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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois General Assembly are 
3saddened to  learn of the death of
former Illinois State 
4Representative Joel D. Brunsvold of Milan, who passed away on 
5September 7, 2010; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Joel Brunsvold was born on February 26, 1942, in 
7Mason City, Iowa; he was the son of Burnell and Esther 
8Brunsvold; he married Barbara L. Bashaw on February 22, 1964, 
9in Rock Island; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Joel Brunsvold graduated from Rock Island High 
11School in 1960, where he was a football and baseball standout; 
12he then earned his bachelor's degree from Augustana College in 
131964, where he lettered in both football and baseball; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, Joel Brunsvold had a distinguished career in 
15education; he began his teaching career at Coyne Center Grade 
16School; he later moved to Sherrard High School, where he taught 
17science and coached football and track; during his teaching 
18career, he was elected to serve as a Trustee for the Village of 
19Milan; he was then elected to serve as Mayor of the Village of 
20Milan in 1977, where he served for 2 successful terms until 
211983; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, In 1982, Joel Brunsvold was elected to serve in 
2the Illinois House of Representatives, where he served with 
3dignity and integrity for 11 terms; as a State Representative, 
4he chaired the House Agriculture and Conservation and 
5Elementary and Secondary Education Committees and was 
6appointed by the Speaker of the House to serve as the 
7Democratic Caucus Chairman and Assistant Majority Leader; 
8during this time, he also founded and co-chaired the Illinois 
9Legislative Sportsman's Caucus, an organization that raised 
10money and awareness for outdoor activities for disabled youth; 
11in 2003, he was selected to serve as Director of the Illinois 
12Department of Natural Resources, where he served until his 
13retirement in 2005; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, Joel Brunsvold was a member of St. Matthew 
15Lutheran Church in Milan and numerous state and local sports 
16and wildlife organizations; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Joel Brunsvold was preceded in death by his 
18parents; his brother, Jerome; his father-in-law, Earl Bashaw; 
19and his brother-in-law, Dennis Bashaw; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, Joel Brunsvold is survived by his beloved wife of 
2146 years, Barbara; his sons and daughter-in-law, Timothy Joel 
22Brunsvold and Theodore J. and Elizabeth Brunsvold; his 
23granddaughters, Lauren and Grace Brunsvold; his brothers and 
 
 
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1sisters-in-law, Bruce and Penny Brunsvold and Brian and JoAnne 
2Brunsvold; his mother-in-law, Virginia Bashaw; his 
3sister-in-law, Josie Bashaw; and his nephews and nieces and 
4their spouses, Justin, Lisa, and Kari Brunsvold, Douglas 
5(Christie) Brunsvold, Jason Brunsvold, Abby (Ronnie) Mentarbo, 
6and Anna Bashaw; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Joel Brunsvold will be remembered by all who knew 
8and loved him as a dedicated legislator, a devoted family man, 
9an avid sportsman, and a loyal friend and public servant; 
10therefore, be it
  
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
12NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
13SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we mourn, along with his family 
14and friends, the passing of our former friend and colleague, 
15Joel Brunsvold; and be it further
  
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17presented to the family of Joel Brunsvold as an expression of 
18our sympathy.