SR1119 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of William Micheal O'Neill, who passed away on August 6, 2015; and

WHEREAS, William O'Neill was born on December 20, 1933 in Philo; his parents were Everett M. O'Neill and Cecilia E. (nee Lannon) O'Neill; he married Mary Sue Campbell on April 3, 1953; and

WHEREAS, William O'Neill grew up in Urbana; he graduated from Urbana High School in 1951 and attended the University of Illinois to study architecture; and

WHEREAS, William O'Neill joined the United States Navy in 1952, where he was proud to become a member of the Naval Construction Forces - the Seabees; he and his wife went to Bermuda, where he served the Navy as an electrician and they began their family; he retired at the rank of commander after serving in the United States Naval Reserve for 24 years following his active duty; and

WHEREAS, Upon returning to Champaign, William O'Neill worked at CS Johnson as a draftsman and then at the Alloy Engineering and Casting Company, where he held the positions of president and chairman of the board for more than 25 years until his retirement in 1994; and

WHEREAS, William O'Neill was a member of the National Foundry Association, a member and past chairman of the Cast Metals Institute, and a member and president of the American Foundry Society, where he was the recipient of the prestigious industry award, the William H. McFadden Gold Medal, for his promotion of scholarships supporting foundry careers; he also served on the board of directors of several local financial institutions, including Central Illinois Bank, Commercial Bank, Freestar Bank, and Strategic Capital Bank; and

WHEREAS, William O'Neill was a member of St. Peter's United Church of Christ; and

WHEREAS, William O'Neill enjoyed traveling abroad, architecture and design, attending reunions, airplanes, carpentry, landscaping, boating, reading, watching sports, old westerns and war films, and teasing his wife, children, and grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, William O'Neill was preceded in death by his parents and 2 brothers, Robert O'Neill and James O'Neill; and

WHEREAS, William O'Neill is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Sue; his children, W. Micheal (Tracie) O'Neill, Jr., Cinda (Chris) Noffke, Patrick (Terry) O'Neill, and Mindy (Jim) Bolin; his grandchildren, Marisa (Derek) Friske, Angela Noffke, Joshua Noffke, Ashley Bolin, Nick Bolin, Eric O'Neill, Aerin Bender, Katie (Mike) Seiffertt, Liz (Joe) Cowman, and Alycia Marfongella; 7 great-grandchildren; a brother, Richard (Pat) O'Neill; and his many extended family members and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of William Micheal O'Neill; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of William O'Neill as an expression of our sympathy.