SR2072 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2072 LRB100 23590 ALS 42632 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Honorable Judge Robert L. Dannehl of Watseka, who passed away on September 23, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Judge Dannehl was born in Thawville to William and Gussie Racuglen Dannehl on September 6, 1926; the ninth of 12 children, he moved to Onarga and attended Onarga Public Schools; at the age of 17, he served in the United States Navy during World War II as a volunteer; he served in anti-submarine warfare in the North Atlantic arena in the winter of 1944 and 1945; he operated a top-secret high-frequency direction finder and was privy to the highly confidential knowledge that the German secret code had been broken; he attended the University of Illinois and graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law in June 1950; while an undergraduate, he played varsity basketball for the Fighting Illini during the 1945-46 season and was a member of the Sigma Pi Fraternity; he married Ruth Ann Nielsen on June 10, 1951; and

WHEREAS, Judge Dannehl opened a general law office in Watseka with his law classmate in September 1950; he served two terms as state's attorney of Iroquois County; in 1976, he was appointed Circuit Judge; his service commenced on January 1, 1977 and concluded with his retirement on October 31, 1995; he served in Iroquois, Kankakee, and Will counties; and

WHEREAS, Judge Dannehl was active both locally and professionally; he served as Commander of the American Legion Post #23 in 1955, was a Charter Member of the Watseka Elks Lodge 446, a charter member of the Watseka Jaycees, and the chairman of the fundraising committee that built Legion Park swimming pool; he was a member of several local boards, including the American Red Cross, the Watseka Library, the Watseka First Trust & Savings Bank, and the Grand Prairie Seminary in Onarga; he was a member of the local, state, and American Bar Association and the American Judicature Society; he served on the Illinois Bar Association Committee to revise and rewrite the Illinois Criminal Code; he was an original board member and founder of an attorney assistance program to aid counsel with substance abuse programs; among his achievements, he was especially proud of a six-year appointment by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Supervisory Committee on Jury Instructions in Civil Cases; and

WHEREAS, Judge Dannehl was baptized in the Onarga United Methodist Church and remained a member of the Watseka First United Methodist Church until his passing; and

WHEREAS, Judge Dannehl was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth; and

WHEREAS, Judge Dannehl is survived by his children, Dr. Karl N. (Mary) Dannehl and Sara J. (Robert) Mikuta-Henry; his grandchildren, Joseph Robert Mikuta, Nicholas James (Gina) Mikuta, John Zeitler Dannehl, Cherylyn Henry, Laurin Henry (Andrew) Ewing; his great-grandchild, Nicholas James Mikuta Jr.; his brother, Wayne (Carole) Dannehl; his brother-in-law, Charles Lucas; and his many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Honorable Judge Robert L. Dannehl 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 Judge Dannehl as an expression of our deepest sympathy.