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SR0802 |
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LRB095 21923 KXB 52190 r |
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| SENATE RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to |
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| learn of the death of Ralph David Lauridsen of Waukegan, who |
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| passed away on May 1, 2008; and
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| WHEREAS, Ralph David Lauridsen was born in Dolton on March |
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| 6, 1922, to Andrew and Emelia Lauridsen; he was educated at |
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| Berger School and Thornton Township High School before joining |
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| his father and brother in the home construction business; and
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| WHEREAS, Ralph joined the Sea Bees during World War II and |
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| served three years in the 60th Sea Bee Construction Battalion; |
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| his battalion serviced in the South Pacific, building airstrips |
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| and bases in the dense rain forests of New Guinea; the entire |
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| battalion received letters of commendation for clearing jungle |
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| and building an airstrip in a record 13 days under torrential |
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| rain; in the years following his service, Ralph continued to |
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| see his Navy buddies at annual Sea Bee reunions, and his close |
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| friendship with Lou Knau lasted his entire life; and
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| WHEREAS, After the war, Ralph returned to Dolton and |
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| married Yvette Hill; A. Lauridsen and Sons Construction Company |
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| flourished with the past-war demand for housing; over the |
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| years, many beautiful homes and several apartment buildings, |
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| and office buildings in the south suburban area were built by |
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SR0802 |
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LRB095 21923 KXB 52190 r |
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| the Lauridsen company, which eventually came under Ralph's sole |
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| proprietorship; Ralph had a spotless reputation for honesty and |
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| hard work, and his customers knew that his handshake was the |
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| best possible guarantee of a straight deal; and
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| WHEREAS, Ralph and Yvette raised their three girls in a |
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| home Ralph built in Dolton, next door to the house in which he |
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| grew up, built by his father; after an early retirement, Ralph |
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| and Yvette traveled the world, making many trips to Europe and |
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| several others to Africa, Asia, South America, and Australia; |
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| they crossed the United States by car countless times, visiting |
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| friends and relatives from coast to coast; he made wine, |
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| experimenting with many different fruits and flowers; he |
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| gardened and tended fruit trees; he was an active supporter of |
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| his church, York House United Methodist, and belonged to the |
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| local Danish club and Global Gourmet; and
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| WHEREAS, Ralph Lauridsen had a real zest for life, and an |
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| optimism that sustained him through his last days; on Christmas |
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| Day in 2007, he and his wife celebrated their 61st wedding |
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| anniversary; in addition to Yvette, Ralph is survived by his |
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| three daughters and their husbands; six granddaughters; one |
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| grandson; and two great-granddaughters; therefore, be it
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| RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL |
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| ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with |