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SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Dr. Robert D. Erickson of Elgin, who
4passed away on January 31, 2022; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Dr. Erickson received his Bachelor of Divinity
6from Bethel Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota and
7his Bachelor of Science from the University of Minnesota; he
8pursued his doctoral studies in New Testament and Early
9Christian Literature at the University of Chicago; he later
10received an honorary doctorate from Judson University; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Dr. Erickson, while teaching New Testament Greek
12in the collegiate division of the Northern Baptist Theological
13Seminary in Chicago, became a founding faculty member of
14Judson College, known today as Judson University, in Elgin in
151961; he was responsible for drafting and designing the
16Biblical Studies curriculum at the inception of Judson in
171963; he also taught select courses at Northern Illinois
18University, Loyola University, the College of St. Francis, and
19Wheaton College; he taught for over 50 years; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Dr. Erickson was an ordained minister with the
21Baptist General Conference; he served as pastor of Hillside
22Baptist Church, known today as Crossroads Community Church, in

 

 

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1Hillside; he was an interim minister for several other
2churches; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Alongside his wife, Dr. Erickson gave to Judson
4University for more than 50 years; their giving has supported
5and continues to support the departments where Dr. Erickson
6faithfully served, Biblical & Theological Studies and
7Christian Ministries, through scholarships and endowed funds;
8and
 
9    WHEREAS, Dr. Erickson was an active member of the greater
10Elgin community, representing Judson University in the Kiwanis
11Club of Elgin for 50 years; during his time with Kiwanis, he
12was influential in raising more than $100,000 towards Project
13Eliminate, an international effort to eliminate maternal and
14neonatal tetanus; and
 
15    WHEREAS, On Founders' Day 2012, Dr. Erickson was honored
16with the Golden Eagle Award, one of Judson University's
17highest honors, in recognition of his 50 years of teaching; he
18was also recognized for never missing a single class in his
19entire career with Judson; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Dr. Erickson was a long-time member of
21Chapelstreet Church, formerly known as the First Baptist
22Church of Geneva; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Erickson is survived by his wife of 67 years,
2Gladys; his children, Robert, Randall (Laura), Timothy
3(Valerie Dobiesz), Susan Suits (Jeffery), Jens, and Julie
4Henderson (Jeffrey); his 17 grandchildren; and his three
5great-grandchildren; therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
8Dr. Robert D. Erickson and extend our sincere condolences to
9his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
10further
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12presented to the family of Dr. Erickson as an expression of our
13deepest sympathy.