Bill Text: IL SR0648 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Mourns the death of Ruth K. Gordon.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-01-17 - Resolution Adopted [SR0648 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SR0648-Introduced.html

---

SR0648 LRB103 35628 MST 65702 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
to learn of the death of Ruth K. Gordon, who passed away on
November 23, 2023; and
WHEREAS, Ruth Gordon was born in Momence to Frank and Rose
Karlock on April 23, 1930; she graduated from Crescent City
High School and worked briefly at a hotel in Chicago; she then
decided to start nurses' training at the Mercy Hospital School
of Nursing in Champaign; she married Maurice A. Gordon II at
St. Malachy Catholic Church in Rantoul on January 2, 1954; and
WHEREAS, Ruth Gordon's husband was drafted into the U.S.
Army, and they started raising their family abroad; after her
husband was honorably discharged, they returned to the family
farm in Rantoul, where they lived most of their married life;
and
WHEREAS, Ruth Gordon was a devoted wife and mother and
worked part-time as a nurse when her four children were young;
she was a creative person, taking millinery classes to make
hats and woodworking classes to build furniture; she also
designed the ranch-style house that she and her husband built
on the home farm in 1972; and

SR0648 - 2 - LRB103 35628 MST 65702 r
WHEREAS, Ruth Gordon was an active member of St. Malachy
Catholic Church in Rantoul, volunteering at both the parish
and diocesan level; she became passionate about the pro-life
movement in the early 70s and was very involved with Champaign
County Right-to-Life and Birthright; she became involved with
the Republican Party and its pro-life platform; she became the
vice chairman of the Champaign County Republicans and worked
on numerous campaigns for candidates, including Tim Johnson,
Ronald Reagan, and Bob Dole; and
WHEREAS, Ruth Gordon and her husband became snowbirds in
retirement; they traveled to their condo in Mesa, Arizona and,
over time, they developed many wonderful friendships at the
Fountain of the Sun; she became a landlady after she purchased
and rented two additional condos in the complex; she also
enjoyed taking trips, especially cruises, to many destinations
and taking time to be with her grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Ruth Gordon was preceded in death by her husband,
Maurice; her baby sister, Irene; her brother, Frank; and his
wife, Jean; and
WHEREAS, Ruth Gordon is survived by her children and their
spouses, Bernard (Vickie) Gordon, Maurice (Dianna) Gordon,
Susan (Bruce) Kloth, and Stephen (Rebecca) Gordon; her
grandchildren and their spouses, Brian (Dee) Gordon, Chris

SR0648 - 3 - LRB103 35628 MST 65702 r
(Samantha) Gordon, Andrea (Steve) Martorana, Michael
(Victoria) Gordon, Kate Gordon, Thomas (Mary) Gordon, Daniel
(Freya) Gordon, Mary T. Gordon, Kevin (Enxhi) Gordon, Joshua
(Laura) Kloth, Jason (Ronni) Kloth, Krista (Kirk) Vissat,
Kacie (Dallas) Osterbur, and Devon (Chet) Little; and her
great-grandchildren, Zabrina Gordon, Sadie Gordon, Jack
Martorana, Caroline Martorana, Anne Martorana, Nicholas
Gordon, Iris Gordon, Phoebe Gordon, Zoe Gordon, J.D. Kloth,
James Kloth, Josie Kloth, Henry Kloth, Coretta Kloth, Thaddeus
Kloth, Izabella Vissat, Gianna Vissat, Emma Osterbur, Kinsley
Osterbur, Brynleigh Little, Jameson Gordon, and Faustina
Gordon; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
Ruth K. Gordon and extend our sincere condolences to her
family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
further