HR1019 LRB094 19824 HSS 57117 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the
3 State of Illinois learned with sadness of the death of Jerry
4 Russell Simmons on Friday, February 24, 2006; and
 
5     WHEREAS, He was born on June 21, 1926, in Grantsburg, the
6 son of Oliver Simmons & Laura (Deasel) Simmons; he attended
7 Grantsburg School from 1932 to 1940, obtained his GED, and
8 attended Aurora College in Aurora, where he received his degree
9 in business management; and
 
10     WHEREAS, He valiantly served his country as a member of the
11 U.S. Army during World War II in the Pacific Theater as a 155
12 Howitzer Cannoneer and in the army of occupation in Japan; he
13 received several medals, including the Asiatic Pacific Theater
14 Ribbon with one Bronze Star, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon
15 with one Bronze Star, the Victory Medal, the Good Conduct
16 Medal, and the Army of Occupation Medal - Japan; he received an
17 honorable discharge on November 17, 1946; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Mr. Simmons married Jane (Sanders) on November 25,
19 1948, in Piggott, Arkansas; he received his privet pilot
20 license for single engine planes on November 29, 1949; he was
21 employed for 21 years at All Steel Equipment in Aurora from
22 1953 to 1974; he started as a machine operator and was promoted
23 to foreman and General Foreman before leaving in 1974; and
 
24     WHEREAS, He moved to Vienna, Illinois, where he owned and
25 operated a small business, Simmons Home Furnishings, from 1974
26 until 1992; he was elected Johnson County Clerk and Recorder in
27 December of 1986 and served in that office until his retirement
28 on November 30, 1994; and
 
29     WHEREAS, He was a member of the County Line Baptist Church
30 in the Flatwoods community and was a faithful member of the New

 

 

HR1019 - 2 - LRB094 19824 HSS 57117 r

1 Columbia Masonic Lodge #336 AF&AM at Ganntown for over 53
2 years; he was an avid fisherman and enjoyed gardening, bowling,
3 and collecting and repairing antique clocks; he was an avid
4 Chicago Cubs fan and an active member of the Johnson County
5 Democratic Party; and
 
6     WHEREAS, The passing of Jerry Russell Simmons has been
7 deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Jane; his daughter,
8 Terri McKenzie, and her husband Nick; his grandchildren, Scott
9 and Mindy McKenzie and Sara Jane McKenzie; his
10 great-grandchildren, Sam, C.J., Christopher, Kaitlynn, Aaron,
11 and Angel; his sister-in-Law, Ludean Shoemaker-Simmons; and
12 his many nieces and nephews; he was preceded in death by his
13 parents; his sister, Mary Morgan; his brothers, Joe Simmons and
14 Junior Simmons; and his half-sisters, Peggy Arnold and Nell
15 Goodgoin; therefore, be it
 
16     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
17 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
18 we mourn the passing of Jerry Russell Simmons, and we extend
19 our deepest sympathy to his family, friends, and all who knew
20 and loved him; and be it further
 
21     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
22 presented to his family as an expression of our sincerest
23 condolences.