SR1041 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1041 LRB098 20584 MST 57573 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Fred Q. Cregier of Geneva, who passed away on February 10, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Fred Cregier was born in Geneva on September 20, 1927 to Fred, Sr. and Julia (nee Marcheschi) Cregier; he graduated from Geneva High School and attended night courses at Aurora College, earning a Manufacturing Certificate; he later attended an Executive Development program at the University of Pittsburgh; and

WHEREAS, Fred Cregier worked for many years in the manufacturing industry, first at the Dunbar Kapple Company in Geneva; in 1951, he entered the military and for 2 years served in the Army Counter Intelligence Corps during the Korean War; following the war, he returned to Dunbar Kapple for a time before joining the Dukes Hydraulics Company in Schiller Park; he married Joyce in 1957; and

WHEREAS, Dukes Hydraulics was purchased by the Victor Equipment Company of San Francisco and became part of Victor's Hydraulics Division, with Fred Cregier the plant manager of the Dukes facility; his division was eventually acquired by the International Harvester Company and Fred was named President of the Hydraulics Division, overseeing 3 plants in Iowa, Minnesota, and Franklin Park; he and a number of other employees later purchased the division from International Harvester, moving it to St. Charles and renaming it Dukes Fluid Power; they owned and operated it for 6 years before selling to the Danfoss Company, with Fred staying on for 3 years, retiring in 1992; in 1995, he married Jo Ann (James) Olesen of Geneva; and

WHEREAS, Fred Cregier enjoyed the family's beautiful home on the Fox River in Geneva, the site of his mother and father's home and grandparents home, golfing, boating, and fishing, often with his children and grandchildren; during retirement, he and Jo Ann traveled, mainly to Europe; he also volunteered with numerous organizations, including Big Brothers, Lazarus House, Hesed House, and Feed My Starving Children; and

WHEREAS, Fred Cregier was active politically as a volunteer in local, State, and federal campaigns, partly inspired by his family's background - his grandfather, the late DeWitt C. Cregier, was mayor of Chicago, 1889 to 1891; and

WHEREAS, Fred Cregier was preceded in death by his parents Fred Q. Cregier and Julia (nee Marcheschi) Cregier, and by his brother, Robert; and

WHEREAS, Fred Cregier is survived by his second wife, Jo Ann; his children, COL Rod (Cindy), Dr. Christienne (Paul) Grunenwald, Jocelyn (Bill) Nettelhorst, and Melissa (Shrish) Rane; his grandchildren, Nathan, Stephanie, Rachel, and Garrett Cregier, Katie, Maggie, Jack, and Sarah Grunenwald, Calvin and Griffin Nettelhorst, and Sofia and Anica Rane; his wife Jo Ann's children, Michael (Kelly), Markus (Marci), and Matthew; and her grandchildren, Madison, Max, and Brittni; his sisters, Gloria (Tim) Emma and Angela (John) Cygan; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it

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

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