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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Michael Leo "Mike" Hilber of Rantoul,
4who passed away on July 13, 2023; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Mike Hilber was born to Leo and Elaine Hilber in
6Marshfield, Wisconsin on August 28, 1948; he graduated from
7Marshfield High School in 1966; he joined the U.S. Air Force in
81968, and he was first stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in
9South Dakota before being deployed to Okinawa, Japan, Vietnam,
10and Thailand; he was formally trained as a
11construction-equipment operator but was augmented to load
12bombs on the B-52 Stratofortress, supporting the air war over
13Vietnam; once he returned to the U.S., he was stationed at
14Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul; he married Yolanda Alvarado
15in Chapel 1 of Chanute Air Force Base in 1973; while on
16military reserve status, he attended Parkland College, where
17he earned his associate's degree in 1980; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Mike Hilber began a career with the Fisher Water
19Department in 1985, where he served as the water and
20wastewater superintendent for 25 years until his retirement;
21he served in the Army National Guard, the Air National Guard,
22and the Air Force Reserves until his retirement from Grissom
23Air Force Base in Indiana in 2002; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Mike Hilber volunteered with the honor guard,
2memorializing veterans at numerous services; he also spent
3five years volunteering with the World Free Fall Convention in
4the early 2000s, where he made lifelong friends and countless
5memories; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Mike Hilber had a vast array of hobbies
7throughout his life; he was interested in leatherworking and
8was an avid Green Bay Packers fan; every summer, he planted and
9tended to a garden that was well known for producing sweet
10peas, tomatoes, and the occasional oversized zucchini; he
11enjoyed fishing at his family's cottage in northern Wisconsin,
12which was a central part of his family's life, and having a
13good scoop of ice cream all year round; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Mike Hilber was preceded in death by his wife,
15his parents, and his brothers, Rick and Jeffery; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Mike Hilber is survived by his daughters, Melinda
17(Brad) Collins and Carina (Matthew) Gill; his grandchildren,
18Declan Collins, Ellie Collins, and Amelia Gill; his sister,
19Jean Loughead; and his brother, Danny Hilber; therefore, be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
21ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of

 

 

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1Michael Leo "Mike" Hilber and extend our sincere condolences
2to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
3it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
5presented to the family of Mike Hilber as an expression of our
6deepest sympathy.