SR0656 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0656 LRB098 13987 MST 48542 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ervin Robert "Bob" Pape III of Danville, who passed away on September 18, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Ervin Pape III was born on February 26, 1943 in Danville to Ervin Robert Pape, Jr. and Helen Frances (nee Lange) Pape; he attended Liberty, Edison, and Danville High Schools, graduating in 1961; he studied computer programming while attending Danville Area Community College, the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, Bradley University in Peoria, and Northwestern University in Evanston; he later attended The Indiana School of Mortuary Science, graduating in 1966 as a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer; and

WHEREAS, Ervin Pape III began his career at Tee Pak Credit Union as a supervisor of quality control; in 1977, he purchased Berhalter Funeral Home and operated it until 1984 when he became the fourth generation owner of Pape Funeral Home; in 1985 and 1995, the Pape Botanical Gardens and a crematory were added respectively; he was a Licensed Funeral Director in Illinois, Indiana, and Florida and a member of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association, the Indiana Funeral Directors Association, and the Florida Funeral Directors Association; and

WHEREAS, Ervin Pape III was a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Danville No. 188, the Olive Branch Masonic Lodge #38, the Further Light Lodge No. 1130 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and the Valley of Danville - Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, past Thrice Potent Master and coroneted 33rd Degree in 1986; he was also a member of the Eastern Illinois Shrine Club-Ansar Shrine, the Knights of Columbus, and the Danville Country Club; he is a former member of the Danville Elks Lodge #332 (Elk of the Year 1973), the Jaguar Club of North America, the National Nomad Club, the Vermilion County Board, and the Danville Jaycees; in his younger years, he was active in the United Fund, the Young Men's Christian Association Drive, and the Boy Scouts of America; and

WHEREAS, Ervin Pape III's passion was flying; he always maintained his pilot's license, and along with his wife, went on many small trips in their Piper Saratoga; he enjoyed flying commercially all over the country, whether it was for monthly wine dinners at the Orlando Hyatt, events at the Lyric Opera and Joffrey Ballet, or taking part in the Russian American Foundation and Bolshoi Ballet; in July of 2013, he achieved his lifelong goal to obtain Diamond Status with Delta Airlines; he was also very interested in discovering Russian culture and language; he had taken multiple trips to Russia over the years and was very active in securing a matching Rotary Grant to secure a bus for a Russian orphange; and

WHEREAS, Ervin Pape III was preceded in death by his parents; and

WHEREAS, Ervin Pape III is survived by his children, Adrienne Pape, David (Kristin) Allen, Alexandra Pape (Jeff Daeschler), and ER "Roby" Pape IV (Morgan Ritchie); his grandchildren, Sophia Pape Allen and Payton Daeschler; his sister, Patricia Ann (Vince) Tumminello; his nephew, Vincent Tumminello; his ex-wife, Mitzi Ann (nee Williamson) Pape; his dog and companion, Blue; and many, many people whose lives he touched throughout the years; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Ervin Robert "Bob" Pape III, 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 Ervin Pape III as an expression of our deepest sympathy.