SR1548 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1548 LRB101 23176 ECR 74314 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of George B. Johnson of Elk Grove Village, who passed away on November 29, 2020 at the age of 91; and

WHEREAS, George Johnson moved with his first wife Barbara and their family to Elk Grove in January of 1958, becoming one of the town's early residents; he was a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy who served as a corpsman during the Korean Conflict; and

WHEREAS, George Johnson initially operated his business, Johnson Insurance Agency, from his one-car garage on Briarwood Lane; he eventually upgraded to a two car garage on Northampton Circle two decades later; today, the insurance agency stands at 500 E. Higgins Road as the oldest continuously operating business in Elk Grove Village; and

WHEREAS, In the late 1960s and early 1970s, George Johnson volunteered as the Elk Grove Village insurance commissioner and regularly reported to the scenes of fires to help safeguard fire department equipment; he also served on the local Industrial/Commercial Revitalization Commission during the 1990s and into the 2010s and helped to oversee $100 million in upgrades to Elk Grove's massive business park; his legacy of public service is what inspired his son, longtime Elk Grove Mayor Craig Johnson, to run for office; and

WHEREAS, George Johnson was a founding member of the Elk Grove Jaycees and served as its first treasurer; he and his wife were among the founding members of the Church of the Good Shepherd, one of the earliest churches in the Elk Grove community; he later served as Cub Master for the Rupley School Cub Scouts and was an active member of the Industrial Park Lions Club; and

WHEREAS, George Johnson was a dedicated volunteer, a passionate business owner, and a strong family man; he was generous with his time and talents; and

WHEREAS, George Johnson was preceded in death by his parents, Lottie Inger Nelson Johnson and George B. Johnson; and his first wife, Barbara; and

WHEREAS, George Johnson is survived by his wife of 31 years, Karen Drinan Johnson; his children, Donald Johnson, Craig (Lorrie) Johnson, and Jennifer (Kenneth) Thon; his stepchildren, Kathy (Gregg) Trapani, John (Mary) Mede, and Chris (Linda) Mede; and his numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; 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 George B. Johnson 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 George Johnson as an expression of our deepest sympathy.