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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of our colleague and friend, former Illinois
4 State Senator Richard "Dick" Klemm of Crystal Lake; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Richard Oren "Dick" Klemm was born May 5, 1932 in
6 Chicago to Oren and Edythe (Neilsen) Klemm; he married Nancy
7 Havrilka on April 3, 1993 in Springfield; as a youth, he
8 achieved the rank of Eagle Scout; and
 
9     WHEREAS, He was a graduate of Purdue University and was a
10 veteran of the United States Army, serving from 1955 until
11 1962, he also served in the Air Force Reserves; he was a member
12 of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1980-1993 and the
13 Illinois Senate from 1993 until his retirement on February 10,
14 2003; and
 
15     WHEREAS, While in the Illinois Senate, he served as
16 Chairman of the prestigious Senate Executive Committee, and
17 served on the Local Government, Elections, and the Commerce and
18 Industry Committees; in addition, he served as Co-Chairman of
19 the Legislative Printing Unit; and
 
20     WHEREAS, Prior to serving in the Illinois House, he was
21 elected to positions in Nunda Township, served as the president

 

 

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1 of the District 46 Board of Education, was elected to the
2 McHenry County Board and then served as Chairman, passing the
3 first developer donation ordinance to preserve farmland and
4 control growth, and he was Chairman of the first McHenry County
5 Economic Development Committee; and
 
6     WHEREAS, He was recognized by countless community service
7 organizations for his civic contributions; in 1972, he
8 purchased F.W.E. (Food Warming Equipment Company); F.W.E. was
9 founded in the late 1940s by his father; Senator Klemm operated
10 F.W.E. as President until selling the company in 2005 to his
11 close friend and business partner, Deron Lichte; he assumed the
12 role of chief executive officer and chairman of the board until
13 his passing; recognized for his innovation, he received five
14 U.S. patents; and he oversaw the move of F.W.E. manufacturing
15 from Elk Grove Village to Crystal Lake in 1982, as well as
16 several expansions of the manufacturing facility; and
 
17     WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Former Senator Richard Klemm is survived by his
19 beloved wife of 17 years, Nancy; his four sons, James (Tammy)
20 Skerston, Jack (Lori) Skerston, Michael Havrilka, and David
21 (Sarah) Havrilka; his three daughters, Susan (Jeff) Johnston,
22 Kaye (Kevin) Krimmel, and Jamie (Dave) Howe; his 17
23 grandchildren; his sister, DeLoris (Rick) Tull; his niece,

 

 

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1 Debbie Hoffman; and his nephew, Charles Gauger; therefore, be
2 it
 
3     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
4 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
5 his friends, family, and former constituents, the passing of
6 former State Senator Richard "Dick" Klemm; and be it further
 
7     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8 presented to the family of former State Senator Richard "Dick"
9 Klemm as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.