13    WHEREAS, John Rourke was preceded in death by his parents,
14Frank and Beverly Rourke; his brother, Kurt Patrick Rourke; his
15mother-in-law, Naomi Mazarka; his niece, Billie Jo "Sissy"
16Perry; his great-nephew, Harrison Dooher; his brother-in-law,
17Nicholas Freund; and his in-laws, Paul and Bonnie
18Mpistolarides; and
 
19    WHEREAS, John Rourke is survived by his loving wife of 44
20years, Edith Rourke; his daughters, Jenifer (Jeff) Anderson and
21Raina Rourke; his grandsons, Brady John and Ryan Michael
22Anderson and Jonah Francis Rourke; his sister, Cynthia Freund;

 

 

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1his brother, Kevin Rourke; and his many nieces, nephews,
2great-nieces, great-nephews, and friends; therefore, be it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL
4ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his
5family and friends, mourn the passing of John Francis Rourke;
6and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to the family of John Rourke as an expression of our
9sympathy.