SR0426 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of William Grant Sisson of Wadsworth, who passed away on April 2, 2017; and

WHEREAS, William Sisson was born in Waukegan to Walter George and Erma Boyer Sisson on January 6, 1922; he moved to Zion when he was 17, where he lived until he was 78; he was part of the first graduating class of Zion Benton Township High School in 1940, where he loved to play the trombone in the first school band and earned the first varsity letter ever in basketball; growing up, he was a member of Grace Church in Zion; he also played in the Zion Concert Band and in the Zion Orchestra; after graduating from high school in 1940, he and his 72-year-old father, Walter, started Sisson Sheet Metal; and

WHEREAS, William Sisson was involved in the World War II effort at Abbott Laboratories before enlisting in the United States Navy; he served in the Navy Medical Corps from 1944 to 1946 and was stationed at Bremerton, Washington; he was then sent to Eniwetok, an atoll in the Pacific Ocean; he married Barbara Jane Baughman on November 24, 1944; and

WHEREAS, William started a wholesale heating and air conditioning business, Mid-Way Supply, Inc. in Zion in 1948, which grew to employ 100 people at its peak; in 1973, IBM featured him in a small business advertisement in the Wall Street Journal for his early adoption of computers in his business; he retired from Mid-Way in 1990; and

WHEREAS, William Sisson served on the Zion State Bank Board of Directors, was on the Lake County Board of Supervisors as Assistant Zion Township Supervisor, and served as a trustee for the North American Heating and Air-Conditioning Wholesalers Association; he was on the board of the Lake County Heating Contractors Association and served on the board of the Zion Historical Society; after many years on the board of the Zion Evangelical Mission of Africa, he was given an honorary lifetime membership; and

WHEREAS, William Sisson visited Africa, Australia, China, Europe, and South America; in his 50s, he rode his bicycle from Zion to Indianapolis, Indiana; he visited all 50 states, and after retiring, he took his family and friends on adventures in his recreational vehicle; he bought a farm in Lindenhurst, now known as Grant's Grove, where he planted thousands of trees and hosted hundreds of picnics and parties, including a few weddings; he also passed out thousands of books on topics that he was passionate about; and

WHEREAS, William Sisson served on the Camp Zion Board of Directors and served for over 20 years as work party coordinator; in addition, he worked as a youth leader, served on a pastoral search committee, worked faithfully as an usher, and played in the orchestra for the Zion Passion Play; and

WHEREAS, William Sisson and his wife were members of Christian Catholic Church (now Christ Community Church) in Zion, where he was active for over 70 years; and

WHEREAS, William Sisson was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Florence Montroy; and his great-grandson, Asher David Phillips; and

WHEREAS, William Sisson is survived by his wife of 72 years, Barbara; his children, Kay Sisson, Karilyn (Tom) Jones, Ken (Jeri) Sisson, and Karl (Kathy) Sisson; his grandchildren, Andrew (Phiona) Sisson, Becca Jones, Gretchen (Kyle) Phillips, Elli Jones, Nate (Megan) Sisson, Tim Jones, Haley Sisson, Matthew Sisson, Grant A. Sisson, Kelly Sisson, Jack Sisson, and David Sisson; his great-grandchildren, Alaina, Stephen, James, and Kaitrin Phillips, and Joshua Sisson; his foster sons, John (Nancy) Huber, and Glen (Annette) Crozier; his foster-grandchildren, Ishvara Brewington, Stacie (Aaron) Jones, and Ashley Kanode; and his foster great-grandchildren, Ryan and Maci Kanode; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of William Grant Sisson, 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 William Sisson as an expression of our deepest sympathy.