SR1284 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1284 LRB100 16793 MST 31933 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Kenneth Van Dyne "Ken" Fiske of Woodstock, who passed away on December 20, 2017; and

WHEREAS, Ken Fiske was born in Chicago to Kenneth M. and Eunice (Van Dyne) Fiske on April 18, 1925; he graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy and served with the U.S. Navy during World War II, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade; he graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in agricultural engineering, where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity; he married Darlene Sharp in 1954; and

WHEREAS, Ken Fiske worked in Chicago as a television producer at NBC, creating the show "Out on the Farm"; he then worked with the National Safety Council and the Velsicol Chemical Company; he was a founder of the Northeast Illinois Natural Resource Center based at the Morton Arboretum; in 1971, he became the first Executive Director of the newly-formed McHenry County Conservation District; and

WHEREAS, Ken Fiske was named to the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame in 2004 and received the U.S. Merchant Marine Alumni Association's Outstanding Professional Achievement Award in 2006; he was a member of the Wisconsin Agricultural Alumni Association; he and his wife, Darlene, were named the Nature Conservancy's Volunteers of the Year in 1987 and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Refuge Volunteers of the Year in 2004; and

WHEREAS, Ken Fiske was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Darlene; and

WHEREAS, Ken Fiske is survived by his daughters, Diana (David) Wilson, Jennifer Fiske, and Nancy (Ron) Readel; his grandchildren, Matthew (Kate) Wilson and Timothy (Nina Beck) Wilson; his great-grandchildren, Elliot and Nora Wilson; and his sister, Virginia Boorom; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Kenneth Van Dyne "Ken" Fiske, 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 Ken Fiske as an expression of our deepest sympathy.