SR0889 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Wayne E. Van Dyke of Gurnee, who passed away on July 26, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Wayne Van Dyke was born on May 29, 1924, in Assumption; as a child, he lived in Havana until his family moved to Champaign; he married Frances Matijevich on November 9, 1957, at Holy Family Church; after his marriage, he and his wife lived in Waukegan before relocating to Blythe, California; the family subsequently lived in Fort Meyers, Florida and Gurnee; and

WHEREAS, Wayne Van Dyke attended the University of Illinois before enlisting in the United States Army at the age of 18; as a member of Company B, 41st Tank Battalion, 11th Armored Division of General George Patton's 3rd Army, he saw combat during World War II in the Battle of the Bulge and fought throughout Europe, from France to Austria as a gunner, and subsequently as a tank commander; he was the recipient of the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the British Military Medal, and Luxembourg's Croix de Guerre for his meritorious service; and

WHEREAS, After his service with the Army, Wayne Van Dyke resumed his education and earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from the University of Illinois in Champaign; he subsequently undertook graduate studies at Lake Forest College's Graduate School of Management; and

WHEREAS, Wayne Van Dyke retired from Johns-Manville Corp. as a senior industrial engineer after 26 years of service; from 1963 to 1969, he and his family moved to Blythe, California and learned to enjoy the desert while operating their motel; and

WHEREAS, Wayne Van Dyke was a member of Johns-Manville's Quarter Century Club, the 11th Armored Division Association, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Fort Meyers, Florida chapter; and

WHEREAS, Wayne Van Dyke enjoyed golfing, fishing, playing cards and games with his friends and grandchildren, and attending annual reunions with his army buddies and TNK College friends; and

WHEREAS, Wayne Van Dyke was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Kathryn Joanna Walin; his parents, S. Howard and Nellie Van Dyke; and his brothers, Neil and Lindell Van Dyke; and

WHEREAS, Wayne Van Dyke is survived by his wife of 54 years, Frances; his children, Michael (Natasha), David (Karen), and Ann (John) Walin; his grandchildren, John "Jack" and Kristina "Kristy" Walin, Devin and John Van Dyke, and Alexander Van Dyke; his sister, Alice (Andrew) Ekblaw; his sisters-in-law, Joanne Van Dyke and Julia Van Dyke, and their families; his in-laws, Rose Matijevich and John (Agnes) Matijevich, and their son, Robert John; and his long time neighbor, Charles Carpenter, and his nephew, John Rice; 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 Wayne Van Dyke; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Wayne Van Dyke as an expression of our sympathy.