SR0459LRB103 34206 LAW 64029 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of William Joseph "Bill" Christiansen of
4Des Plaines, who passed away on August 23, 2023; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Bill Christiansen was born to Christ G.
6Christiansen and Kathleen (O'Rourke) Christiansen on December
726, 1946; he was a lifelong Des Plaines resident; he served in
8the U.S. Army in Vietnam and earned numerous awards, including
9the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, and the Bronze Star as a
10long-range reconnaissance patrolman (LRRP)/ranger; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Bill Christiansen worked as a dockman for K&R
12Delivery; in retirement, he enjoyed fishing and started a
13second career at Rolling Meadows High School, where he worked
14as an instructional assistant in the Special Education
15Department and as a coach for the girls' bowling team and boys'
16water polo team; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Bill Christiansen found joy in sharing his
18wartime experiences, serving as a guest speaker in high school
19classrooms and as president of his local Vietnam Veterans of
20America (VVA) chapter; most recently, he authored a book about
21his time in Vietnam; and
 

 

 

SR0459- 2 -LRB103 34206 LAW 64029 r

1    WHEREAS, Bill Christiansen will be remembered as a loving
2husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, friend,
3and fisherman; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Bill Christiansen was preceded in death by his
5parents and his sister, Mary Ann Walker; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Bill Christiansen is survived by his wife of 55
7years, Connie (Gilmore); his daughters, Annie (Steve) Grosz,
8Sara (Dan) Knigge, Leah Dillow, and Becky (Brent) Offill; his
9grandchildren, Charlie, Mikaela, Jack, Julia, Evan, Matthew,
10Thomas, Tessa, and Joe; his siblings, Bob (Judy) Christiansen,
11Kathy (Izzy) Sierra, Tom (Jan) Christiansen, and Kevin (Irene)
12Christiansen; and countless nieces and nephews; therefore, be
13it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
15ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
16William Joseph "Bill" Christiansen and extend our sincere
17condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
18him; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20presented to the family of Bill Christiansen as an expression
21of our deepest sympathy.