IL SR2173

Illinois Senate mourns the death of John Thomas Ahern of Silvis, who passed away on August 8, 2016.

Ahern was born September 14, 1935 in Waterloo, Iowa and graduated from Loras College in 1960; he served as a United States Marine and appeared in the movie "The DI" starring Jack Webb.

Worked for Illinois Central Railroad, Rock Island Lines Railroad, and retired after 20 years from John Deere Harvester Works in East Moline.

Served as Alderman in Silvis, member of Alleman High School Board and St. Mary's East Moline School Board, Black Hawk College Trustee (named Trustee of the Year in 2003), and was Grand Marshal of the Quad Cities St. Patrick's Day Grand Parade in 1998.

Survived by wife Susan, eight children, 24 grandchildren, two great-grandsons with one on the way, brother Dr. James Ahern, and sister Judith McDonald.