Bill Text: IL SR0863 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Gerhart Kopf of Fulton, Illinois.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Passed) 2012-11-29 - Resolution Adopted [SR0863 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-SR0863-Introduced.html

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SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are deeply
saddened to learn of the death of Gerhart Kopf of Fulton, who
died on August 10, 2012; and
WHEREAS, Gerhart Kopf was born in Eddyville, Nebraska, on
December 29, 1919, to Niels and Lydia Struempler Kopf; he
married Alice L. Schmidt on July 7, 1941; they celebrated their
70th anniversary in 2011; and
WHEREAS, Gerhart Kopf was raised on a homestead ranch in
Dawson County, Nebraska, and attended a one-room school through
the eighth grade; he graduated from Lexington High School,
where he developed his gift to play piano by ear and played
with a midwest traveling swing band during the Big Band Era; he
attended the University of Nebraska before returning to the
ranch during the Great Depression; he remained an ardent
Nebraska Cornhuskers fan; and
WHEREAS, Gerhart Kopf served in the U.S. Army during World
War II and later farmed near Eddyville, Nebraska; he worked for
Steckley Hybrid Corn Company in Lincoln and Grand Island and
eventually settled in Fulton in 1955; he worked for Drives Inc.
until 1981 and traveled extensively in the U.S. and Canada; and

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WHEREAS, Gerhart Kopf established the Bald Eagle Nursery
outside Fulton in 1981 and became a respected authority on
ornamental grasses, chestnuts, hazelnuts, and hicans; he was
instrumental in developing the Twin Ponds Research Farm near
Galena Territory; he was a respected advocate and expert on
bluebirds and shared his knowledge of chimney swift migration
and lectured on local geologic history; and
WHEREAS, Gerhart Kopf served on the Fulton School Board and
as an elder at his church; he was honored as Grand Marshal of
the 2001 Dutch Days and was awarded a key to the city of
Fulton; he continued to play piano in venues such as the
Clinton Country Club and Fulton Senior Citizen Center; he
enjoyed fine wine and dining, especially New Orleans cuisine;
he looked forward to playing euchre with his friends and took
great pride in becoming co-champion of the 3rd Annual Euchre
Tournament in January of 2011; and
WHEREAS, Gerhart Kopf was preceded in death by his parents,
Niels and Lydia Struempler; his brothers, Ferdinand, Donald,
and Aaron; and his sister, Arleen; and
WHEREAS, Gerhart Kopf is survived by his wife, Alice
Schmidt; his children, Connie (Dean) Long, Trudy (Michael)
Landwirth, Pamela (Glenn) Gealy, Kyle (Kim) and Kendall; his
grandchildren, Christina and Joseph (Marie) Long, Amy

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Landwirth, Matthew and Rachel Gealy, and Kelly, Scott, and
Nicholas Kopf; his great-grandson, Orion Long; his sister,
Dolores; and many nieces and nephews; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the death of
Gerhart Kopf, and we 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 Gerhart Kopf as an expression of our
deepest sympathy.