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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Joseph A. "Joe" Morrissey, who passed 
4away on April 2, 2018; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Joe Morrissey was born on the family farm near 
6Amboy to William R. and Aileen (Brady) Morrissey on August 16, 
71929; early on, he learned discipline by milking cows at 5 a.m. 
8every day, bailing hay, and feeding pigs and chickens; he 
9scrapped metal and sold eggs to make side money during World 
10War II; he attended St. Anne Elementary School and graduated 
11from Amboy High School in 1947 and St. Ambrose University in 
121951; he served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and 
13earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois 
14School of Law in 1958; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, Joe Morrissey worked in the State Farm Claims 
16Department until 1964 when he began a private law practice in 
17Rockford, concentrating in personal injury claims for over 50 
18years; and
 
19    WHEREAS, On December 13, 1978, Joe Morrissey took  his last 
20drink of alcohol and his first step into Alcoholics Anonymous, 
21where he not only received the help he needed, but gave back by 
22helping numerous others; and
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Joe Morrissey loved the community of Rockford and 
2spent countless hours and nearly all of his life savings to 
3help redevelop downtown Rockford and other impoverished parts 
4of the city; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Joe Morrissey enjoyed practicing his Catholic 
6faith, gardening, morning coffee with his buddies, and 
7campaigning for his son, former Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey; 
8and
  
 
  
9    WHEREAS, Joe Morrissey was preceded in death by his 
10parents; his grandson, Michael Joseph Morrissey; his brothers, 
11Robert, John "Tiny", and Reverend William Morrissey; his 
12sisters, Rosie and Bette; his brothers-in-law, Leroy Goy, Doug 
13Koch, George Hawks, Louis Wilhelm, Alvin Glenn, Gene Carroll, 
14Lloyd Considine, Jack Scorby, and Joe (Marge) Matranga; his  
15brother and sister-in-law, Cosmo and Antonette Matranga; three 
16infant Matranga brothers-in-law; his nephew and godson, Tim 
17Considine; and his nephews, Jay Hawks and Brian Goy; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, Joe Morrissey is survived by his wife, Josephine; 
19his kids, Bill (Melissa), Eileen (Joe), and Larry (Stacy); his 
20grandchildren, Larissa, Joseph, Josh, Matt, Andrew, Grace, 
21Seanna, Sophia, Dillon, and AJ; his sisters, Rita, Lois, 
22Frances, Monica, Barb, and Colleen; his  sisters-in-law, 
 
 
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1Corrine and Linda; and his brother, Larry; therefore, be it
  
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL 
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
4Joseph A. "Joe" Morrissey, and extend our sincere condolences 
5to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be 
6it further
  
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
8presented to  the family of  Joe Morrissey as an expression of 
9our deepest sympathy.