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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Carl "Bud" Schmitt of East Peoria, who
4passed away on November 27, 2015; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Carl Schmitt was born in East Peoria on October
610, 1925 to Carl J. and Elizabeth Hulse Schmitt; he graduated
7from East Peoria Community High School in 1943; after briefly
8working at Caterpillar, Inc. as a stenciler, he enlisted in the
9United States Navy in October of 1943 after his 18th birthday;
10he trained at Naval Station Great Lakes and served on the South
11Pacific front both in Hawaii and Guam before moving to
12Washington, D.C., as a teletype technician (electrician's mate
13third class) who broke codes during World War II until 1946; he
14was decorated with the Victory Medal, the America Area Campaign
15Medal, and the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal; he married
16Gretchen Hefner in Peoria on February 9, 1952; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Carl Schmitt returned from service in 1946 and
18opened a Texaco gas station in East Peoria while attending
19Eureka College, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science
20in Education; he graduated from Bradley University with a
21master's degree and additional hours in business
22administration; he was the assessor for Fon du Lac Township
23from 1948 to 1952; during his long career with East Peoria

 

 

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1Elementary School District 86 starting in 1964, he was a
2teacher, principal, and business administrator; he retired in
31992 as the associate superintendent; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Carl Schmitt was actively involved with the East
5Peoria Rotary Club, the Salvation Army, and the Salvation Army
6Tree of Lights Campaign; he was a Fon du Lac Park District
7Commissioner for over 50 years, was on the District 86
8Foundation Board, was the District 86 School Board Secretary,
9and was a member of the Illinois Association of Park Districts
10for over 45 years, the East Peoria Riverfront Development
11Commission, the Fon du Lac Library Board, the East Peoria
12Historical Committee, the Illinois Regional Board of
13Superintendents, and the Illinois Regional School Board of
14Trustees; he was named Citizen of the Year in 1991 in East
15Peoria; after riding over 25,000 miles of trails, the span of
16river trail in East Peoria was renamed the Carl "Bud" Schmitt
17River Trail on July 18, 2011; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Carl Schmitt was also a life-long parishioner of
19St. Monica's Catholic Church in East Peoria; he was an avid
20Notre Dame fan and had attended games since the 1940s; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Carl Schmitt was preceded in death by his wife,
22Gretchen, and his brother, Albert Schmitt; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Carl Schmitt is survived by his children, Monika
2(Andy) Tonsor, Lettie Schmitt, and Ara Schmitt; his sister,
3Frances "Sis" (Ray) Geier; and his 3 grandchildren, Elizabeth
4Tonsor, Timothy Tonsor, and Joseph Schmitt; therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
6ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
7Carl "Bud" Schmitt, and extend our sincere condolences to his
8family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
9further
 
10    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
11presented to the family of Carl Schmitt as an expression of our
12deepest sympathy.