SR1599 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1599 LRB099 20872 MST 45647 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ronald W. Sells of Fountain Hills, Arizona, who passed away on September 4, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Sells was born and raised in Chicago; he moved to Wonder Lake, eventually settling in Cary to raise his family; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Sells worked at Swisher Craft Boats and then the Northern Illinois Gas Company (Nicor), where he worked for over 30 years, starting as a gas repairman reading meters; he worked his way up to Control Inspector and Union Steward, from which he retired; he volunteered for many years at the Cary Fire Department, where he earned the nickname "Gas Pipe"; he also participated in the annual fire department water fight; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Sells enjoyed golfing, fishing, bowling, and snowmobiling; after retirement, his wish was to get away from the snow in Illinois and buy a home in Arizona, where he was proclaimed King of DJ's Bagel Cafe by his peers; he enjoyed fishing with his son, Scott; they went twice a year to Wisconsin, and the fish that got away got bigger and bigger every year; he and his daughter, Pam, were inseparable, and they always enjoyed their time together; on many occasions, laughable trouble would find them, between their annual vacations in Cancun or just relaxing on the patio; he also enjoyed his many friends, drinking a beer, smoking a cigar, watching his Chicago sport teams, going to hockey games, football games, and NASCAR races; he was always hoping for his Cubbies to win the World Series; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Sells was preceded in death by his father, Harold Sells; his mother, Florence Anderson; his stepfather, Vernon Anderson; and his son, Larry Stratton; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Sells is survived by his wife of 59 years, Violet; his son, Scott Sells (Kati); his daughter, Pam Pannarale (Jim); his 2 grandchildren, Alyssa and Kendall Sells; and his great-grandson, Jamieson Sells; therefore, be it

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