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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois
3 learned with sadness of the death of Joliet Township Trustee
4 Rudolph "Rudy" J. Pucel on March 8, 2005; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Rudy Pucel lived a vigorous 84 years of life; he
6 was a retired salesman who had served as a Joliet Township
7 Trustee since 1985; he was a former Township Collector and
8 Democratic Committeeman in Precinct #26, and he served as the
9 first honorary mayor of the Slovenian Grape Harvest Festival;
10 and
 
11     WHEREAS, Mr. Pucel was born January 26, 1921, in Pueblo,
12 Colorado; he was the fifth child of ten to Joseph and Anna (nee
13 Bencic) Pucel; he was baptized at St. Joseph Church in Pueblo,
14 and moved to Joliet in 1925 at the age of four; he married
15 Mildred Erjavec on September 3, 1949, at Joseph Catholic Church
16 in Joliet; and
 
17     WHEREAS, He was a graduate of St. Joseph Parochial School,
18 where he was a member of the school band, and attended Joliet
19 Township High School; he was a Sergeant with the 371st Army
20 Engineers and served for three and a half years in the European
21 Theatre during WWII; he was the recipient of one service
22 stripe, three overseas service bars, American Campaign Medal,
23 European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre ribbon with four
24 Bronze Battle Stars, the Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit
25 Award, and the WWII Victory Medal; he worked for Trackman Auto,
26 Hills Auto Supply, Bardahl Oil, and Bowman Distribution-Barnes
27 Group, Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio and Bristol, Connecticut; he was
28 an independent Sales Agent and Sales Representative for 25
29 years; he was appointed National Account Manager in the
30 Midwestern and Central States in 1978, as well as Area Manager
31 and Sales Trainer, and was "Man of the Year"; he retired in
32 1993; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, He was a charter member and organizer for the
2 American Legion Post #1080; he was Commander of the Post from
3 1952-1953 and Will County Commander from 1958-1959; he served
4 the American Legion on numerous committees in Will County, as
5 well as the District and State levels; he was a 35-year member
6 of the Joliet American Legion National Championship Band where
7 he served as Captain of the Color Guard; he held various
8 offices, spearheaded many fundraising programs, and assisted
9 in arranging trips throughout the United States; he also
10 assisted the Navy and Marine Corps in various fundraising
11 projects, which kept them financially sound; and
 
12     WHEREAS, He was a member of KSKJ American Slovenian
13 Catholic Union, St. Joseph Lodge #2, where he was
14 Vice-President from 1961-1984, President from 1964-1992, and
15 Treasurer from 1993-2000; he was organizer and President of the
16 Joliet KSKJ Lodges from 1967-1987, President of Illinois
17 Federation of KSKJ Lodges from 1970-1987, and member of the
18 National Board-Executive Committee from 1970-1990; he was
19 organizer of the Associated Clubs of Greater Joliet and held
20 numerous leadership positions with other Associated Clubs of
21 Greater Joliet, as well as the March of Dimes (a volunteer for
22 50 years) and the Joliet Chamber of Commerce; and
 
23     WHEREAS, He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church
24 since 1926; he was a member of the church's Holy Name Society
25 and a committee member since the early 70s; in 1976, he aided
26 in forming the new church council, was a member since 1979, and
27 President of St. Joseph Church Council from 1977 to 1980; he
28 established funds for the redecorating of the church sanctuary
29 and church; he helped organize fundraising programs in 1976 and
30 1977 for the purpose of renovating St. Joseph Park facilities
31 which included the hall, cemetery, and baseball diamond; he was
32 a life member of the American Legion Post #1080 (one of the
33 organizers), life member of VFW Cantigny Post #367, member of

 

 

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1 the Northwest Recreation Club, Old Timers Baseball Association
2 and its Co-Chairman Membership Committee, member of Knights of
3 Columbus Council #4400 Baraga Association, and AARP; and
 
4     WHEREAS, He will be remembered as serving the public all of
5 his life and doing what was right for the community; he was
6 very dedicated to helping people; and
 
7     WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph
8 Sr., and Anna; three brothers, Joseph Jr., John, and Edward;
9 three sisters, Jule (late Frank) Setina, Mayme (late Joseph)
10 Baczuk, and Ann (late Charles) Setina; and a brother-in-law,
11 George Toth; and
 
12     WHEREAS, The passing of Rudy Pucel is felt by all who knew
13 and loved him, especially his loving wife, Mildred; his sons,
14 Christopher Michael (Judy, nee Maloney), Philip Gregory
15 (Christine, nee Olson), Rudy Thomas, and Victor Joseph (Jean,
16 nee Rehdantz) Pucel; his four grandsons, Eric Joseph (Courtney,
17 nee O'Brien), Zachary John, Nicholas James, and Benjamin Joseph
18 Pucel; his granddaughter, Rachel Anna Pucel; his sister, Elsie
19 Toth; his sisters-in-law, Toni Pucel and Pollyanna Pucel; and
20 his nieces and nephews, including Ron Setina; therefore, be it
 
21     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL
22 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
23 Rudolph "Rudy" J. Pucel and honor his exemplary life and legacy
24 of volunteerism and community service; and be it further
 
25     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
26 presented to his family as an expression of our deepest
27 sympathy.