MEMORIAL-COL GENE W. BLADE

Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SR0710

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Full Text of SR0710

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SR0710 - 104th General Assembly

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SR0710
LRB104 21361 RMO 36272 r
1
SENATE RESOLUTION

2

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3
to learn of the death of Colonel Gene Walter Blade of
4
Springfield, who passed away on March 21, 2026; and

5

WHEREAS, Gene Blade, the son of Oscar and Stella
6
(Brandvold) Blade, was born in North Henderson on September
7
12, 1934; he was raised on a farm near Cameron and completed
8
his early education in the one-room Shortsville School, later
9
graduating from Monmouth High School; he earned a degree in
10
economics from the University of Illinois and graduated from
11
the United States Army War College; he married Marilyn (Dugan)
12
Blade in 1954; and

13

WHEREAS, Gene Blade farmed and also owned and operated a
14
Firestone Tire franchise in Monmouth; and

15

WHEREAS, Gene Blade began his military career as a Private
16
in the Illinois Army National Guard, was commissioned as a
17
Second Lieutenant in 1962, and rose to the rank of Colonel; he
18
received a variety of ribbons and medals, including the Legion
19
of Merit; and

20

WHEREAS, Gene Blade served as the United States Property
21
and Fiscal Officer (USPFO) for the Illinois Army and Air

SR0710
- 2 -
LRB104 21361 RMO 36272 r
1
National Guard from 1980 through 1994; upon retiring from the
2
military after 40 years of service, he acted as special
3
consultant on contract negotiations for Hanson Professional
4
Services for 15 years; and

5

WHEREAS, Gene Blade served for many years on the selection
6
board for the United States Military Service Academies; he was
7
a board member and chairman of numerous city and county
8
Economic Development Commissions in Illinois; he was a
9
lifelong member of the American Legion and belonged to the
10
Military Officers Association of America; in recent years, he
11
served as emcee for military retiree luncheons; and

12

WHEREAS, Gene Blade was an active member of his Lutheran
13
church, serving as a member and chairman of numerous
14
committees throughout his life; and

15

WHEREAS, Gene Blade enjoyed woodworking, golf, playing
16
cards, and having coffee with friends; for decades, he was
17
committed to physical fitness and completed daily
18
early-morning workouts at the YMCA; he was devoted to his
19
family above all, and he and his wife enjoyed taking river boat
20
cruises and cross-country trips on Amtrak; and

21

WHEREAS, Gene Blade will be remembered for his positive
22
outlook, tremendous work ethic, and steadfast leadership; one

SR0710
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LRB104 21361 RMO 36272 r
1
of his guiding principles was the Army motto "Mission First,
2
People Always", which was reflected in his professional
3
philosophy and personal character; and

4

WHEREAS, Gene Blade was preceded in death by his parents
5
and his brother and sister-in-law, Dale and Dorothy Blade; and

6

WHEREAS, Gene Blade is survived by his wife of 71 years,
7
Marilyn; his daughter, Carol (Darryl) Yochem; his son, Douglas
8
(Patricia) Blade; his sister-in-law, Donna DeWaele; four
9
grandchildren; three great-granddaughters; his nephew; and two
10
nieces; therefore, be it

11

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL
12
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
13
Colonel Gene Walter Blade and extend our sincere condolences
14
to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
15
it further

16

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
17
presented to the family of Gene Blade as an expression of our
18
deepest sympathy.

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