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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Marvin E. 
4Perzee, who passed away on July 17, 2019; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Marvin Perzee was born in Watseka to Nellie 
6(Koets) Perzee on October 9, 1942; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Marvin Perzee and his wife, Sharon, grew up around 
8agriculture and county fairs and were both heavily involved 
9with the Ashkum Chargers, their local 4-H club; Marvin was a 
10volunteer for the Chargers for five decades; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Marvin Perzee was first elected to the Iroquois 
12County Agricultural and 4-H Club Fair Board in 1967 and later 
13served as president for 48 years; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Marvin Perzee had an unrivaled knowledge of the 
15inner workings of the Iroquois County Fair; during his tenure, 
16the fairgrounds built multiple new buildings and expanded the 
17fair to become one of the premier county fairs in Illinois; he 
18could even name how many ash trees were on the fairgrounds; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Marvin Perzee held many leadership roles in the 
20Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs, including Northern 
 
 
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1Zone President, director, and president; he dedicated 40 years 
2of service in the role of legislative chair; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Marvin Perzee was a tireless and  highly successful 
4advocate at the state level for the importance of adequate 
5funding for county fairs to not only serve as economic engines 
6for rural communities across the State but also to cultivate 
7for the younger generations an interest in agricultural 
8careers; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Because of Marvin Perzee's vast knowledge and 
10expertise in the workings of county fairs, he was appointed to 
11serve on the Illinois Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety 
12Board; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Together with his wife, Sharon, Marvin Perzee was 
14instrumental in advocating for issues affecting farmers and 
15agriculture and was successful at lobbying for legislation in 
16Springfield, such as exempting farm machinery from sales taxes, 
17as well as increasing fair funding for all Illinois county 
18fairs, 4-H, and vocational agricultural sectional fairs; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Marvin Perzee served as the Iroquois County 
20Republican Chairman and as a member of the Agricultural 
21Advisory Board under former Congressman Tom Ewing; he was 
22honored by Prairie Farmer Magazine as one of four Master 
 
 
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1Farmers in 1999; he received a number of other awards during 
2his life in recognition of his service; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Marvin Perzee was preceded in death by his mother, 
4one brother, one daughter, one grandson, and one niece; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Marvin Perzee is survived by his wife, Sharon; two 
6brothers; one daughter; one son-in-law; eight grandchildren; 
7six great-grandchildren; and two nieces and nephews; 
8therefore, be it
  
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
10HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
11we mourn the passing of Marvin E. Perzee and extend our sincere 
12condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved 
13him; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That we declare May 20, 2020 as "Marvin Perzee 
15County Fair Day" in the State of Illinois to honor his 
16significant contributions to the Iroquois County Fair and 
17agriculture; and be it further
  
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
19presented to the family of Marvin Perzee as an expression of 
20our deepest sympathy.