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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of John Allen "Al" Mergens, who passed away
4on December 7, 2019; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Al Mergens was born in Chicago to John and Ana
6Mergens; he served as an engineer and firefighter in damage
7control with the U.S. Coast Guard from 1955 to 1957; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Al Mergens became a volunteer member of the Elk
9Grove Fire Department in 1961; he became a full-time, paid
10firefighter in 1967; he worked his way up from firefighter to
11lieutenant and ultimately captain in 1972, a role he held until
12he retired in 1999; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Al Mergens served as the first chief of the fire
14department, a group of 40 volunteer firefighters who worked out
15of a barn; he took the department from a volunteer force to a
16full-time, professional agency with multiple stations; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Al Mergens was affectionately known as "Capt. Al";
18in his retirement, he visited Elk Grove's fire stations
19regularly, staying in touch with the latest technology and
20advancements in fire safety; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Al Mergens was preceded in death by his wife of 60
2years, Celine, and his parents; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Al Mergens is survived by his children, Allen J.
4(Nancy), James L. (MaryBeth), and Robin A. (Anthony) Fabisiak;
5his grandchildren, Daniel Mergens, Kelly (Nick) Hildebrandt,
6Meaghan (Aaron) Sanfillippo, Adam (Colleen) and Scott (Andrea)
7Mergens, and Sarah Fabisiak; his great-grandchildren, Brady
8Nicholas and Melanie Grace Hildebrandt; and his siblings,
9Marilyn Gliniecki, Robert (Dorothy) Mergens, Donald (Diane)
10Mergens, and Susan (John) Renner; therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
12ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
13John Allen "Al" Mergens and extend our sincere condolences to
14his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
15further
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
17presented to the family of Al Mergens as an expression of our
18deepest sympathy.