SR0445 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0445 LRB094 13668 HSS 48536 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with regret of the death of William E. Wannemaker of Downers Grove on Thursday, July 7, 2005; and

WHEREAS, He was born and raised in Tinley Park and a was graduate of Thornton Community High School in Harvey; he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces when he was 17 and trained to be a tail gunner for B-17 and B-29 bombers in World War II; the war ended prior to his being shipped overseas; and

WHEREAS, After his military discharge, Mr. Wannemaker returned to the Chicago area and worked with his father as a well digger; in 1947, he married his wife, Ruth, and they made their home in Tinley Park; he worked for his father-in-law at Gee Lumber, and in the early 1960s, he helped found the E.G. Home Center stores in Carol Stream and Downers Grove; and

WHEREAS, In 1967, he set out on his own by purchasing the Tollgate Nursery on Ogden Avenue in Downers Grove, which he renamed as Wannemaker's five years later; with the help of his two sons, he turned the business into a complete home center, selling lumber, hardware, plumbing, paint, and electrical products; and

WHEREAS, He had been a Downers Grove resident since 1971 and was a longtime member of the Rotary Club and Naperville Country Club; for many years, he served on the board of directors of the Downers Grove National Bank; and

WHEREAS, The passing of William E. Wannemaker has been deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Ruth; his sons, Bob and James; his daughters, Lyn Konsoer and Kay Yeretsky; his sister, Bernetta Cristl; and his 11 grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of William E. Wannemaker, and we 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 his family as an expression of our deepest sympathy.