Bill Text: IL HR0534 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Jeffrey George Spear of Quincy.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-01-16 - Resolution Adopted [HR0534 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HR0534-Introduced.html

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HR0534 LRB103 36154 ECR 66246 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Jeffrey
George Spear of Quincy, who passed away on December 8, 2023;
and
WHEREAS, Jeffrey Spear was born to George Harry and
Charlotte Hansen Spear in Quincy on December 16, 1955; he
graduated as valedictorian from Quincy High School in 1974,
where he was on the basketball team and was a co-founder of the
athletic supporters pep group; he received his bachelor's
degree in biology and graduated magna cum laude from Kenyon
College in 1978, where he was a member of the Delta Kappa
Epsilon fraternity; he married Theresa Lynn (Powers) Spear in
Quincy on June 9, 1978, and he was valedictorian of his
graduating class at the Worsham College of Mortuary Science in
1979; and
WHEREAS, Jeffrey Spear, along with his wife, owned and
operated Hansen-Spear Funeral Home; and
WHEREAS, Jeffrey Spear was active in a number of community
organizations, where many of his endeavors revolved around
raising money for youth-based organizations; since 1987, he
provided children's sermons at Luther Memorial and Hope

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Lutheran Churches; and
WHEREAS, Jeffrey Spear was elected to the Quincy High
School Sports Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Illinois Basketball
Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2000; and
WHEREAS, Jeffrey Spear's interests evolved as he grew
older; post college, he ran three Chicago Marathons in under
three and a half hours; always an avid Chicago Cubs fan who
loved discussing baseball strategy and statistics with other
fans, he later began supporting the Bears, the Bulls, and the
Blackhawks; most recently, he enjoyed reading, cutting down
trees and splitting firewood, working in the yard, going to
rock and roll concerts, and sipping some fine California
Chardonnay; he was an extreme recycler and had a deep love of
nature; he cherished time spent with his family and was
especially proud of their individual accomplishments; and
WHEREAS, Jeffrey Spear was preceded in death by his
parents and his pets and grandpets, Gussie, Cassie, Sonoma
Red, Aspen, Artemis, and a host of cats; and
WHEREAS, Jeffrey Spear is survived by his wife of 45
years, Theresa; his sons, William (Dr. Kristin) Spear,
Nicholas (Sarah) Spear, and Kristjan (Lilian) Makke; his
grandsons, Zeus Spear, Theo Spear, Erik Makke, Sebastian

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Makke, and Oskar Makke; his brothers, John (Lisa) Spear and
Dr. Robert (Jan) Spear; his father-in-law and mother-in-law,
Dr. Francis and Jean Powers; his brothers-in-law, Tom (Tina)
Powers and Tim (Laura) Powers; his sisters-in-laws, Peggy
Phillips, Faye (Mike) Ericson, and Joanne (Jeff) Bergman; his
numerous nieces and nephews; and his Irish Setter, Cutrer;
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we mourn the passing of Jeffrey George Spear and extend our
sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew
and loved him; and be it further