SR1988 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1988 LRB099 22211 GRL 49580 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Dennis "Denny" Lee Polk of Springfield, who passed away on May 29, 2016; and

WHEREAS, Dennis Polk was born on June 17, 1955 in Springfield; his parents were William "Bill" Polk, Jr. and Donna Polk; and

WHEREAS, Dennis Polk began his career as a funeral director and embalmer; in 1999, he and his former wife opened the Staab Polk Memorial Home in Chatham; and

WHEREAS, Dennis Polk worked in real estate for three decades; he had a passion for real estate and historic preservation and was an avid entrepreneur; he was most recently the broker and owner of The Real Estate Firm; he owned several well-known bars throughout the years in the Springfield area, including Biggie's and Bubba's, Miss Kitty's, Brewhaus, and Floyd's; he was a partner in the Hilton (now Wyndham) Hotel since 1989; and

WHEREAS, Dennis Polk received the Historic Preservation Award in 1994 for his work in downtown Springfield, including the Booth-Grunendike Mansion and the former Grand Hotel; downtown Springfield would have many more parking lots had it not been for his adaptive reuse of buildings; and

WHEREAS, Dennis Polk was the recipient of the Small Businessman of the Year Award in 1989 through the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce; and

WHEREAS, Dennis Polk was preceded in death by his grandparents, Loren and Gladys Wilgus, William and Elizabeth Polk, and Emma Polk; his niece, Gina; and his four-legged "kids", Zeus and Chief; and

WHEREAS, Dennis Polk is survived by his wife, Monique; his children, Christine Marie (Brian) Mohr, Mark Vincent (Melissa) Polk, Karla Denise (Arthur) St. Germain, Megan Nicole Polk, and Chloe Michael Young; his former wife, Paula J. Staab Polk; his grandchildren, William "Will" Connor, Ainslie Madeline, Rose Marie, Zelda Anne, Katherine "Katie" Ruth, Magnolia "Maggie" Gail, and Gertrude "Gigi" Lee; his sisters, Karen (Larry) Fagg and Sharon (Carl) Rudin; his nieces and nephews, Kari (John) Neathammer, Larry Fagg (Stephanie Berry), Sara (Sean) Carroll, and Denise (Kevin) Klemm; his great-niece, Emma; his four-legged "kids", Cricket, Honey, and Duke; and many friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of Dennis "Denny" Lee Polk; and be it further

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