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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of Merl Eugene Clark of Indianola, who
4 passed away on January 16, 2009; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Merl Eugene Clark was born the son of John William
6 and Clara Rena Margaret Bialeschki Clark on July 9, 1922 at
7 Rose Hill; he married Frances Juanita Smith on October 5, 1946
8 in Pulaski, Virginia; and
 
9     WHEREAS, He had a 20-year career in the United States Navy
10 and was a World War II Veteran, where he received 13 battle
11 star citations and 5 personal citations from the Navy; 6 of
12 those 20 years were served on the U.S.S. Boise CL47; he
13 participated in the Battle of Cape Esperance (sunk 4 ships),
14 the Battle of Guadalcanal, The Lone Tokyo Raid, and the Battle
15 of Leyte Gulf; and he was aboard the U.S.S. Boise during the
16 Lingayen Gulf Landing (Philippines) with General Douglas
17 MacArthur; he was also the commanding officer of approximately
18 eight different LCU, a recruiter, deep sea diver, and an
19 instructor; and
 
20     WHEREAS, Upon his retirement from the United States Navy,
21 he had many varied and interesting positions, one of which was
22 opening a hearing aid business with his cousin Theo of Mattoon;

 

 

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1 and
 
2     WHEREAS, During his lifetime he spent many hours in his
3 workshop on labors of love; he was a prolific reader, an avid
4 learner, a risk taker, an adventurer, horse lover, and was
5 honored by having a nephew, a cousin, and a brother-in-law
6 named after him; and
 
7     WHEREAS, His life was long and full; he was loved and will
8 be missed by not only his family but the many friends he left
9 behind; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Merl Clark is survived by his loving wife of 62
11 years, Frances; his children, Daniel Duncan Clark (Kay) and
12 Frances Debra Clark Mills (Don); his grandchildren Jason
13 (Trinket) Clark, Dusten (Jennifer) Clark, Francie (Nick)
14 Stokes, Danica (Jim) Hartle, Colby Clark, and Morgan Clark; and
15 his great grandchildren whom he loved dearly, Owen and Tessa,
16 Colton and Cassidy, Kyle, Madisyn and Alex, and Bailey and
17 Cydney; therefore, be it
 
18     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
19 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
20 his family and friends, the passing of Merl Clark; and be it
21 further
 

 

 

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1     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2 presented to the family of Merl Clark as a symbol of our
3 sincere sympathy.