093_SR0270
LRB093 13435 RAH 18753 r
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of
3 Illinois learned with regret of the death of William McKelvey
4 Damisch on September 20, 2003; and
5 WHEREAS, Mr. Damisch was born on March 14, 1930 in
6 Springfield to Marie McKelvey Damisch and Herbert Raymond
7 Damisch, and was the fifth generation of his family in
8 Rutland Township; on June 1, 1956 he married Barbara June
9 Brines of Elgin; and
10 WHEREAS, In June of 1936 the Damisch family moved to the
11 family farm in Rutland Township where they lived until
12 February of 1942 when Bill's father was called for active
13 duty in the Pacific Theater during World War II; for the next
14 four years, he lived in Elgin and attended Elgin High School,
15 graduating in 1947; and
16 WHEREAS, In 1948, Mr. Damisch enlisted in the U.S. Army
17 and served on active duty until September 13, 1949; he
18 enrolled in the University of Illinois, graduating in 1952;
19 after graduation, he took over the family dairy and grain
20 farm, which he ran for the next 20 years; he quit farming in
21 1972 and taught history in U-46 School District for the next
22 22 years; and
23 WHEREAS, Mr. Damisch had been active in numerous
24 political and civic groups; he served for 14 years on the
25 Kane County Board, chairing three different committees,
26 including the Kane County Development Department; he also
27 served 5 1/2 years as a Rutland Township Trustee; he chaired
28 the Western Kane County Republican Organization for 12 years
29 and served as a member of the Kane County Republican Central
30 Committee for 14 years-two years as Finance Chairman; in
31 October of 2002 he was honored as Republican of the Year; he
32 continued to serve as Vice-Chairman of the Kane County
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1 Republican Central Committee and as Chairman of the Western
2 Kane County Republican Organization until his passing; and
3 WHEREAS, Civically, Mr. Damisch served as President of
4 the Elgin Local, Pure Milk Association; Rutland Township
5 Director of the Kane County Farm Bureau; a member of the
6 Elgin Scottish Society; a member of the Ulster Genealogical
7 and Historical Society; a member of the Rutland Township
8 Historical Society; and a member of the Mensa Society; and
9 WHEREAS, The passing of William McKelvey Damisch has been
10 deeply felt by all who knew and loved him especially his
11 wife, Barbara Damisch; his children, Kathryn Marie (Jim)
12 Parker, William Matthew (Lea) Damisch, and Major Thomas
13 Andrew (Dorie) Damisch; and his grandchildren, Charles Reed
14 King, Rachel, Bryn, Amanda, Maggie, Hallie, Seth, Caprisha,
15 Robert, and Shawnisha Damisch; therefore, be it
16 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL
17 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing
18 of William McKelvey Damisch and extend our deepest sympathy
19 to his family, friends, and community; and be it further
20 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
21 presented to the family of William McKelvey Damisch as an
22 expression of our sincerest condolences.