SR0259 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0259 LRB096 12655 GRL 26186 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of John L. Holmes of Bethalto, who passed away on April 27, 2009; and

WHEREAS, John Holmes was born on April 14, 1926, in Witt; he was the son of Paul and Mary (Bradley) Holmes; he married the former Anna Kisak on December 11, 1948 in Witt; and

WHEREAS, John Holmes served his country in the United States Army during World War II; during the war, he was attached to the Adjutant General's Staff in Fort Knox, Kentucky; and

WHEREAS, John Holmes retired from Amoco Oil Company in 1982 after 38 years of dedicated service; he served as a volunteer fireman for the Village of Bethalto for 45 years, serving as fire chief for nine of those years; he was the first EMT for the fire department and the village; he also served two terms on the Bethalto Village Board; and

WHEREAS, John Holmes enjoyed high school sports and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan; he also loved traveling to Las Vegas; and

WHEREAS, John Holmes was a charter member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Bethalto and was instrumental in the foundation of Our Lady Queen of Peace School; he was a lifetime member of the Bethalto Knights of Columbus, where he was a 4th Degree Knight with the 4th Degree Assembly Pere Marquette; and

WHEREAS, John Holmes was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Eulalia Lehnen, Catherine Landreth, and Margaret Deluka; his brothers, Bradley Holmes and Paul Holmes; and his son-in-law, Larry Matheny; and

WHEREAS, John Holmes is survived by his wife; his children and their spouses, Cynthia Matheny, Susan Holmes-Roper, and Michael and Martina Holmes; his grandchildren and their spouses, Johnathan and Tonya Matheny, Franklin and Amber Matheny, Catherine and David Harris, Anna Roper, Emily Holmes, and Rachel Holmes; his great-grandchild, Johnathan D. Matheny; and his numerous nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of John L. Holmes; and be it further

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