SR1308 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1308 LRB102 29767 MST 41834 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Gary Gilbert Lickfett of Danville, who passed away on October 10, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Gary Lickfett was born to Gilbert and LaVon (Wagner) Lickfett in Glencoe, Minnesota on March 31, 1946; he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Minnesota Morris in 1968; he enlisted in the U.S. Army and completed basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington; he went to advanced individual training as a Social Work/Psychology Specialist at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas and was deployed to the 98th Med Det (KO) Hospital in Da Nang, South Vietnam; he was honorably discharged in June 1971; he married Dorothy Jensen in Glencoe, Minnesota on July 24, 1971; and

WHEREAS, Gary Lickfett completed his Master of Arts in Experimental Psychology at Hollins College in Roanoke, Virginia in 1972; he then attended Purdue University and completed one year of study towards a Ph.D. in Industrial Psychology and Ergonomics; and

WHEREAS, Gary Lickfett began a 33-year career in manufacturing and technical services that included 12 years at Core Lube/Santec near Westville, 18 years at Chem-Cast in Danville, and several years as a manufacturing safety consultant and trainer; while at Core Lube and Chem-Cast, he held a variety of positions related to the production of industrial sand cores; at Core Lube, he was a welder, plumber, and electrician in the machine fabrication shop before transitioning to a role in technical support and customer service; during his time at Chem-Cast, he was manager of Plant Services and then manager of Human Resources; he was responsible for personnel, safety, purchasing, plant engineering, maintenance, and government compliance; he was particularly proud of the early years at Chem-Cast, where he helped plan the building of the physical structure of the new company; and

WHEREAS, Gary Lickfett served several terms on the Ridge Farm Town Board and belonged to the Ridge Farm Lions Club; he was an active member of St. James United Methodist Church, serving on a variety of church boards and helping teach the Keystone Sunday school class; and

WHEREAS, Gary Lickfett and Dorothy enjoyed renovating their homes over the years; he had the ability to plan and carry out all types of construction work, whether it was the renovation of their first home in Williamsport, the restoration of their 1867 Victorian home in Ridge Farm, or the additions of a garage, bedrooms, sunporch, and 50 steps down to the water to their Lake Vermilion home in Danville; he was the friend that family members and friends went to for help with home remodeling projects; and

WHEREAS, Gary Lickfett was a dedicated father, teaching his children a variety of skills through 4-H, home improvement, electrical, and car restoration projects; he coached one of his son's Odyssey of the Mind team for several years, leading the first team from Georgetown-Ridge Farm High School to qualify for the OM World Competition in Maryland in 1997; he loved his grandchildren and enjoyed encouraging their talents and interests; and

WHEREAS, Gary Lickfett grew up listening to Minnesota polka music and enjoyed many types of music; he began playing trombone in junior high school; as an adult, he acquired a double bell euphonium which he played when performing with the Danville Municipal Band for approximately 30 years and also with the St. James United Methodist Church Orchestra; he sang in the church choir and played with the bell choir; when his grandchildren visited, he was especially happy to play his double bell euphonium with his grandson on baritone and his granddaughter on trombone; and

WHEREAS, Gary Lickfett auditioned to be a salesman in the DLO Musical Theatre production of The Music Man in 1990; he soon discovered he preferred working behind the scenes, serving DLO as the master set builder for 30 years; in his later years, he helped with the Beef House Dinner Theatre sets; he was admired for his imagination, attention to detail, and willingness to bring a set idea to life and create unusual props; he was involved in 66 productions and served as DLO president for six years and as a board member for many years; his friendships with board members and casts went beyond the hours spent working on a production together, and he gained satisfaction from teaching younger cast members building skills; he was able to help coordinate the work of contractors with the goal of creating a more usable site to house and consolidate all DLO work and rehearsal spaces; and

WHEREAS, Gary Lickfett was preceded in death by his parents; and

WHEREAS, Gary Lickfett is survived by his wife of 51 years, Dorothy; his sons, Jay (Kara), Todd (Julie), and Timothy; his grandchildren, Garrett, Caroline, and Jack; his sisters, Virginia (James) Brodd and Vickie (Steve) Sandven; his sister-in-law, Judy (Charles) Gensmer; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Gary Gilbert Lickfett 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 Gary Lickfett as an expression of our deepest sympathy.