SR0180 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0180 LRB100 11463 KLG 21901 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Lois M. Le Menager of Lake Forest, who passed away on December 28, 2016 at the age of 82; and

WHEREAS, Lois Le Menager was born in Cleveland, Ohio to Lawrence and Lillian Stanek on April 25, 1934; and

WHEREAS, Lois Le Menager took care of running the household while her parents worked; while raising her own children, she was ceaseless in helping with school activities, volunteering, and organizing concessions at high school football games; she was enormously proud of her Czechoslovakian heritage and was an outstanding cook (especially at making chicken paprikash); she was also a painter, poet, a gifted counselor to kids, and mentor to young business people; she had a passion for the military, devoting her time and resources to those who have served and continue to serve; she had a particular fondness for women in business; she made every effort to lend a hand or offer advice in the pursuit of inspiring women; and

WHEREAS, In 1978, Lois Le Menager founded Marketing Innovators International, Inc., an incentive marketing company in Rosemont; through her efforts and energy, MI remains one of the largest woman-owned businesses in the country and one of Chicago's largest private firms; over the years, she received numerous prestigious awards, all recognizing her tremendous contributions to furthering the incentive industry; she was recognized by the Entrepreneur of the Year Institute, Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame, and the American Institute of Entrepreneurs; she was awarded Chicago's Top Women-Owned Firms from Crain's Chicago Business; Who's-Who in Chicago Business; America's Top 500 Women-Owned Businesses, and Working Woman Magazine as One of the Largest Women-Owned Businesses in the Country; and

WHEREAS, Lois Le Menager enjoyed being a "professional shopper" (there wasn't anything on the internet that she couldn't find) and beating the odds at the slot machines; and

WHEREAS, Lois Le Menager was generous to many charities and associations; she served on the board of Junior Achievement, donated land to the Boys and Girls Club of America, and was an early member of the Women Business Development Center, and the Chicago Network; she not only traveled the world, but also participated in many travel and incentive industry associations; she served as a director for Northwest Commerce and First Colonial Banks (which later became FirStar and US Bank) for 10 years, and is a past director of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce; she actively supported the Wounded Warrior Project and helped with donations to build The National World War II Museum in New Orleans; she will be missed, but never forgotten; and

WHEREAS, Lois Le Menager was the devoted wife of Spencer H. Le Menager; the loving mother of Richard (Jill) Blabolil, and Sherry Blabolil-Das; the caring grandmother of Meghan (Ben) Jarvis, Sumeer Das, Molly Blabolil, Courtney Das, Emily Blabolil, and Abby Blabolil; and the delighted great-grandmother to Charlie Jack Jarvis; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Lois Le Menager, 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 Lois Le Menager as an expression of our deepest sympathy.