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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of former
4 Illinois State Representative Ray Christensen of Morris, who
5 passed away on April 21, 2008; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Ray Christensen was born May 11, 1922 in Dwight,
7 the son of the late Einar and Margaret Broderick-Christensen;
8 he was raised and educated in Morris and was a graduate of
9 Immaculate Conception Grade School and Morris Community High
10 School; and
 
11     WHEREAS, He was a decorated World War II veteran of the
12 United States Army Air Corp, having served in the European
13 Theater of Operations from January of 1943 until being
14 honorably discharged in October of 1945; in September of 1948
15 he married Norma Fiori in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
16 in Morris and she preceded him in death in April of 1984; in
17 November of 1985 he married Mary Curl and she also preceded him
18 in death in 1996; and
 
19     WHEREAS, He worked as a butcher for 25 years and in 1953
20 purchased The Lisbon Locker Plant, which he owned and operated
21 for 21 years; in 1971 he was elected to the Morris City Council
22 and was the first Democratic Alderman; he also served on the

 

 

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1 Morris High School Board of Education from 1966 to 1972,
2 serving as president in 1971 and 1972; he was a lifelong member
3 of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Morris, a member of
4 the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, the American Legion, the
5 Morris VFW, and the Morris Moose Lodge; he was an avid Chicago
6 Cubs fan, fisherman, and card player; and
 
7     WHEREAS, He was elected to the Illinois State House of
8 Representatives in 1976 and served six terms until 1989; during
9 his time in the House of Representatives he served on the
10 Committees on Aging (Chairman); Agriculture (vice-chairman);
11 Counties and Townships; Energy, Environment, and Natural
12 Resources; and Small Business; and
 
13     WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; his first
14 wife, Norma; his second wife, Mary; his brother, Maurice
15 Christensen, and his sister, Helen Foss; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Ray Christensen is survived by his three sons, Guy
17 (Janis) Christensen, Gary "Chao" (Melinda) Christensen, and
18 Gregg (Dani) Christensen; his seven grandchildren, Kelly (Dan)
19 Mitchell, Katie Christensen, Nicole Christensen, Cody
20 Christensen and Casey Christensen, and Sydney Christensen and
21 Peyton Christensen; his great-grandson, Jace Mitchell; his
22 sisters, Evelyn (Ernest) Roost, Betty (Robert) Smith, Margaret
23 (Peter) Ruffatti, and Patricia (the late Burl) Townsend; his

 

 

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1 brother, Lawrence "Lefty" (Teresa) Christensen; his
2 sister-in-law, Alice Comrie; his special companion of 12 years,
3 Bobette Yurechko; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins,
4 and friends; therefore, be it
 
5     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
6 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
7 mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of former
8 Illinois State Representative Ray Christensen; and be it
9 further
 
10     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
11 presented to the family of former Illinois State Representative
12 Ray Christensen as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.