Bill Text: IL SR0206 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Melvin E. Kamholz of Crystal Lake.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2017-03-02 - Resolution Adopted [SR0206 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-SR0206-Introduced.html

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SR0206 LRB100 11303 KLG 21666 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
learn of the death of Melvin Ernest Kamholz of Crystal Lake,
who passed away on January 23, 2017 at the age of 96; and
WHEREAS, Melvin Kamholz was born in Rockford and raised in
Marengo; he attended Marengo High School and excelled at track
and basketball; not long after graduating in 1938, he was
drafted into the United States Army and served four years in
the Pacific theater, becoming proficient with the Browning
Automatic Rifle and advancing to the rank of Sergeant; slated
to be part of the first wave of the invasion of Japan at the end
of the war, he and thousands of his fellow soldiers were spared
almost certain death by the dropping of the atomic bombs and
surrender of Japan in 1945; he met his wife, Mildred Fiepke,
when he first spotted her singing in the church choir and then
started buying his cigarettes from the grocery store where she
worked as a checker; they were married at Zion Lutheran Church
in Marengo in 1950; and
WHEREAS, Melvin Kamholz returned to Marengo after the war
and began working as a meter reader at Northern Illinois Gas
Company in Crystal Lake; he and his wife started their family
soon after and in 1955, moved to their newly-purchased home in
Crystal Lake to be closer to his job; he continued at the gas

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company until he retired at the age of 62, having worked his
way up from meter reader to service representative; and
WHEREAS, Melvin Kamholz was always competitive; he
excelled at basketball as a young man, and his skills on the
court saved him from more than one battle in the Philippines as
his commanding officers recruited him to play in tournaments
against Navy and Air Force teams; after the war, his skill at
softball led him to be a popular player; his greatest claim to
fame was hitting a home run off the nationally famous, "King",
who pitched for the semi-professional King and his Court; his
love and knowledge of baseball led to years of coaching Little
League in Crystal Lake; in his later years, he was an avid
fisherman, golfer, and bowler; he remained actively pursuing
these passions late into life; and
WHEREAS, Melvin Kamholz volunteered at the Crystal Lake
Food Pantry and helped with PADS and other church-related
charity work after his retirement; he kept himself busy working
part-time at Bethesda Thrift Shop, and was an invaluable driver
and delivery man for many years at his daughter-in-law's coffee
shop, Two-a-T; and
WHEREAS, Melvin Kamholz enjoyed Westerns, reading, playing
cards, and he loved watching the Cubs and college basketball;
he was an unrepentant jokester and loved embarrassing his

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family at restaurants every chance he could; when he was not
enjoying a beer, he enjoyed the occasional Brandy Old Fashioned
Sweet; his massive collection of beer cans and bottles covered
two walls of his basement man-cave; and
WHEREAS, Melvin Kamholz was preceded in death by his
parents, Ernest and Ida (Albrecht) Kamholz; and his siblings,
Howard Kamholz and Phyllis (Kamholz) Kunde; and
WHEREAS, Melvin Kamholz is survived by his wife of 66
years, Mildred (Fiepke) Kamholz; his eldest daughter, Karen
Kamholz; his son, Kurt (Debra) Kamholz; his youngest daughter,
Kim (Christopher) Archie; four grandchildren, Josh (Carly)
Kamholz, Jenna (Wesley) Janson, Jack Archie, and Kathryn
Dziewior; four great-grandchildren, Everett Kamholz, Brittany
Fatzinger, and James and Jonathan Janson; one
great-great-grandson, Mason Fatzinger; and many close friends;
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
Melvin Ernest Kamholz, 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

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presented to the family of Melvin Kamholz as an expression of
our deepest sympathy.