HR0285 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0285 LRB104 13361 LAW 25667 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Charles A. "Chuck" Hartke, former State Representative and Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, who passed away on April 13, 2025; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Hartke was born to Alphonse and Sophia Hartke in Effingham on May 7, 1944; he graduated from Teutopolis High School in 1962, and he remained a devoted fan of the Wooden Shoes for the rest of his life, particularly during the time his granddaughters, Madeline and Anna, were stars of the girls basketball team; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Hartke married his high school sweetheart, Kathryn L. Hoene, on August 10, 1963, and their union produced two children, Christopher and Kimberly, and six grandchildren, Ryan, Rachael, Jaelen, Madeline, Anna, and Jack, before she preceded him in death on November 1, 2012; he was blessed thereafter in finding a second soulmate in his fiancée, Brenda Holmes, who herself became a member of the extended Hartke family; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Hartke, having answered the call of the draft, served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968 during the Vietnam War; he was stationed in Quang Tri, Vietnam, where he served as a field medic and ascended to the rank of an E-5 sergeant to oversee triage operations as part of a highly trained MASH unit; and

WHEREAS, After his military service in Vietnam, Chuck Hartke returned to Teutopolis in Effingham County to tend to his growing farmstead and young family, becoming a skilled farmer; he produced corn and soybeans, and he also managed livestock, raising swine and sheep; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Hartke secured an appointment on the Effingham County Board in 1971, representing the start of his career in public office, and he served on the board until 1974; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Hartke earned appointment to the Illinois House of Representatives in January 1985, where he served with distinction for nine terms and was named Assistant Majority Leader in 1997, a position he held throughout the remainder of his time in the House; and

WHEREAS, During his time as a State Representative, Chuck Hartke sponsored a total of 55 bills, serving as the primary sponsor of 28 of them, and became known for his expertise on agriculture policy, his record of securing support for infrastructure projects and programs to benefit his downstate legislative district, and his ability to reach across the aisle and find consensus on a wide range of issues; and

WHEREAS, Following his tenure in the House, Chuck Hartke was appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Illinois Senate to serve as Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, a position he held from 2003 until his retirement from public service in 2008; he was regarded as a highly-visible and respected farmer-director and an effective advocate for all farmers and agricultural interests in the State; and

WHEREAS, In retirement, Chuck Hartke became an accomplished gardener, having constructed a large tropical greenhouse on his farm, and he happily gave away his flowers and vegetables to folks in and around Teutopolis and at the State Capitol in Springfield; during this time, he especially loved spending time with Brenda, thoroughly enjoying their many traveling adventures and treasured times with family and friends; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Hartke published a series of essays on his life in 2022 titled, A Farm Boy's Journey Into Politics, which chronicles a varied and well-lived life, reflecting his indomitable positive spirit and ever-present good humor; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Hartke was a devoted family man and farmer, and he will be remembered for his substantial record of service to his community, State, and nation; and

WHEREAS, Chuck Hartke is survived by his fiancée, Brenda; his son, Christopher (Beth) Hartke; his daughter, Kimberly (Patrick) Deters; his grandchildren, Ryan Deters, Rachael (Curtis) Meuth, Jaelen (Rodrigo) Deters-Camargo, Madeline (Jordan) Ratermann, Anna (Mark) Wendell, and Jack Hartke; and his great-grandson, Luke Wendell; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Charles A. "Chuck" Hartke, former State Representative and Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, 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 Chuck Hartke as an expression of our deepest sympathy.