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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING HARRY JONGSMA ON HIS OUTSTANDING CAREER AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY
WHEREAS, Harry Jongsma was born in 1936 in Hammond, Indiana and spent his early childhood in Munster, Indiana, before his family moved to what is now Lynwood, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jongsma attended Sandridge School and later Bloom High School where he was actively involved in 4H and Future Farmers of America; and
WHEREAS, from an early age, Harry’s life revolved around the Lynwood community a commitment that would continue throughout his life; and
WHEREAS, in 1955, Harry married Joyce Johnson. They spent a brief period working on his uncle’s farm in Lowell, Indiana, before returning to the family farm in Lynwood, and in late 1956, Harry began his career at the Ford Motor Company as a tool and die maker; and
WHEREAS, Harry and Joyce had four children while living on the family farm along Glenwood-Dyer Rd., and in 1963 they purchased his father-in-law’s trailer park and twenty acres along Lincoln Highway, where they lived until 1986; and
WHEREAS, in 1968, fire partially destroyed the family home. Harry joined with twenty other community members to explore the formation of the Lynwood Volunteer Fire Department. Their efforts succeeded, and Harry went on to serve as a lieutenant with the department for twenty years; and
WHEREAS, Harry’s family was deeply involved in the Sandridge School community. All four of Harry’s children graduated from there and in 1978 he had the honor of personally handing his youngest child a diploma as a school board member, where he served for 20 years and was president for many of those years; and
WHEREAS, after 17 years with Ford, Harry left the company in 1973 as a general foreman to focus on developing his own business. He expanded the original 33-lot trailer park into Linway Estates Mobile Home Park, a 40-acre development with 230 lots; and
WHEREAS, both the family farm and Linway Estates became part of the Lincoln-Lansing Drainage District, and in the 1980’s, Harry was appointed as a Commissioner of the District, a role he continues to hold today; and
WHEREAS, in 1993, Harry became a certified Illinois EPA Responsible Water Operator and remains active in that capacity; and
WHEREAS, a lifelong member and servant of his community, Harry has also been a dedicated member of First Reformed Church (now First PCA) in Lansing, Illinois throughout his life;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners on behalf of the residents of Cook County, hereby commends and honors Harry Jongsma for his remarkable career and outstanding contributions to the community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Harry Jongsma as a token of our respect and esteem.
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