HR0217 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0217 LRB094 11699 CSA 43514 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Well-known area farmer and businessman Richard R. Rubenacker of McLeansboro passed away February 23, 2005; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Rubenacker was born June 28, 1934, in Belle Prairie City to Rudolph and Emma (Kiefer) Rubenacker; he married Margarette J. (Jody) Biggerstaff on November 22, 1956; and

WHEREAS, His family operates a grain farm in the Hamilton County area; they are also the owners of Hamilton County Equipment in McLeansboro and White County Equipment in Carmi, the area Case IH dealerships; and

WHEREAS, Well-known as an area entertainer and fiddle player, Mr. Rubenacker was an original member of Country Kin in the 1970s; in later years, he enjoyed performing at charitable functions and community activities, along with his brother-in-law, Leo Aydt; and

WHEREAS, In 1983, he was named Master Farmer of the Year by Prairie Farmer Magazine and has been featured in various other farm publications; and

WHEREAS, He served on numerous boards and committees, including the Peoples National Bank Board of Directors, Rend Lake College Foundation Board, Rend Lake College Agricultural Advisory Board, Hamilton County Unit 10 School Board, Hamilton County Board of Supervisors, Southeastern Illinois Planning Commission, Dahlgren Township Supervisor, Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative Board, Federal Land Bank Board, Farmers Home Administration Board, and Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation Board; and

WHEREAS, He was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Piopolis and a member of the St. Isadore Council Knights of Columbus; and

WHEREAS, The greatest loves of his life were his wife, his family, farming, and entertaining; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers-in-law, Lawrence Dolan, John "Gene" Rubenacker, and John Kreher; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Richard R. Rubenacker is felt by all who knew and loved him, especially his wife of 48 years, Jody; his sons, Randy and wife Debbie (Rapp), Rodney and wife Carmin (Hunt), and Terry and wife Stacy (Myers); his grandchildren, Ricky, Rachel, Robert, Adam and Megan Rubenacker, and Lucendia Adams; and his sisters, Bernice Dolan, Virginia Rubenacker, and Alice Kreher; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Richard R. Rubenacker and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to his family as an expression of our deepest sympathy.