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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of John Joseph "Johnny" Gerl of Joliet, who
4passed away on October 30, 2011; and
 
5    WHEREAS, He was born in Joliet on February 7, 1920; he
6attended St. Joseph's Grade School, and was a graduate of
7Joliet Township High School class of 1938; he was a proud
8member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and was a lifetime member
9of the Rival's Park Athletic Association, and the Will County
10Old-Timers Baseball Association; and
 
11    WHEREAS, He was a United States Army Veteran serving with
12the 113th Engineers C Company, during World War II; he received
13the Bronze Star for his bravery and heroism while engaged in
14action in the Philippine Islands and 3 additional Bronze Battle
15Stars, World War II Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theater
16Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, 3 Overseas Service Bars,
17and one Service Stripe; and
 
18    WHEREAS, He was a life member of V.F.W. Stone City Post
19#2199; he was also a fast pitch softball standout; he played
20for various local teams, including the Joliet Rivals Baseball
21Club and the esteemed Aurora Sealmasters; in 1977, he was
22inducted into the Fast Pitch Softball Hall of Fame; during the

 

 

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11950's the Chicago White Sox offered him a minor league
2baseball contract; and he was the owner and operator of Johnny
3and Lou's Tavern for over 40 years; and
 
4    WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his first wife, Bertha
5(nee Perush) Gerl; his parents, John and Mary Gerl; his
6brother, Edward Gerl; his sisters, Marie Wojeski, Bern Kickles,
7and Dorothy Savich; and his grandsons, Frank John Rury and
8Andrew Scott Taras; and
 
9    WHEREAS, John Gerl is survived by his wife, Alene C. (nee
10Pearcy) Gerl; his sons, Andrew (Tania) Taras and John (Ronae)
11Gerl; his daughters, Karen DeBenedetti, Helen (Larry)
12Setmeyer, and Rachelle (Larry) Prodehl; his grandchildren,
13Mario, Dawne, Darin, and Dedra DeBenedetti, Scott and Nicholas
14Taras, Wally, Andy, and Adam Setmeyer, Jayme Rury, Racheal
15Todd, and Rebecca Burlingame, and Johnny and Haley Gerl; his
16great-grandchildren; his sisters, Helen Kachel and Leone Will;
17his devoted sister-in-law, Irene Capista; and numerous nieces,
18nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
20ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
21his family and friends, the passing of John Gerl; and be it
22further
 

 

 

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