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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois
3 learned with regret of the death of William E. Wannemaker of
4 Downers Grove on Thursday, July 7, 2005; and
 
5     WHEREAS, He was born and raised in Tinley Park and a was
6 graduate of Thornton Community High School in Harvey; he
7 enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces when he was 17 and trained
8 to be a tail gunner for B-17 and B-29 bombers in World War II;
9 the war ended prior to his being shipped overseas; and
 
10     WHEREAS, After his military discharge, Mr. Wannemaker
11 returned to the Chicago area and worked with his father as a
12 well digger; in 1947, he married his wife, Ruth, and they made
13 their home in Tinley Park; he worked for his father-in-law at
14 Gee Lumber, and in the early 1960s, he helped found the E.G.
15 Home Center stores in Carol Stream and Downers Grove; and
 
16     WHEREAS, In 1967, he set out on his own by purchasing the
17 Tollgate Nursery on Ogden Avenue in Downers Grove, which he
18 renamed as Wannemaker's five years later; with the help of his
19 two sons, he turned the business into a complete home center,
20 selling lumber, hardware, plumbing, paint, and electrical
21 products; and
 
22     WHEREAS, He had been a Downers Grove resident since 1971
23 and was a longtime member of the Rotary Club and Naperville
24 Country Club; for many years, he served on the board of
25 directors of the Downers Grove National Bank; and
 
26     WHEREAS, The passing of William E. Wannemaker has been
27 deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Ruth; his sons, Bob
28 and James; his daughters, Lyn Konsoer and Kay Yeretsky; his
29 sister, Bernetta Cristl; and his 11 grandchildren; therefore,
30 be it
 

 

 

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1     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL
2 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
3 William E. Wannemaker, and we extend our sincere condolences to
4 his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
5 further
 
6     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7 presented to his family as an expression of our deepest
8 sympathy.