SR1655LRB100 21693 ALS 39122 r


  
1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Bonita Yerke at the age of 106; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Bonita Yerke was born in a house in Chemung to 
5Charles and Bess (Conyes) Ambler on November 25, 1911; as a 
6young girl, she worked at her father's general store in 
7Chemung; she attended the Chemung School and graduated from 
8Harvard High School in 1929; she graduated from beautician 
9school in 1920; she married William "Bill" Yerke at the Trinity 
10Lutheran Church Chapel in Harvard on August 9, 1936; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Bonita Yerke worked at the Condensary Factory, 
12which is now Dean's Food; after graduating from beautician 
13school, she began working in Belvidere; she then operated a 
14beauty shop out of her home before working at Olivia's Beauty 
15Shop in Harvard for many years; she also helped operate Yerke's 
16Garage in Chemung until Bill retired in 1966; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, Bonita Yerke was a lifelong member of the Chemung 
18Methodist Church, where she served as a Sunday School teacher 
19and a member of the Ladies Aid Society; she was a member of the 
20Women of the Moose, the Golden Agers, and the Harvard Grange 
21Organization; she was secretary and treasurer of the 
22Chemung/Dunham Cemetery for many years; she enjoyed traveling 
 
 
SR1655- 2 -LRB100 21693 ALS 39122 r

1to Hot Springs, Arkansas and the Western United States with 
2Bill; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Bonita Yerke was preceded in death by her husband, 
4William; her brother, Harold (Ike) Ambler; and her 
5great-granddaughter, Erica Porter; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Bonita Yerke is survived by her sons, Gordon and 
7Charles (Kathy) Yerke; her grandchildren, Andrea (Scot) 
8Hastings,  Amanda (Eric) Porter, Kirk (Galit) Yerke, and James 
9(Sally) Rosson; her great-grandchildren, Dallas and Austin 
10Hasting, Eric, Jayden, and Elexa Porter, Abigal Yerke, and 
11Kimberly Rosson; therefore, be it
  
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL 
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
14Bonita Yerke and extend our sincere condolences to her family, 
15friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further
  
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17presented to the family of Bonita Yerke as an expression of our 
18deepest sympathy.