SR1029 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1029 LRB103 40802 LAW 73678 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Gerald "Jerry" Peters of Petersburg, who passed away on April 23, 2024; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Peters, the son of Martha and Lawrence Peters, was born in Quincy on August 21, 1939; he graduated from Quincy High School; he earned his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity; he married Marylee Chval in Forest Park on November 28, 1964; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Peters worked for the Springfield Sanitary District for more than 33 years, retiring as executive director; he then worked as a consultant at Hanson Professional Services and Myers Land Service; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Peters was very active in and passionate about the Illinois environmental engineering community, serving as vice president of the Illinois Association of Wastewater Agencies, state representative for the Capital Area of Engineers, president of the Central Illinois Water Pollution Control Association, a member of the Illinois Water Pollution Control Board, and a member of the Sangamon County Subdivision Development Committee; he also served the Illinois Waste Water Plant Operations Association as secretary-treasurer and as chair of its Program Committee, and he was the recipient of the Young Engineer of the Year Award from the Illinois Society of Engineers; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Peters was committed to his faith and was a member of Little Flower Church in Springfield, where he served as president of the Little Flower Parish Council and a member of the Little Flower Men's Club; he was also a member of St. Jude Catholic Church in Rochester and Holy Family Church in Athens, where he was a choir member; he was also a board member of Knights of Columbus, Holy Family Council #4179; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Peters was devoted to assisting his community, serving on the Regional Planning Committee for Camp Widjiwagan - Girl Scouts of Central Illinois, as a judge in speaking competitions for the 4-H Club and the Boy Scouts of America, as a member of the Elks Club and the Capital City Toastmasters Club, and as a volunteer at St. Martin De Porres Food Bank, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, and the New Salem State Historic Site; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Peters enjoyed golfing, traveling, studying genealogy, antiquing, book and map collecting, and writing; he was a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Fighting Illini football and basketball teams; he loved spending time with his family, particularly at the lakehouse; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Peters was known for his constant smile, his infectious laugh, and the adoration he felt for his wife, Marylee; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Peters was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Marylou Breckenkamp; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Peters is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marylee; his children, Mark (Anna) Peters, Connie (Marc) Werts, and Chris (Joe) Adams; his siblings, Donald Peters, Jim Peters, and Evelyn Smith; his grandchildren, Maggie, Emily, Alexandra, John, Lincoln, Haylee, Joy, Corrine, and Jesse; and numerous nieces and nephews; 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 Gerald "Jerry" Peters 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 Jerry Peters as an expression of our deepest sympathy.