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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of Leo G. Lauzen of Aurora, who passed away
4 on June 5, 2006; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Leo Lauzen was born on August 10, 1923 in
6 Aberdeen, South Dakota; he moved to Aurora as a young boy after
7 the death of his father; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Leo Lauzen graduated from East Aurora High School
9 in 1943; after graduation he enlisted in the United States
10 Army; he was a combat infantry squad leader and was awarded the
11 Silver Battle Star during the only formal parade of the 83rd
12 Combat Infantry Division; he earned a Bronze Star when he
13 rescued 40 American soldiers during the Battle of the Bulge; he
14 was wounded in action and received the Purple Heart Medal; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Upon his return from World War II, Mr. Lauzen
16 entered the University of Illinois on the G.I. Bill; he married
17 and opened his own bookkeeping practice, exclusively serving
18 small businesses; 17 years later he had 785 clients and the
19 largest bookkeeping business catering to small businesses in
20 the country; in 1969 he sold his business and began franchising
21 his concepts and procedures; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Mr. Lauzen opened Midwest Accounting with the
2 money from selling his previous business, which grew into 150
3 offices around the Midwest; Midwest Accounting became known as
4 the Comprehensive Accounting Corporation; he eventually
5 employed over 350 people in the Aurora area and more than
6 20,000 small business clients around the country and in Puerto
7 Rico; he sold the business to Sir Speedy, Inc., in 1991; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Leo Lauzen touched the lives of thousand of
9 people; he received the Honorary Life Membership in the
10 International Franchise Association, where he served as a
11 member of the Board of Directors for 8 years and made lasting
12 contributions to franchising; and
 
13     WHEREAS, He and his franchisees raised money for the
14 National Easter Seals Telethon and served as the Official
15 Tabulators for 15 years; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Leo Lauzen is survived by his children, David,
17 Illinois State Senator Chris Lauzen, Sarah, Martha, Leo II, and
18 Laura Browning; his many grandchildren, his brother, Victor
19 Lauzen; his sister, Mary Foerster; and several nieces and
20 nephews; he was preceded in death by his wife of 35 years,
21 Diane; his parents; and his brother, John; therefore, be it
 
22     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL

 

 

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1 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we offer our deepest
2 condolences to the family and friends of Leo G. Lauzen; and be
3 it further
 
4     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
5 presented to the family of Leo G. Lauzen as a symbol of our
6 sympathy.