SR1446 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1446 LRB100 20941 ALS 36523 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Helen Rawson Stroner, who passed away on February 10, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Helen Stroner was born at her grandfather's home in Chicago to John and Helen (Melka) Eminger on March 24, 1919; shortly after her birth, her family moved to Lombard, where she attended school and graduated from York High School in 1937; athletics and competition were an important part of her life; she played baseball for the women's league with the Elmhurst V8s; she married her coach, Bill Rawson, on the baseball field before a game in 1940; he passed away in 1984, and she later married Irv Stroner in 1989, and they had five wonderful years together; and

WHEREAS, Helen Stroner worked for the National Tea Grocery and was eventually promoted to temporary store manager; after she and her husband moved to Woodstock, she worked at Guardian Electric, Oaks, and Arnold Engineering until her retirement in 1983; and

WHEREAS, Helen Stroner enjoyed traveling and was fortunate to go on family camping trips across the United States and to Hawaii, Alaska, Australia, and Europe; she fulfilled a lifelong dream when she attended the Summer Olympics in Montreal in 1976; in addition to traveling, she enjoyed bowling, gardening, bird watching, playing cards, and watching sports; she was a member of the Machinists Union, the Audubon Society, the Environmental Defenders, and the Farm Bureau, where she especially enjoyed participating in the Ag in the Classroom program; and

WHEREAS, Helen Stroner was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Bill; her second husband, Irv; an infant sister; an infant son; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins; and

WHEREAS, Helen Stroner is survived by her daughters, Janet Beck and Sally (Ken) Martine; her grandchildren, Collin (Holly) Beck, Todd Beck, and Elizabeth and Hannah Martine; and her great-grandson, Landon Beck; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Helen Rawson Stroner and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Helen Stroner as an expression of our deepest sympathy.