SR0566 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0566 LRB098 13936 GRL 48481 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Robert Joseph Gerloff, who passed away on September 10, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Robert Gerloff was born on July 14, 1926; his parents were August and Helena (nee Stake) Gerloff; he married Eleanor Lorraine Eckert on May 24, 1952 at Grace Lutheran Church in Woodstock; and

WHEREAS, Robert Gerloff began running his family's farm in 1944 at the age of 17 after his father passed away; he eventually purchased the farm from the family estate; after marrying, his wife became an active part of his dairy business, resulting in a partnership that lasted throughout their married life; in 1972, he and his wife sold their first registered bull for use in artificial insemination; the sale of registered dairy cattle from their small family farm to Holstein breeders on 5 different continents has left a lasting genetic legacy in the global dairy industry; their dairy herd was also routinely among the top herds in the county and the State in dairy production; and

WHEREAS, Robert Gerloff was a longtime member of the Woodstock Progressive Milk Producers Association, a farmer-run cooperative, and served for many years on the organization's Board of Directors; after his retirement from milking in 1996, he became executive secretary of the Association and held the job part-time until his passing; he served as a member and an officer on many agriculture-related boards, including the McHenry-Lake County Holstein Association and the McHenry-Lake Dairy Herd Improvement Association; he also volunteered as a docent at the McHenry County Historical Society, sharing his knowledge of farming with school groups; and

WHEREAS, Robert Gerloff was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and his twin sister, Ruth; and

WHEREAS, Robert Gerloff is survived by his sons, Bruce (Lois) Gerloff and Brian (Carole) Gerloff; his daughters, Pamela Gerloff, Jane Gerloff, and Lisa (Bill) Banker; his grandchildren, Matthew, Sarah, Daniel, Robert, and Joseph Gerloff; his sister, Evelyn Hart; his sister-in-law, Edna Steadman; and his many nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of Robert Joseph Gerloff; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Robert Gerloff as an expression of our sympathy.