Gerald P. Rodeen 1947-2011

Gerald P. "Gerry" Rodeen, 63, a Paxton attorney, died on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011, at rural Loda. Gerry was born April 14, 1947, in Paxton, the son of Karl Marcus and Mary Louise Kennedy Rodeen. He married Katherine M. Hustedt on July 6, 1975, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Buckley. She survives. Gerry was a graduate of Paxton Community High School and earned his B.S. in accounting in 1969 and his J.D. in 1973, both from Indiana University. Upon graduation from Indiana University in 1969, Gerry was employed by Touche Ross Certified Public Accountants for a year and a half prior to re-enrolling at the university to pursue his law degree. While at the university, he received the American Jurisprudence Award in Tort Law and prepared a revision of the state of Indiana parole law. After receiving his J.D. in 1973, he began practice as Gerald P. Rodeen and Associates, Ltd., in Paxton and later purchased the sole practice of Sidney H. Dilks. He concentrated his practice in personal injury litigation, workers' compensation, criminal defense and family law. He had extensive trial experience, having successfully represented criminal defendants in first-degree murder, armed robbery, aggravated kidnapping, rape and other criminal felony jury trials. He participated in and argued civil and criminal appeals in the Illinois Appellate Court and Supreme Court. He was a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association, Ford County Bar Association, American Trial Lawyers Association and Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and served on the board of managers of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. As a member of Illinois Pheasants Forever, Gerry was voted Outstanding Member in recognition of his founding of the first Illinois chapter and his continuing dedication to the organization, and served on the National Board of Directors of Pheasants Forever. He drafted and successfully lobbied for the Illinois Pheasant Stamp legislation that currently provides millions of dollars statewide for pheasant habitat on public and private land. In 1994, Gov. Jim Edgar appointed him as a charter member of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Department of Conservation Foundation Board. He was also a member of the Upland Habitat Stamp Advisory Board to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. In January 2007 at the Chicagoland Outdoors Show, he was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award by the Illinois Outdoor Writers Association. He was previously the chairman of the development committee of the National Board of Directors of Pheasants Forever, a committee that commenced a $25 million endowment campaign fund drive, and served on the National Board since 1987. Gerry loved fishing, which was evidenced by 30 years of fishing trips to Canada with his best buddies, but his greatest love was for his children and grandson. Memorials may be made to Pheasants Forever or Pheasants Forever Young Guns, or memorial gifts in his honor may be made to a charity that supports depression and bipolar research or an organization of the donor's choice.