SR0437 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0437 LRB103 33821 ECR 63635 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of A.J. Wiss III of Pana, who passed away on June 23, 2023; and

WHEREAS, A.J. Wiss was born to A.J. Wiss Jr. and Betty (Haverfield) Wiss in Pana on July 1, 1946; he graduated from Sacred Heart School in Pana and Pana High School; he received his bachelor's degree in Administration of Justice from Southern Illinois University; he married Sandie Deason in Biloxi, Mississippi on April 8, 1967; he served as a sergeant in the U.S. Air Force from February 1967 through December 1970, where he was stationed in the U.S. and Thailand during the Vietnam era; and

WHEREAS, A.J. Wiss worked for Western Auto/True Value and opened Wiss Electronics; he was a third generation owner of Pana Iron, and he also owned and operated Byte Size Computers; most recently, he worked as a code enforcement officer for the City of Pana; and

WHEREAS, A.J. Wiss served on the City Council of Pana for two terms, serving for 12 years; he served as the bicentennial chairman of Pana in 1976; he was also the chairman of the Christian County Republicans; and

WHEREAS, A.J. Wiss was a member of many organizations in Pana, including St. Patrick's Catholic Church, where he was a part of the choir, the Pana Rotary Club, the Pana Lions Club, the Pana VFW, the Pana American Legion, the Pana Knights of Columbus, the Pana Jaycees, the Police Board, the Pana Country Club, the Pana Veterans Honor Guard, the Pana Community Hospital Board, the First National Bank Board, the Pana Industrial Development Corporation, Primetime, and Pana Pride; and

WHEREAS, A.J. Wiss enjoyed golfing, telling stories, and being a private pilot; he attended the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight in September 2022; and

WHEREAS, A.J. Wiss will be remembered as a sharp-witted husband, father, brother, and friend who loved people; and

WHEREAS, A.J. Wiss was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Dr. Thomas Wiss; and

WHEREAS, A.J. Wiss is survived by his wife; his children, Kelley (Dennis) Self and Karen (Steve) Clark; his grandchildren, Chelsea (Sandy Morris) Sasser, Robby (Ruth DeBaise) Sasser, Grace Clark, and Tatum Clark; his great-grandchildren, Rylee, Addison, and Harley; and his sisters, Kay Isacson, Linda Dust, and Janice LaBounty; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of A.J. Wiss III 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 A.J. Wiss as an expression of our deepest sympathy.