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| 1 | SENATE RESOLUTION
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| 2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened | ||||||
| 3 | to learn of the death of John D. Risse Sr. of Springfield, who | ||||||
| 4 | passed away on July 25, 2023; and
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| 5 | WHEREAS, John Risse was born to Anthony and Caroline Ellen | ||||||
| 6 | Harrison Risse in Springfield on April 27, 1935; he graduated | ||||||
| 7 | from Cathedral Boys High School; he married Bertha E. Gaffigan | ||||||
| 8 | at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Springfield on August 29, | ||||||
| 9 | 1956; and
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| 10 | WHEREAS, John Risse retired from the State of Illinois | ||||||
| 11 | Capital Development Board after 38 years of service; he then | ||||||
| 12 | worked part-time for Butler Funeral Home and also worked | ||||||
| 13 | security during the State Fair; and
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| 14 | WHEREAS, John Risse joined the Knights of Columbus Council | ||||||
| 15 | #364 in 1953 and the 4th Degree Bishop Griffin Assembly in | ||||||
| 16 | 1967; he served the order and his council in various elected | ||||||
| 17 | offices, including as deputy grand knight; he was appointed as | ||||||
| 18 | district deputy for six years, served as MR chairman since | ||||||
| 19 | 1970, and belonged to the council's marching and concert band | ||||||
| 20 | from 1953 to 1965; he also served on the Bishop McNicholas | ||||||
| 21 | Degree Staff and had served as charitable coordinator on the | ||||||
| 22 | State Council of the Springfield Diocese, state deputy special | ||||||
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| 1 | assistant, and pro-life co-chairman for the State Council; he | ||||||
| 2 | held various 4th Degree offices, including faithful navigator | ||||||
| 3 | from 1974 to 1976 and faithful comptroller beginning in 1984; | ||||||
| 4 | he served as district secretary to the Master Southern | ||||||
| 5 | District from 1988 to 1992; he was elected as trustee to the | ||||||
| 6 | Board of the Springfield Diocesan Chapter for two years and | ||||||
| 7 | served as a delegate to the 1993 Supreme Convention, | ||||||
| 8 | representing the Springfield Diocesan Chapter; and
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| 9 | WHEREAS, John Risse was a lifelong member of St. Aloysius | ||||||
| 10 | Catholic Church; he was a member or an officer of the | ||||||
| 11 | Inter-Civic Club, the Golden Laurel Awards Banquet, and | ||||||
| 12 | Special Olympics Area #17 Board; he served as an umpire at | ||||||
| 13 | baseball and softball games for many years, and he refereed | ||||||
| 14 | basketball games; and
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| 15 | WHEREAS, John Risse was honored by the Knights of Columbus | ||||||
| 16 | Council #364 when his family was named Family of the Year in | ||||||
| 17 | 1991; that same year, he was inducted into the Springfield | ||||||
| 18 | Diocesan Chapter Hall of Fame; he received the Illinois State | ||||||
| 19 | Medallion in 1994; and
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| 20 | WHEREAS, John Risse was preceded in death by his parents | ||||||
| 21 | and his brother, Joseph Risse; and
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| 22 | WHEREAS, John Risse is survived by his wife, Bertha E. | ||||||
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| 1 | Risse; his sons, John D. (Molly) Risse Jr., Thomas A. Risse, | ||||||
| 2 | and Michael A. (Evelyn) Risse; his daughters, Katherine M. | ||||||
| 3 | Risse and Christine A. Risse; his grandchildren, Joshua, | ||||||
| 4 | Elizabeth, Larissa, Monica, and Jacki; and his | ||||||
| 5 | great-grandchildren, Joel, Jude, Jayden, Bella, Owen, and | ||||||
| 6 | Scarlett; therefore, be it
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| 7 | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL | ||||||
| 8 | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of | ||||||
| 9 | John D. Risse Sr. and extend our sincere condolences to his | ||||||
| 10 | family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it | ||||||
| 11 | further
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| 12 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
| 13 | presented to the family of John Risse as an expression of our | ||||||
| 14 | deepest sympathy.
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