HR0921

LRB096 20750 KXB 36496 r





  
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HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Raymond 
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Joseph Klees, who recently passed away; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS,  Raymond Joseph Klees was born in the Chicago 
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neighborhood of Roseland on December 24, 1921; he was the 
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beloved husband of the late Celeste R., nee Dunning; they were 
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married on May 4, 1946 and were uniquely devoted to each other 
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for 60 years; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Raymond Klees was a graduate of Pullman Tech High 
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School in 1939; he attended night classes at Loyola University 
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and worked full-time at Illinois Bell Telephone Company; he and 
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his wife, Celeste, met at Illinois Bell; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Shortly after Pearl Harbor, he passed a college 
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equivalency exam with the United States Army Air Corps and was 
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accepted into flight school; he was awarded Pilot Wings and 
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commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in early 1943; he and his crew 
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of 9 flew their B-17, "Charron's Ferry" in 25 combat missions 
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over North Africa, France, and Germany (8th Air Force, 96th 
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Bomb Group, Snetterdon Heath, East Anglia, England); he was 
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awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 5 
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Oak Leaf Clusters; and
  
 
 


 






HR0921
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LRB096 20750 KXB 36496 r




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    WHEREAS, He stayed with Illinois Bell for his working 
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career and retired as a District Level Manager; he volunteered 
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in several civic services over the years, including being a 
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commissioner on the Orland Park Police Board; he similarly 
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engaged multiple ministries in church service; he enjoyed 
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swimming, golf, and good friends; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Raymond Joseph Klees was the loving father of 
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Reverend Raymond F. Klees, Robert C., Caryl C. (Stephen) 
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Whitney, and Janet M. (Michael) Brennan; the cherished 
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grandfather of Lauren (Joseph) Jacob, Sarah (Griffin) Keenan, 
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Meredith (fiancé,  Peter Carey) Whitney, and Matthew, Ryan, and 
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Michael Brennan; the devoted son of the late Jacob and Mary, 
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nee Brickel, Klees; the fond brother of Marion (John) 
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Beerepoot, Adelaide (the late Bernard) Beemsterboer, and the 
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late Robert; therefore, be it
  
 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of 
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Raymond Joseph Klees; and be it further
  
 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Raymond Joseph Klees as a symbol of 
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our sincere sympathy.