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1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION |
2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened |
3 | | to learn of the death of Ardo C. Holmgrain of Rock Island, who |
4 | | passed away on June 7, 2024; and |
5 | | WHEREAS, Ardo Holmgrain was born to Elmer and Clara Bleuer |
6 | | Holmgrain in Moline on February 4, 1928; while a high school |
7 | | student, he worked for the Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric |
8 | | Company during World War II; he graduated from Rock Island |
9 | | Senior High School in 1946; he enlisted in the U.S. Army, |
10 | | serving at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina and Ft. McPherson, |
11 | | Georgia; he was awarded the World War II Victory Medal and was |
12 | | honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in 1948; he majored |
13 | | in mathematics and physics, graduating from Augustana College |
14 | | in 1952; he married Carolyn J. Whitcomb at St. John's Lutheran |
15 | | Church in Rock Island on October 26, 1956; and |
16 | | WHEREAS, Ardo Holmgrain began his 32-year career with the |
17 | | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1953, serving as chief of |
18 | | estimating and specifications; during his tenure, he received |
19 | | two Sustained Superior Performance Awards, a Special Act Award |
20 | | for Value Engineering, and numerous other recognitions; he was |
21 | | also an active member of the Society of American Military |
22 | | Engineers for more than 55 years, serving as secretary for |
23 | | three years; and |
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1 | | WHEREAS, Ardo Holmgrain was a member of the Rock Island |
2 | | Rotary Club, where he served as president, had over 50 years of |
3 | | perfect attendance, and was a Paul Harris Fellow; he was |
4 | | instrumental in the creation of the club's highest honor, the |
5 | | A.T. Peara Award, a lifetime achievement award presented to a |
6 | | member that best represents the ideals of Rotary |
7 | | International; he and his wife served as a host family for |
8 | | visiting Rotary Youth Exchange students, and they were also |
9 | | key figures in the founding of the Rock Island Summerfest; and |
10 | | WHEREAS, Ardo Holmgrain was a member of Immanuel Lutheran |
11 | | Church in Rock Island and a past member of St. John's Lutheran |
12 | | Church in Rock Island; he served as president of several |
13 | | organizations, including the Rock Island Engineering and |
14 | | Scientific Corp, the Rock Island American Scandinavian |
15 | | Society, and the Youth Guidance Council of Rock Island, |
16 | | creating the professional Youth Services Bureau, and he served |
17 | | on the Rock Island County Historical Society Board; he was |
18 | | also a member of the Mercer County Historical Society, the |
19 | | Natural Area Guardians, the Figge Art Museum, the Putnam |
20 | | Museum, the Quad City Botanical Center, the Rock Island |
21 | | Preservation Society, and the Quad City Symphony; and |
22 | | WHEREAS, Ardo Holmgrain and his wife enjoyed traveling, |
23 | | including visiting all 50 states, 27 national parks, nine |
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1 | | Canadian provinces, and 35 foreign countries on five |
2 | | continents; as they aged, they continued visiting family and |
3 | | wintering in Florida; and |
4 | | WHEREAS, Ardo Holmgrain was preceded in death by his |
5 | | parents and his brothers, Bruce E. Holmgrain and Dale F. |
6 | | Holmgrain; and |
7 | | WHEREAS, Ardo Holmgrain is survived by his wife of 67 |
8 | | years, Carolyn; his son, Kent Holmgrain; his daughter, Ardith |
9 | | (Juliusz Sas) Holmgrain; and his grandchildren, Alexander Sas |
10 | | and Sabina Sas; therefore, be it |
11 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL |
12 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of |
13 | | Ardo C. Holmgrain and extend our sincere condolences to his |
14 | | family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it |
15 | | further |
16 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be |
17 | | presented to the family of Ardo Holmgrain as an expression of |
18 | | our deepest sympathy. |