SR1219 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1219 LRB103 42689 MST 75925 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Donald E. "Don" Oest of Havana, who passed away on September 3, 2024; and

WHEREAS, Don Oest was born in Mason County to John and Anabelle (Koehne) Oest on February 25, 1937; he attended Matanzas Grade School in Mason County, a one-room schoolhouse that included all eight grades; he graduated from Bath Lynchburg High School in 1954; he served in the U.S. Army as a combat paratrooper with the 18th Airborne Company from 1957 to 1963; and

WHEREAS, Don Oest worked at the Niederer Funeral Home in Havana and then at International Harvester before his military service; he returned to International Harvester in 1959 and worked until 1983 when the plant closed; he transferred to the IH Springfield, Ohio truck assembly location in 1984, working there until 1986; and

WHEREAS, Don Oest was raised a farm boy and loved farm work, cutting brush and trees and raising cattle; he grew fruit trees and prized blackberries; he also liked to play pool and golf; he spent several winters in Florida and belonged to the Break-A-Leg Toastmasters group; and

WHEREAS, Don Oest was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, John, Vernon, Alvin, and Kenneth; and

WHEREAS, Don Oest is survived by his sons, Christopher (Angie) and Daniel Oest; his grandchildren, Riley, Kendall, and Emily Oest; his sister-in-law, Bessie Oest; several nieces and nephews; his friend, Jill Oest; and his special friend, Imogene Eilers; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Donald E. "Don" Oest 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 Don Oest as an expression of our deepest sympathy.