SR0551 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0551 LRB102 19458 MST 28226 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Francis Urbaan Ballegeer of East Moline, who passed away on August 2, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Francis Ballegeer was born in Moline to Urbaan and Goldie (Callewaert) Ballegeer on October 31, 1928; he married Marilyn Schwenneker at St. Mary's Catholic Church in East Moline on September 16, 1950; and

WHEREAS, Francis Ballegeer worked a few years for the East Moline Street Department, at Emil De Donker's Feed Mill in East Moline, and then briefly at a foundry before joining the U.S. Marine Corps for two years; after his service, he and his wife rented a farm near Carbon Cliff for two years; they then bought a farm in Green Rock; that farm and half of the Urbaan Ballegeer farm on Coaltown Road are still owned and farmed by Francis's family; and

WHEREAS, Francis Ballegeer served four years as road commissioner of Colona Township; and

WHEREAS, Francis Ballegeer enjoyed motorcycling and water skiing for recreation in his younger years; his favorite recreation was horseback riding, and he participated in many organized trail rides, shoed horses for several years, and enjoyed western movies; in later years, he loved sitting with his wife on the deck overlooking the Ballegeer Pond; after his wife passed, he especially enjoyed the company of his great-grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Francis Ballegeer was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marilyn; his sister, Catherine Miller; his brothers, Edward, Leonard, and Robert Ballegeer; and his daughter, Sherry McKeag; and

WHEREAS, Francis Ballegeer is survived by his sons, Larry (Mary Kay) Ballegeer, David (Robbin) Ballegeer, and Steve Ballegeer; his grandchildren, Shannon, Mitch, Megan, Josh, Jake, Joseph, James, Jason, Adam, and Stephanie; his great-grandchildren, Jeremy, Dallas, Desirae, Destiny, Hunter, Emery, Rylie, Judd, Deegan, and William; his step-grandchildren, Brandon and Nick; and his brother, Donald; 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 Francis Urbaan Ballegeer 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 Francis Ballegeer as an expression of our deepest sympathy.