RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Ronald E. Powell has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 04; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Ronald was married to his late wife, Lois and is survived by his children, Kelly (Mark) Morrissey, Brad (JoAnn) Powell, Steven Powell, Kerry Fisher, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Ron retired on December 1, 2018, after 57 and a half years of faithful and dedicated service to the working families in the retail grocery industry and the American Labor Movement; and
WHEREAS, Ron was born on April 5,1935, in rural Wisconsin, where he was raised on a farm; and
WHEREAS, Ron served his country in the United States Army, and following his service studied at Northern Illinois University, graduating in 1960; and
WHEREAS, In 1960, Ron commenced employment at the Jewel Tea Company in DeKalb, Illinois, where he successfully led the first and only recognition strike against the company, after which he joined the staff of Local 881 (formerly the United Retail Workers Union, Independent); and
WHEREAS, Ron began his union career as a field representative in 1961, and eventually was elected as president in 1983 serving Local 881 and becoming the longest-serving constitutional officer after his retirement; and
WHEREAS, Ron committed himself to many educational, philanthropic, and community endeavors which included Better Boys Foundation, Little City Foundation, United Way, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America, and the UFCW Local 881 Charitable Foundation; and
WHEREAS, Ron served the Village of Mundelein as a Trustee for many years, the Illinois State Advisory Board of Investments, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Workers' Compensation Advisory Board, Amalgamated Bank of Chicago, and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Board; and
WHEREAS, To his beloved family, Ronald E. Powell imparts a legacy of faithfulness, servic...
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