SR0102 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0102 LRB099 07558 MST 27684 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Jeff Welker of Maryville, who passed away on January 19, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Jeff Welker was born in Wood River on November 12, 1949 to Leslie and Beatrice (nee Brown) Welker; he married Cindy Nowak on August 22, 2008 at the Charles Raich Memorial Football Field in Roxana; and

WHEREAS, Jeff Welker was employed by Roxana Community School District #1 as a history teacher for over 37 years; he received numerous recognitions, including the Silver Medallion Teacher of the Year, the Illinois State Historical Society Teacher of the Year, and the Emerson Electric Excellence in Teaching Award; he was the History Club sponsor at Roxana High School, where he also coached football, girls basketball, and weight lifting, and taught adult education classes concerning the Holocaust; he aided many students in joining the military; he started the football program at Bunker Hill High School; and

WHEREAS, Jeff Welker was a Civil War re-enactor for 18 years; he attended First Baptist Church in Roxana; and

WHEREAS, Jeff Welker was preceded in death by his parents and his niece, Lori Kay Rigsbey; and

WHEREAS, Jeff Welker is survived by his wife, Cindy; his daughter, Kristy Ann Welker; his step-children, Don Nowak, Amanda Nowak, and David Nowak; his 2 grandchildren, Shawn James Fulton and Gabriella Welker; his sister and brother-in-law, Leslie and Dana Rigsbey; his nephew, David Rigsbey; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Michael and Kelly Ann Rozmin; his sister-in-law, Michelle Gordon; his nephew, Adam Palmquist; and his niece, Margaret Palmquist; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Jeff Welker, 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 Jeff Welker as an expression of our deepest sympathy.