SR0212 LRB094 12397 HSS 46675 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois
3 learned with sadness of the death of Mr. Gale C. Wicks of
4 Aurora, which occurred on September 30, 2004; and
 
5     WHEREAS, He was born on August 14, 1921, in Seneca to
6 Arthur and Bertha Wicks; a Seneca Knight, he dated Mary
7 Catherine Schaefer, the love of his life, who became his wife
8 of nearly 60 years and whom he often called Katie; she preceded
9 him in death in September of 2000; and
 
10     WHEREAS, He studied surveying briefly at Penn State, until
11 he was called to duty in World War II in Europe; he served his
12 unit as a medic and saw first hand the ravages of war; he
13 always expressed how grateful he was to return home; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Mr. Wicks settled his family in Aurora, and he
15 began a career; he had fond memories of working for the
16 Burlington Northern Railroad; his business career included 20
17 years at Thor Power Tools in Aurora and 20 years at Ajax Tool
18 Works in Franklin Park; and
 
19     WHEREAS, He retired in 1990 and began walking two miles
20 with his wife in Aurora's Lincoln Park every morning, except on
21 those days when the temperature or wind chill factor was below
22 zero; after Mary's passing, he faithfully continued to walk,
23 enjoying the companionship of his Lincoln Park walking pals;
24 and
 
25     WHEREAS, His tendency toward friendliness and
26 philosophical thinking continued to deepen over the years; he
27 was a son and grandson, a brother and uncle, a husband and
28 father, a grandfather and great-grandfather, a friend and
29 helper, and a tough act to follow; he was a Christian and a
30 member of Holy Angels Church; and
 

 

 

SR0212 - 2 - LRB094 12397 HSS 46675 r

1     WHEREAS, The passing of Gale C. Wicks has been deeply felt
2 by many, especially his children, Larry (Arlene) Wicks, Judy
3 (Patrick) Flaherty, and John Wicks; his grandchildren, Bob
4 (Kathy) Wicks, Ben Flaherty, and Mark, Katie, and Daniel
5 Flaherty; and his great-grandchildren, Matthew and Eric Wicks;
6 in addition to his parents and precious wife, he was preceded
7 in death by his daughter, Joanne Wicks, and his grandsons,
8 Lawrence, Jr., and Bryan Wicks; therefore, be it
 
9     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL
10 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
11 Gale C. Wicks, and we extend our deepest sympathy to his
12 family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
13 further
 
14     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15 presented to his family as an expression of our sorrow for
16 their loss.