SR0137 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0137 LRB094 11811 HSS 44114 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with regret of the death of Bennett V. Dickmann of Edwardsville on Tuesday, March 15, 2005; and

WHEREAS, He was born on September 5, 1916, in Peters' Station, which is now Glen Carbon, to John and Anna Mateyka Dickmann; he married Virginia Ward on January 4, 1939, in Edwardsville; she preceded him in death on August 21, 1999; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Dickmann was a graduate of Edwardsville High School and attended St. Louis University; his 43 years of employment with the United States Postal Service was interrupted by World War II, during which he valiantly served his country in Europe with the Army Air Corps; and

WHEREAS, He was appointed postmaster by President Lyndon Johnson and served in that capacity for 20 years; during his early tenure, he was charged with the construction of the Edwardsville Federal Building and Post Office and implementation of delivery services to SIUE; and

WHEREAS, His memberships included St. Boniface Catholic Church, the American Legion Post 199, V.F.W. Post 1299, a past member of the Edwardsville Knights of Columbus, Edwardsville Rotary, and the National Association of Postmasters of the United States (NAPUS); and

WHEREAS, The passing of Bennett V. Dickmann has been deeply felt by many, especially his sons, Bennett W. Dickmann and wife, Kathy, and Bruce Dickmann and wife, Donna; his daughters, Barbara Dickmann McNeill and Bonita Dickmann Pasek; his grandchildren, Bradley and Aubrey Dickmann, Brian and MaryBeth Dickmann, Jane Reames, Robin Gallaher, Rita Wehling, Randy Wehling, Sarah and Susan Pasek, and Anne Bertelsmann; his six great-grandchildren; and his sister, Leona Ostendorf; in addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Hilbert, Leonard, and John Dickmann; his sisters, Margaret "Margie" Thurston, Estelle Toner, Ann Hickey, and an infant sister; and his son-in-law, Glenn McNeill; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Bennett V. Dickmann, and we extend our deepest sympathy 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 his family as an expression of our sincere condolences.