SR0679

LRB094 19971 RAS 57371 r






1

SENATE RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois 
3
learned with regret of the death of Arthur "Bill" Tunell of 
4
Westmont on Saturday, February 25, 2006; and

 
5
    WHEREAS, Mr. Tunell was born in Chicago; his family moved 
6
to Westmont when he was a junior in high school; and

 
7
    WHEREAS, Shortly after Mr. Tunell graduated from what is 
8
now Downers Grove North High School, he enlisted in the United 
9
States Navy; he helped navigate Tank Landing Ship 380 during 
10
the invasion of Normandy during World War II; towards the end 
11
of the war, he volunteered for a mission and was trained to be 
12
part of Underwater Demolition Team 28, the predecessor to the 
13
Navy Seals; and

 
14
    WHEREAS, Mr. Tunell married his wife, Irma, in 1948; they 
15
had a loving relationship for almost 56 years; and

 
16
    WHEREAS, After the war, Mr. Tunell returned home and worked 
17
briefly at Western Electric; he then became a machinist for the 
18
Electro-Motive Division of General Motors, where he was also a 
19
part of General Motor's industrial fire department; and

 
20
    WHEREAS, Mr. Tunell became involved in volunteering with 
21
the Westmont Fire Department, where he became known as "Uncle 
22
Artie" to his fellow firefighters; upon retiring from General 
23
Motors in his early fifties, he was available for more nights 
24
and calls; he became a part-time firefighter and worked 
25
twelve-hour shifts; and 
 
26
    WHEREAS, For twenty-seven years, Mr. Tunell spent most of 
27
his free time with the fire department; in 1994, a year before 
28
he retired, he was the recipient of the department's 
29
Firefighter of the Year Award; and
 
 


 






SR0679
- 2 -
LRB094 19971 RAS 57371 r




1
    WHEREAS, Mr. Tunell was a member of the Masonic Grove Lodge 
2
and the First Presbyterian Church of Downers Grove, where he 
3
was a former deacon and elder; he enjoyed working crossword 
4
puzzles, playing pinochle, and bird-watching; and
 
5
    WHEREAS, Mr. Tunell was truly part of that greatest 
6
generation that came out of the Depression and fought in the 
7
war; he was hard on the outside and soft on the inside; and
 
8
    WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his wife, Irma; and
 
9
    WHEREAS, The passing of Arthur "Bill" Tunell has been 
10
deeply felt by many, especially his daughter, Linda (Mark) 
11
Johnson; his son, Mark (Barbara); his sister, Hesser Martin; 
12
and his grandchildren, Adam and Ryan Clark, Grant, and 
13
Samantha; therefore, be it

 
14
    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL 
15
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
16
Arthur "Bill" Tunell, and we extend our sincerest condolences 
17
to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be 
18
it further

 
19
    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
20
presented to his family as an expression of our deepest 
21
sympathy for their loss.