SR1001 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1001 LRB096 24147 KXB 43582 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Russell Christian of Grayslake, who passed away on August 8, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Russell Christian was born in Waukegan on September 5, 1928, to Stanley and Hazel (nee Kapheim) Christian; Russell graduated from Waukegan High School in 1946 and enlisted in the United States Army, serving in the 11th Airborne Division; and

WHEREAS, In 1965 he married Shirley Oilschlager; Russell was an accounting supervisor with the Frank G. Hough Co./International Harvester/Dresser Industries in Libertyville until his retirement in 1987; in 1989, he was elected to the position of Avon Township Supervisor, serving the residents of the Round Lake communities, Hainesville, Grayslake, Third Lake, and surrounding unincorporated areas in a position he served until 2006; and

WHEREAS, Russell was a Charter Member of the VFW Ron Hill Memorial Post 2245; he also served on the Grayslake High School Board of Education, was a Grayslake Village Trustee for 12 years, was Executive Director of the Grayslake Chamber of Commerce, and was a Founding Member and Chairman of the Grayslake Economic Development Corporation; he was also active in the Grayslake Lions Club, the Military Order of the Cooties Pup Tent IL081, the American Legion Post 0659, and the St. Therese Janssen Foundation Board of Directors and was a Charter Member of the Grayslake Kiwanis Club; and

WHEREAS, Russell was a member of Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church; he will be remembered by many in the Round Lake and Grayslake areas as "Santa", a role that gave him much pleasure; Russell loved life and enjoyed other people to the fullest; he was a devoted husband and a loving, proud father, grandfather, and great-grandfather; and

WHEREAS, Russell Christian was preceded in death by his parents; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Donald and Rosella Oilschlager; his brother, Richard Christian; and his grandson, Grant Russell Christian; and

WHEREAS, Russell Christian is survived by his wife, Shirley, whom he married 45 years ago on February 27 in Lindenhurst; his children, Karen (Kirk Smith) Christian Smith, John (Shelly) Christian, and Patti Gail (Jack Wells) Byers; his grandchildren, Lucas and Alec Christian, Benjamin and Molly Smith, Michael (Lisa) Lessard, and Joshua (Freddie) Johnson; and his two great-grandchildren in Florida; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Russell Christian; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Russell Christian as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.