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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of David E. Conner, M.D. of Elmwood,
4formerly of Edwards and Fulton, who passed away on November
525, 2023; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Dr. Conner was born to William James Conner and
7Elizabeth Ellen (Heller) Conner in Morrison on November 17,
81941; he graduated from Fulton High School in 1959; he
9received his bachelor's degree from the University of Dubuque
10in 1963; he married Sandra Sue Nelson in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in
111963, and they had one child, Corinne Elizabeth, and later
12divorced; he earned his master's degree from New Mexico
13Highlands University in 1964 and completed his Doctor of
14Medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in
15Chicago in 1968; after his medical residency, he served in the
16U.S. Air Force; he married Marsha Joyce Monroe in 1971, and
17they had two children, Tisha Lynn and Rory William, and also
18eventually divorced; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Dr. Conner completed his orthopedic surgery
20residency at OSF St. Francis in Peoria; he worked as an
21orthopedic hand surgeon under the Orthopedic Surgery Group in
22Peoria, and the group later joined with another local
23orthopedic group, becoming the Midwest Orthopaedic Center in

 

 

SR0652- 2 -LRB103 35693 LAW 65768 r

1Peoria, from which he retired in 2006; he was noted for being a
2dedicated professional and an excellent surgeon who helped
3many throughout his career; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Dr. Conner owned multiple companies in addition
5to his medical practice, including the Conner Cattle Company,
6the Conner Nursery & Gardens, started in 1994, and the
7Kickapoo Creek Winery (KCW), started in 2005; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Dr. Conner was an active member of various
9organizations, including the American Legion in Cordova, the
10American Medical Association, the American Academy of
11Orthopedic Surgeons, and the Illinois Wine Association; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Dr. Conner's special interests and hobbies
13included participating in plays and writing poetry while in
14high school and college, growing hostas, cultivating grapes,
15and making wine; he enjoyed spending time with his
16grandchildren, mingling with the customers and staff at KCW,
17giving tours of the winery, and listening to the music of
18Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn; he was also an avid dog lover and
19supporter of animal rescue; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Dr. Conner was preceded in death by his parents
21and his nephew, Randy Conner; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Dr. Conner is survived by his children, Corinne
2"Cori" (Jeffrey) Fogle, Tisha (Brandon) Giles, and Rory (Mary)
3Conner; his grandchildren, Bailey (Brandon) Roderick, Richard
4(Brianna) Fogle, Jacob Fogle, Jolan Fogle, Carissa Giles,
5Katelyn Giles, Kale Conner, and Emery Conner; five
6great-grandchildren; his sister, Gloria (Mike) Graville; his
7half-sister, Joyce Runge; his brothers, James (Sharon) Conner
8and Gerald (Ellen) Conner; and his longtime friend, Lisa
9Baize; therefore, be it
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
11ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
12David E. Conner, M.D. and extend our sincere condolences to
13his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
14further
 
15    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
16presented to the family of Dr. Conner as an expression of our
17deepest sympathy.