SR1373 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1373 LRB102 30129 ECR 42363 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of John Conrad Wilkey, who passed away on December 6, 2022; and

WHEREAS, John Wilkey was born to Keith L. and Ruth Meier Wilkey in Quincy on November 6, 1935; he graduated from Camp Point High School, Illinois College with a Bachelor of Arts, Garrett Biblical Institute with a Master of Divinity, and University of Dubuque Theological Seminary with a Doctor of Ministry; he married Eileen Deloris Daggett on July 10, 1955, and she passed away on March 2, 2003; he married Stephanie Smith-Jarrat on April 24, 2004; and

WHEREAS, John Wilkey began preaching in 1953; he was ordained into the ministry of the Methodist Church where he took Deacon's orders in 1958 and Elder's orders in 1961; he served pastorates at Murrayville, Pontiac, Cuba, Augusta, Pittsfield, and Grace Church in Jacksonville; in retirement, he served at Law's Chapel in Atlanta, Texas; he also taught in the Jurisdictional License to Preach School for 20 years and taught religion courses at John Wood Community College, MacMurray College, and Illinois College; and

WHEREAS, John Wilkey served the Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference and its predecessor body, the Central Illinois Conference, as chair of the Board of Finance and Administration; he also served on the Board of Ordained Ministry and the District Board of Ministry for 25 years; and

WHEREAS, John Wilkey was elected by his peers to serve as a delegate to the North Central Jurisdictional Conference for four quadrennia and as an alternate delegate to the General Conference; and

WHEREAS, John Wilkey was an amateur bluegrass musician who was skilled at playing multiple instruments, especially the mandolin; in the 1960s, he and Eileen formed a folk band, The Prairie Ramblers, and performed throughout west central Illinois; and

WHEREAS, John Wilkey and his second wife, Stephanie, worked together as pastor and choir director at Grace Church and Law's Chapel from 1988 onward; together, they performed in many concerts with John playing the mandolin and guitar and Stephanie playing autoharp and singing; and

WHEREAS, As an outdoorsman, John Wilkey enjoyed cutting wood with his sons and son-in-law; he was a voracious reader, an audiophile, an avid gardener, and a tree farmer; and

WHEREAS, John Wilkey is survived by his wife, Stephanie; five children, John Wesley (Sheryl), Brian Ross (Barbara), Brinton Geoffrey (Susan), Jael Ellen (Mark), and Jared Asbury (Yu Jie); seventeen grandchildren, Heather, Ariana, Christian, Eva, Ian, Greg, Jeff, Andrew, Steven, Megan, Brinton Jr., Allison, Matthew, Michael, Katie, Molly and Keith; his sixteen great-grandchildren with one on the way; his brother, Larry (Janet) Wilkey; his sister, Janet Knorr; and his sister-in-law, Denise Wilkey; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of John Conrad Wilkey and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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