Bill Text: IL SR0822 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Mourns the death of Harold Gene "Sparky" Songer of Danville.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2014-01-29 - Resolution Adopted [SR0822 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-SR0822-Introduced.html


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1
SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Harold Gene "Sparky" Songer of Danville,
4who passed away on January 12, 2014; and
5 WHEREAS, Harold Songer was born on March 4, 1925 in
6Veedersburg, Indiana; his parents were Glenwood and Elsie (nee
7Clawson) Songer; he married Eloise Cooper on January 9, 1955;
8and
9 WHEREAS, Harold Songer attended Veedersburg Grade School
10and High School; he subsequently attended Eastern Illinois
11University, where he earned his bachelor's degree; and
12 WHEREAS, Harold Songer was drafted into the United States
13Army in July of 1943; he fought at the Battle of the Bulge in
14the Ardennes Forest as a mortarman in the 106th Infantry
15Division, where he was captured and remained a captive in
16Germany until his escape in 1945; in 1951, he re-enlisted in
17the United States Air Force, where he served in the Korean and
18Vietnam conflicts as flight support; for his service, he was
19awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star; and
20 WHEREAS, Harold Songer served as coordinator of Veterans
21Affairs at Danville Area Community College from 1979 to 1994;

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1and
2 WHEREAS, Harold Songer was a longtime and charter member of
3the Danville Sunrise Rotary Club, where he served as sergeant
4of arms for many years; he was the 68th AMBUCS First Citizen in
5April of 2000; he led a group of local veterans who collected
6tens of thousands of aluminum cans to raise money to build the
7various memorials in Danville and led the effort to turn the
8old Carnegie Library into the Vermilion County War Museum,
9where he later served as president and director; he was awarded
10the Studs Terkel Award in 2004 for his service; and
11 WHEREAS, Harold Songer was preceded in death by his
12parents; his loving wife, Eloise; his brothers, James and Leroy
13Songer; and his sister, Wanda Kester; and
14 WHEREAS, Harold Songer is survived by his son, Aaron (Lisa)
15Songer; his daughter, Michele (Brian Bonebrake) Songer; his
16grandchildren, Brandon Bays, Ashley Songer, Taylor Songer,
17Samantha Songer, Seth Bonebrake, and Cade Bonebrake; his 4
18great-grandchildren; his sister, Julia Crane; and his cat,
19Hemingway; therefore, be it
20 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL
21ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his
22family and friends, mourn the passing of Harold Gene "Sparky"

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1Songer; and be it further
2 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3presented to the family of Harold Songer as an expression of
4our sympathy.
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