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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois 
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learned with regret of the death of Ralph R. Sowka of Palatine 
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on Wednesday, March 15, 2006; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Sowka was born on July 11, 1921, in Chicago to 
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Michael Sowka and Frieda (nee Lukow) Sowka; he valiantly served 
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his country during World War II as a U.S. Navy Seabee; he 
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served in the European-African-Middle Eastern-American Theater 
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and was stationed in the Azores Islands; he also served in the 
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Naval Reserves following World War II; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Prior to his retirement, Mr. Sowka was the service 
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manager for Nickey Chevrolet in Chicago for nearly 30 years; he 
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was active in the Nickey Chevrolet Racing Division; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He was a judge of election in Palatine for many 
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years; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He was a former Vestry member of St. Philip's 
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Episcopal Church of Palatine, where  he and his wife, Audrey, 
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and their children began attending in 1954, and was a member of 
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the St. Philip's Green Thumbs; he was a life member of Palatine 
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Masonic Lodge #314 A.F. & A.M., former member of the VFW, and 
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former member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association; 
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and
 
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    WHEREAS, He had many hobbies, including piloting single 
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engine airplanes, building modified high performance cars, 
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collecting antique cars and parts, and gardening; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The passing of Ralph R. Sowka has been deeply felt 
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by many, especially his wife, Audrey (nee Smith); his children, 
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Randall (Amy) Sowka Kent, Clifford (Becky) Sowka, and Melanie 
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(John) Diedrich; his grandchildren, Brooke Kent, Willow 
 


 






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(Michael) Zeman, Philip Dale Kent, Chamberlin (Joseph) 
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DeWitte, and Leslie Diedrich; his great-grandchildren, Daniel 
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Zeman and Kyle Zeman; and his many nieces, nephews, and 
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cousins; he was the dear brother of the late Phyllis (James) 
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Groat and Audrey (Carl) Rossa; he was also preceded in death by 
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his parents and his dear cousin, Sister Rita Marie, O.S.F.; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
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Ralph R. Sowka, and we extend our sincere condolences to his 
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family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
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further

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