SR0055 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0055 LRB099 05749 MST 25793 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Robert Joseph "Bob" Stecher of West Peoria, who passed away on January 11, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Robert Stecher was born on November 19, 1951 to Joseph G. and Mary G. (nee Cotter) Stecher; he graduated from Bergan High School in Peoria; he married Carol Ann Bedell on December 2, 1972 at Saint Mark Catholic Church in Peoria; and

WHEREAS, Robert Stecher joined his father at Stecher's Automotive Service Inc.; when his father retired in 1987, he became the owner, making him the third generation to run the family business; and

WHEREAS, Robert Stecher joined the West Peoria Fire Department in 1970, becoming an emergency medical technician and working his way up through the ranks; he was a firefighter, engineer, Captain, and Assistant Chief before becoming Chief of the department in 1987; he was the longest serving Chief in the history of the department, before retiring in 2012; that same year, he was granted Chief Emeritus status by the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association; he also began serving as a Trustee for the West Peoria Fire Protection District, a position he held until his passing; he received numerous honors and awards for his service to his community, including the West Peoria's Firefighter of the Year Award, the Emergency Medical Technician of the Year Award, the American Red Cross Heartland Hero Award (2003), and the Hardees Hometown Hero Award presented by Illinois Governor Jim Edgar (1994); and

WHEREAS, Robert Stecher was a member and officer of numerous organizations, including the West Peoria Firefighter's Association, the Illinois Firefighter's Association, the Peoria Area Fire Chiefs Association, the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Central Illinois Fire Investigators Association, the International Association of Arson Investigators, and the Peoria County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency; he worked with others to help incorporate the City of West Peoria in 1993 and he served on the committee to select the city's first Mayor; and

WHEREAS, Robert Stecher was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church in Peoria; he grew up in Saint Mark Catholic Church and was a past member of Holy Family Parish; he was passionate about flying and earned his pilot's license in 1970; and

WHEREAS, Robert Stecher was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, William; and his sister, Patricia Bulfer; and

WHEREAS, Robert Stecher is survived by his wife, Carol; his 2 daughters, Melissa (Eric) Siebenthal and Karen Stecher; his son, Robert (Jennifer Nicole) Stecher, Jr.; his 5 grandchildren, Hadley, Luke, Emma, Ryan, and Alex; his siblings, Richard (Christine Karl) Stecher, James (Mary Wikoff) Stecher, Ann (Scott) Peterson, Mark (Kim Denman) Stecher, and Thomas (Connie Peterson) Stecher; his brother-in-law, William Bulfer; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; therefore, be it

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