SR0679 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0679 LRB094 19971 RAS 57371 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with regret of the death of Arthur "Bill" Tunell of Westmont on Saturday, February 25, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Tunell was born in Chicago; his family moved to Westmont when he was a junior in high school; and

WHEREAS, Shortly after Mr. Tunell graduated from what is now Downers Grove North High School, he enlisted in the United States Navy; he helped navigate Tank Landing Ship 380 during the invasion of Normandy during World War II; towards the end of the war, he volunteered for a mission and was trained to be part of Underwater Demolition Team 28, the predecessor to the Navy Seals; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Tunell married his wife, Irma, in 1948; they had a loving relationship for almost 56 years; and

WHEREAS, After the war, Mr. Tunell returned home and worked briefly at Western Electric; he then became a machinist for the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors, where he was also a part of General Motor's industrial fire department; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Tunell became involved in volunteering with the Westmont Fire Department, where he became known as "Uncle Artie" to his fellow firefighters; upon retiring from General Motors in his early fifties, he was available for more nights and calls; he became a part-time firefighter and worked twelve-hour shifts; and

WHEREAS, For twenty-seven years, Mr. Tunell spent most of his free time with the fire department; in 1994, a year before he retired, he was the recipient of the department's Firefighter of the Year Award; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Tunell was a member of the Masonic Grove Lodge and the First Presbyterian Church of Downers Grove, where he was a former deacon and elder; he enjoyed working crossword puzzles, playing pinochle, and bird-watching; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Tunell was truly part of that greatest generation that came out of the Depression and fought in the war; he was hard on the outside and soft on the inside; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his wife, Irma; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Arthur "Bill" Tunell has been deeply felt by many, especially his daughter, Linda (Mark) Johnson; his son, Mark (Barbara); his sister, Hesser Martin; and his grandchildren, Adam and Ryan Clark, Grant, and Samantha; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Arthur "Bill" Tunell, and we extend our sincerest 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 his family as an expression of our deepest sympathy for their loss.