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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Jesse Lewis Formhals, who passed away
4on October 23, 2021; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Jesse Formhals was born on a farm in Pontiac to
6Carl and Caroline (Dietrich) Formhals on July 12, 1933; he
7graduated from Ottawa High School; he served in the U.S. Army
8during the Korean War and was stationed in Alaska as a
9meteorologist; and
 
10    WHEREAS, After his service, Jesse Formhals worked for
11Libby Owens Ford in Ottawa making windshields for cars; he
12then became a welder for Caterpillar in Joliet and later
13attended DeVry Institute in Chicago to study electronics;
14following graduation, he worked at Argonne National Laboratory
15for over 30 years, where he developed equipment to monitor
16radiation levels; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Jesse Formhals enjoyed spending time with his
18family in Wisconsin at their cottage on Lake Delavan during
19retirement; he loved taking boat rides with his grandkids on
20his pontoon; he was a jack of all trades and the handyman of
21the family; he could frequently be found tinkering with cars,
22working on home rehab projects, or keeping up with the latest

 

 

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1tech advancements; he appreciated the simple things in life, a
2cup of McDonald's coffee, a slice of Giordano's deep-dish
3pizza, and a slice of cherry pie to satisfy his immense sweet
4tooth; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Jesse Formhals was kind, patient, and selfless;
6he was a devoted husband who lovingly cared for his wife,
7Gloria; as a dad, he exemplified the meaning of unwavering
8love and taught his children many life lessons; he was their
9biggest supporter and was adored as "pa", "papa", and "poppy";
10he loved cheering on his grandkids at their special events and
11was frequently their "phone a friend" for homework help in
12math and science; his Catholic faith was at the center of his
13life; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Jesse Formhals was preceded in death by his
15parents; his sisters, Dorothea Formhals and Rolene (Owen)
16Posner; his granddaughter, Jessica Mae Formhals; and his
17brother, Carl (Charlotte) Formhals; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Jesse Formhals is survived by his wife of 63
19years, Gloria (Girardo) Formhals; his son, Joe Formhals (Ann
20Santoro); his daughter, Mary C. (Clarence) Vogel; his
21grandchildren, Nicole Formhals (Kendrick Davis), Emma Vogel,
22Kate Formhals, and Tim Formhals; his sister-in-law, Barbara
23(Girardo) Gustafson; his cousin, Judith Roe; and his niece,

 

 

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1Laurie Apple; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
4Jesse Lewis Formhals and extend our sincere condolences to his
5family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
6further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to the family of Jesse Formhals as an expression of
9our deepest sympathy.