SR0026 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0026 LRB100 05912 KLG 15938 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James M. "Whitey" Hansen of Rock Island, who passed away on January 2, 2017; and

WHEREAS, James Hansen was born in Brooklyn, New York to John and Elizabeth Kelly Hansen on October 11, 1924; his parents died at a young age and he and his twin brother, Joe, were raised in an orphanage in upstate New York; he married Catherine Isabelle Kirchner in St. Patrick, Missouri on July 6, 1945; and

WHEREAS, James Hansen proudly served with the United States Army Corps. of Engineers during World War II; after his discharge from the Army, he and his family settled in the Quad Cities; he worked as a truck driver and retired from Churchill Truck Lines in 1982; and

WHEREAS, James Hansen was a retired member of the Teamsters Local No. 371, the Milan American Legion Post 569, and the Rock Island Moose Lodge; he was a lifetime member of the Rock Island Boat Club, and a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Rock Island; and

WHEREAS, James Hansen was an avid fisherman; he also enjoyed dancing, racquetball, and playing euchre; he loved to go out and share a hearty breakfast with his family; he would often take his sons camping and fishing in Missouri; he traveled to Florida many times to visit his twin brother, Joe, and go deep sea fishing; he would also take weekend fishing trips with his brother-in-law, Bill Hungate; he could often be found tinkering on treasures he found at garage sales, or lending a hand to one of his many friends; and

WHEREAS, James Hansen was preceded in death by his son, James B. Hansen, two grandchildren, and all five of his siblings; and

WHEREAS, James Hansen is survived by his wife, Catherine Isabelle Hansen; his children, Joan Holgate, Joe (Jean) Hansen, John (Bonnie) Hansen, Robert Hansen, and his foster-son, Devin (Lisa) Hansen; his nine grandchildren, Kenneth Holgate, Thomas Holgate, Patricia Holgate-Norris, Melinda Leenerts, Elizabeth Holgate, Tamara Robinson, Pamela Barrios, Christopher Hansen, and Katy Hansen; his 22 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, and four stepgrandsons; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of James M. "Whitey" Hansen, 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 James Hansen as an expression of our deepest sympathy.