SR0588 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0588 LRB097 20117 GRL 65496 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of William E. Froelich Jr., who passed away on December 26, 2011; and

WHEREAS, William Froelich Jr. was born on August 31, 1923, in Bloomington; he was the son of William E. and Edna M. Gingerich Froelich; he married Nancy J. Hoose on November 25, 1950, in Bloomington; and

WHEREAS, William Froelich Jr. was a graduate of Gridley High School, Illinois Wesleyan University, and the University of Minnesota, where he received his degree in mortuary science; he was a brother of the Sigma Nu fraternity; and

WHEREAS, William Froelich Jr. served his country as a member of the United States Navy during World War II aboard the USS Admiral Benson; and

WHEREAS, William Froelich Jr. was a licensed funeral director for more than 60 years; he was the owner and operator of The Froelich Family of Memorial Homes in Gridley, Flanagan, El Paso, Minonk, Toluca, Bloomington, Normal, Danvers, and Carlock, which was established by his father in 1910; he led the development of the mortuary science program at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and was on the board of directors of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association, where he served as president in 1959; he was also the founder of the Illinois Funeral Service Foundation and the Funeral Service Museum Board; and

WHEREAS, William Froelich Jr. was an active member of First United Church in Gridley; he was involved for many years in the Gridley, Flanagan, El Paso, and Bloomington communities, as well as Gridley American Legion Post 218, the Lions Club, the Elks Club, the Bloomington Consistory, and numerous athletic programs; he was also a proud Eagle Scout and leader of Gridley Boy Scouts Troop 21; and

WHEREAS, William Froelich Jr. had an entrepreneurial spirit and was a co-founder of Heritage Enterprises in 1961, which owns and operates nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and the Brittany restaurant; he served as chairman of the board of directors for Heritage until 2003; he served on the Illinois Wesleyan University associates board and was a former director of Amcore Bank (Freestar) in Gridley; he served as chairman of the McLean County Regional Planning Board for 10 years and was instrumental in the founding of the Gridley, Flanagan, and El Paso community ambulance squads; he was actively involved in the American Red Cross, teaching first aid and EMT courses in Gridley, Flanagan, and El Paso; he was also active in politics, serving as a delegate for the National Republican Party Convention and on the local Central Committee of the McLean County Republican Party; and

WHEREAS, William Froelich Jr. was the recipient of the Toledo, Peoria, and Western Railroad Community Service Award; and

WHEREAS, William Froelich Jr. was preceded in death by his parents; his son, William E. Froelich III; and his niece, Helen Jane Holt Seal; and

WHEREAS, William Froelich Jr. is survived by his wife, Nancy; his daughter, Susan (Paul) Laiming; his sons, Craig (Barbara) and David (Kathy); his sister, Helen Holt; his nephew, Rush Holt Jr.; his grandchildren, Paul (Melissa) Laiming, Katie (Shannon) Bachelor, Will (Shauna) Froelich, Nick (Brandi) Froelich, and Alex, Abbey, Gabe, Churchill, Jake, John, and Matthew Froelich; and his 10 great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of William E. Froelich Jr.; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of William Froelich Jr. as an expression of our sympathy.