SR0354 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0354 LRB100 12111 MST 24392 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of former Illinois State Senator Joyce M. Holmberg of Rockford, who passed away on March 20, 2017; and

WHEREAS, Senator Holmberg was born in Rockford to Hartley and Lillian (Oberg) Lundee on July 19, 1930; she graduated from East High School and earned her Bachelor of Science in Education, with highest honors, at Northern Illinois University; she went on to do graduate work at Rockford College before completing her master's degree in counseling psychology at the Adler School of Professional Psychology, which later honored her with a Distinguished Alumna Award; she married Eugene Holmberg on April 12, 1952; and

WHEREAS, Senator Holmberg began her career as a teacher in the Rockford Public Schools; she later worked as the community relations director for the Teacher Development Center and became the parent community coordinator for the Rockford Public Schools, hosting a weekly cable television show focused on parenting; she also served as an instructor at Rock Valley College; and

WHEREAS, Senator Holmberg was elected to the Illinois State Senate for the 34th District in 1982 and served for 10 years, where she earned a reputation as a staunch and effective advocate for Illinois public education; she led passage of tax amnesty legislation that generated $164 million for education and local governments; she created the Illinois College Savings Bond program and secured State funding for the Northern Illinois University campus in Rockford; she was a strong supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment; her work in Springfield was recognized by awards from numerous organizations in Rockford and throughout Illinois; she enjoyed the support of many friends and constituents from both sides of the aisle who helped to make her successful throughout her political career; and

WHEREAS, Senator Holmberg was the Director of the League of Women Voters of Illinois; she was a member of the Rockford League of Women Voters, a member of the State of Illinois and the Rockford American Association of University Women Education Committees, a member of the Rockford YMCA board, a founding member of the Rockford Network, and a board member at the Swedish Historical Society; she was on the boards of the Adler School of Professional Psychology and Northern Illinois University Law School; she was a volunteer for many political campaigns and referenda and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1984, 1992, and 1996; and

WHEREAS, Senator Holmberg and her husband had a summer home for many years in Cambridge, Wisconsin, where they were members of the Lake Ripley Country Club; she loved playing golf both in Wisconsin with the family and at Sandy Hollow Course in Rockford with the ladies group; she and her husband co-founded an international dinner club that rotated every two months to another house to experience the cuisine of a new country; they loved to travel, starting with a cross-Europe trip in 1954; when their children were young, most of their trips were camping across the United States, but later they travelled internationally including Mexico, Jamaica, many more trips to Europe, and annual spring trips to Destin, Florida for golfing; and

WHEREAS, Senator Holmberg was known for her colorful, stylish clothes; she and her husband loved to go to the theater and looked for any chance to dress up for a party and go dancing; she loved bringing the family together to celebrate family traditions; she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and was always up for a game of cards or charades; many memories were made with their close-knit group of neighbors with whom they shared many New Year's Eve parties and birthday parties; and

WHEREAS, Senator Holmberg was a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church and a past member of Zion Lutheran Church, where she was involved in the Mr. and Mrs. Group; she enjoyed reading all manner of books, especially when it came to reading selections for her book club; and

WHEREAS, Senator Holmberg was preceded in death by her son, Todd Holmberg; after his passing, she and her husband created an award at East High School in his memory and founded Bereaved Parents of Rockford (a chapter of Compassionate Friends), which they co-chaired for several years; and

WHEREAS, Senator Holmberg is survived by her husband, Eugene; her daughters, Gail Holmberg (Henri Gillet), and Polly (Charlie) Haller; her grandchildren, Victoria and Maia Gillet, and Dillon and Wyatt Haller; her sister, Phyllis (Keith) Carriere; her sister-in-law, Janet Jegen; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of former Illinois State Senator Joyce M. Holmberg, 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 Senator Holmberg as an expression of our deepest sympathy.