SR0378LRB103 32955 LAW 62760 r


  
1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened 
3to learn of the death of Jerry Dean Stead, who passed away on 
4June 21, 2023; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Jerry Stead was born to Lyle and Gladys Minteer 
6Stead in Millersburg on April 7, 1932; he graduated from Aledo 
7High School; he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean 
8Conflict between 1953 and 1954, and he was present at the 
9signing of the Armistice on July 27, 1953; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, After being honorably discharged, Jerry Stead 
11turned to farming; he married Phyllis L. Gardner, and they had 
12two children, Sharon Marie and Joseph Dean Stead, before later 
13divorcing; he  went on to work at Alcoa Aluminum; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, Jerry Stead married Shirley A. Utz in Aledo in 
15February 1967, and they combined their families, raising his 
16two children and her three sons from her first marriage, Floyd 
17Richard, Randall Wayne, and Robert Kevin Utz; for many years, 
18the couple operated their own landscaping and nursery business 
19in Viola; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, Jerry Stead was preceded in death by his wife of 
2155 years, Shirley; his parents; his older brother, Jack Stead; 
 
 
SR0378- 2 -LRB103 32955 LAW 62760 r

1and his older sister and brother-in-law, Alice (Dick) Seaton; 
2and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Jerry Stead is survived by his children, Sharon 
4(John) Stead Tahere, Joe (Tracy) Stead, Floyd (Joyce) Utz, 
5Randy (Sharon) Utz, Robert (Emelyne) Utz; his daughter-in-law, 
6Kim Utz; 12 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren, with two 
7more on the way; his brothers-in-law, Dave (Laura) Creek, John 
8(Becky) Creek, and Paul (Anita) Creek; his sisters-in-law, 
9Bonnie Frieden, Ethel (Owen) Creek Conard, Mary (Rick) Creek 
10Shaw, Gean Creek, Shirley Creek, and Shirley Creek; and a host 
11of nieces, nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it
  
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL 
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
14Jerry Dean Stead and extend our sincere condolences to his 
15family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
16further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to the family of Jerry Stead as an expression of our 
19deepest sympathy.