SR2004 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2004 LRB100 23370 ALS 42393 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Doris Jean Wenzel of Mahomet, who passed away on August 29, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Doris Wenzel was born in Paradise Township to Glen Carl and Olive "Ruth" (Coen) Waggoner on February 11, 1940; the youngest of 10 sisters and two brothers, at the age of two, she and her sisters were made wards of the court and separated; she was then adopted by Forest "Dale" and Sarah "Amanda" (Thompson) Replogle of Charleston in July 1942; she attended Lincoln Grace School, Jefferson Junior High, and Charleston High School, where she was active in cheerleading, theater, and debate; she married Jerry Lee Porter, and they had seven children; the marriage later ended; and

WHEREAS, Doris Wenzel worked for the Leo Burnett advertising agency for many years before studying at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, where she wrote for the school paper, participated in theater, and was part of the winning national forensics team; she earned a bachelor's degree at North Central College in Naperville, where she won the Lincoln Academy Award; she was featured in a film for the American Endowment for the Humanities, received national awards in theater, speech, acting, and writing, and received the Richter Fellowship, which allowed her to research the life of Mary Todd Lincoln and write and produce a play based on her research; she earned her Master's Degree in Communication at Illinois State University in 1985; and

WHEREAS, After completing her master's degree, Doris Wenzel was a visiting teaching assistant at the University of Illinois, where she met Harry, a professor of Civil Engineering and Assistant Dean in the College of Engineering; they married on May 28, 1998; she also taught classes at the College of DuPage, Parkland College, and Lincoln College; she taught federal compliance at a financial institution in Bloomington; in 1990, she founded Mayhaven Publishing, where she published hundreds of books including two she wrote with her sisters, Ten Sisters: A True Story and Ten Little Sisters; and

WHEREAS, Doris Wenzel was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, the Fortnightly Club, and the Urbana Rotary; she was a frequent customer at the Hen House in Mahomet with her husband and friends; and

WHEREAS, Doris Wenzel was preceded in death by her parents; her two brothers; her seven sisters; and her son, Brian Harvey Porter; and

WHEREAS, Doris Wenzel is survived by her husband, Harry; her sisters, Irma Allen and Vera Barber; her sons, Todd (Christina Marchisano) Porter, Cullen (Jen) Porter, Aaron (Teri) Porter, and Quintin (Elise) Porter; her daughters, Teresa (Paul) Hackler and Michelle (Brett) Petersen; and her daughter-in-law, Lynn (Brian) Porter; therefore, be it

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