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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Judge Fred William Reither, who passed
4away on August 10, 2020; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Judge Fred Reither was born to Fred G. Reither and
6Lydia A. (Kingston) Reither in Beardstown on April 5, 1924; he
7graduated from Beardstown High School in 1942; he served during
8World War Two with the 75th Infantry Division during the Battle
9of the Bulge, the Battle of Rhineland, and the Colmar Pocket;
10his division served in Wales, England, France, Belgium, Holland
11and Germany, with his group being among the first troops to
12arrive in Germany; they also helped liberate Holland; during
13his service, he held the prestigious Combat Infantryman Badge;
14he attended Blackburn College, Alfred University, and City
15College of New York and finished law school on the GI Bill at
16the University of Illinois College of Law, earning a Doctor of
17Jurisprudence in 1950; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Judge Fred Reither served as Circuit Court Judge
19of the 8th Judicial Circuit for Cass County for 45 years; he
20also served one term as Chief Judge; he retired in 2001 as one
21of the longest serving justices in the State of Illinois; he
22was known for his grace, fairness, and kindness as a judge; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Judge Fred Reither served as the vice president of
2the Young Democrats of Illinois under then President Paul
3Simon; he also served as a Delegate at Large to the 1952
4Democratic National Convention; he was a life long member of
5the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the
6Illinois State and Cass County Bar Associations; he was also a
7lifelong member of St John's Lutheran Church and served in
8various capacities over the years; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Judge Fred Reither was a wonderful dancer and
10enjoyed dancing at the Blackhawk Village Inn Pump Room, the
11Jacksonville VFW, Nichols Park, the Illinois State Fair dance
12floor, the Elks, and Leo and Bud's; he loved music and will be
13remembered for singing with great gusto; he was also a lifelong
14Chicago Cubs fan; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Judge Fred Reither was preceded in death by his
16parents; his brothers, Virgil (Louise Guthrie), Ralph
17(Isabelle Jeffries), and Charles (Valerie Stephens); and two of
18his favorite dance partners and loves, Mary Esther Knight and
19Robertine Erixon; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Judge Fred Reither is survived by his two
21children, Fred Virgil Reither (Trey) and Shelley Lydia
22(Elizabeth Belletire House); his grandchildren, Steven and
23Leah Reither; his step-grandson, Jacob House (Taylor Ley); his

 

 

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1great-granddaughter, Charlotte House; his brother, Clarence
2John Walter Reither (Vera nee Merz); his five nieces and
3nephews, David Reither (Brenda), Karen Reither (Bill Wallace),
4Mark Reither (Kathy), Gwen Schumacher (Tom), and Paul Reither;
5and his great-nieces and great-nephews; therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
8Judge Fred William Reither and extend our sincere condolences
9to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
10it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12presented to the family of Judge Fred Reither as an expression
13of our deepest sympathy.