SR0379 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0379 LRB102 18912 MST 27640 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Charles W. "Charlie" Dukes of Georgetown, who passed away on June 15, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Charlie Dukes was born to Russell and Florence (Taylor) Dukes on March 30, 1923; he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and served with the 104th Wolfhound Division in Holland, Belgium, and Germany; he was wounded and captured on Thanksgiving Day in 1944; he was discharged on December 14, 1945, finished college, and married Grace Marie Schwab; and

WHEREAS, Charlie Dukes worked at, and then managed, the First National Bank in Georgetown; he had numerous other ventures, such as running farm auctions, selling lumber and Tennessee stone, and developing and selling subdivision lots; he retired and spent his time carrying his message to students as a living link to history; and

WHEREAS, Charlie Dukes was a lifetime member of the American Legion Dornblaser Post #203 in Georgetown, and he helped to establish the memorial honor roll located on the square in Georgetown; he enjoyed camping in his younger years; and

WHEREAS, Charlie Dukes authored a tell-all about his nearly six month experience of being a POW in Germany, Good Morning (But the Nightmares Never End), in 1997, with plans for it to be made into a movie in the future; and

WHEREAS, Charlie Dukes is survived by his wife of 71 years, Grace; together they had four children, Debra (David) Small, Laurie Holman, Kent (Melinda) Dukes, and Robin (Diane) Dukes, eight grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Charles W. "Charlie" Dukes and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Charlie Dukes as an expression of our deepest sympathy.