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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened 
3to learn of the death of Duncan Gordon Leitch, formerly of East 
4Peoria and father of former State Representative David Leitch, 
5who passed away on August 3, 2020; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Duncan Leitch was born to Angus McLeod and Rose 
7Ellen Buchanan Leitch in Bad Axe, Michigan on June 19, 1923; he 
8graduated from high school in 1940; he attended Michigan State 
9University, working full time to pay for his education; after 
10Pearl Harbor, he left school, worked in an airplane factory 
11for a year, and then joined the U.S. Navy in 1943; he served in 
12the Pacific at Okinawa where he prepared the U.S. bombers for 
13early morning missions; after his service, he used the GI Bill 
14and graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in 
15agronomy; he married Eunice Krans in 1947, and she passed in 
162013, after almost 66 years together;  and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, Duncan Gordan worked in agricultural education; 
18his career kept the family on the move through Michigan, 
19Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana; he loved his job, waking up each 
20day grateful to spend time on farms with farmers; as a child, 
21he grew up on a small farm with no electricity or running 
22water; by the time he was 12, he was responsible for much of 
23the farm work, which was done with horse-drawn equipment; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Duncan Gordan attended Windsor Presbyterian 
2Church in Des Moines, a faith community that gave him and his 
3wife great joy throughout their lives; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Duncan loved tools, woodworking, and projects of 
5all kinds; after retirement, he enjoyed playing the harmonica 
6in local jam sessions; he was fiercely proud of being a 
7veteran, and a highlight of his life was participating in the 
8Iowa Honor Flight for veterans in 2017; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Duncan Leitch was preceded in death by his 
10parents; his sister; his wife; and his son, Paul; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Duncan Leitch is survived by his three children, 
12David, Carol, and Brian; his 11 grandchildren; and his 11 
13great-grandchildren; therefore, be it
  
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL 
15ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
16Duncan Gordon Leitch and extend our sincere condolences to his 
17family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
18further
  
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
20presented to the family of Duncan Gordon Leitch as an 
 
 
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1expression of our deepest sympathy.