Bill Text: IL SR0736 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Reverend William "Bud" Ipema.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-10-30 - Resolution Adopted [SR0736 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-SR0736-Introduced.html

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SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
learn of the death of Reverend William "Bud" Ipema, who passed
away on April 14, 2019 at the age of 81; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Ipema was born in Evergreen Park to Dutch
immigrants Ben and Gertrude (Venhuisen) Ipema on March 14,
1938; he graduated from high school in 1956; he enrolled in
Calvin College and, after his father suffered a heart attack,
withdrew for a period of time to help lead his family's
construction business; he later re-enrolled and graduated with
a master's degree from the Calvin Theological Seminary in 1969;
and
WHEREAS, As an ordained minister in the Christian Reformed
Church, Reverend Ipema was a trailblazing and compassionate
preacher; he joined Young Life in 1968, moving into Chicago's
Englewood neighborhood to work with gangs as the organization's
National Urban Trainer; he tirelessly created opportunities
and raised funds that supported the individuals and communities
he was called to serve; he felt that struggling communities are
"crowded with people who have good ideas; they just need
resources, helping hands, and a chance"; and
WHEREAS, Each summer, Reverend Ipema would take busloads of

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young people from Chicago's urban communities to a Young Life
camp at Star Ranch in Colorado; he gave many of the kids their
first experience outside of the confines of their immediate
neighborhood, as well as providing many with a faith-filled and
life-changing transformation; in 1975, he became the associate
pastor of Lawndale Christian Reform Church, a position he held
until his death; he also served on the faculty at North Park
Seminary, creating a master's degree program for Young Life
staff; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Ipema either launched or played a
significant leadership role in many organizations, including
the founding of the MidAmerica Leadership Foundation, now known
as Goodcity, which included over 40 non-profits, the Seminary
Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education (SCUPE), the Chicago
Orleans Housing, the Council of Leadership Foundations, the
Timothy Leadership Foundation (TLTI), where he served as
Executive Director, and the Synodical Committee on Race
Relations (SCORR), with whom he traveled to South Africa with a
delegation sent by SCORR to examine its oppressive apartheid
system; afterwards, the delegation made recommendations about
the U.S. denomination's continued relationship with the South
African church; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Ipema played an important role, along
with leaders from a number of area churches, in creating the

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landmark Atrium Village, a 300-unit housing project located
near Cabrini Green, which was one of Chicago's first
mixed-income housing developments; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Ipema touched the lives of many people;
throughout his life, he befriended and mentored many, making an
impression on everyone he met with his strength, faith, wisdom,
and sense of humor; he never backed down from a challenge and
worked against the race-biased systems that he felt were
factors in creating negative environments; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Ipema was a true renaissance man; he was
a skilled carpenter who loved woodworking and completed many
projects for his extended family; among other things, he
enjoyed traveling, 1957 Chevys, British comedies, and a good
debate; he relished spending summers at his son's home in
Holland, Michigan in the company of his children and
grandchildren, whom he loved dearly; at the time of his death,
he was finalizing his memoir, which, among other topics,
covered his 60-year legacy in urban ministry on Chicago's South
and West sides; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Ipema was preceded in death by his wife
of 52 years, Donna (Huizenga); his son, Brad; and his brother,
Henry; and

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WHEREAS, Reverend Ipema is survived by his children, Gardi
Wilks and Ben Ipema and their spouses; his daughter-in-law,
Kirstin Wells; his seven grandchildren; his twin sister,
Annamae (Richard) VanderVelde; and several brothers-in-law and
sisters-in-law; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
Reverend William "Bud" Ipema 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
presented to the family of Reverend Ipema as an expression of
our deepest sympathy.