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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened 
3to learn of the death of Joyce Diebel of Des Plaines, who 
4passed away on January 27, 2026; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Joyce Diebel was born in Chicago on January 5, 
61926; she graduated from Lindbloom High School; she attended 
7Northwestern University; she married Johnny C. Diebel at Hope 
8Lutheran Church in Chicago in 1957, and they purchased a home 
9in Des Plaines in 1961; at the age of 54, she returned to 
10college and graduated from DePaul University; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Joyce Diebel initially worked as executive 
12secretary to the treasurer of Ryerson Steel; after her three 
13children were in school, she began a career in journalism with 
14the Des Plaines Suburban Times, where she was eventually 
15promoted to editor; at the age of 61, she became managing 
16editor of the Des Plaines Publishing Co.'s six suburban and 
17two Chicago weekly newspapers, making her the first and only 
18woman to hold that position in the company's 100-year history; 
19and
 
20    WHEREAS, Joyce Diebel was very involved in her local 
21community, serving on the boards of the United Way, the Des 
22Plaines Historical Society, and the Trinity Lutheran Church 
 
 
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1Council; she also served as president of Trinity's Women of 
2the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (WELCA) and the 
3Waycinden Women's Club; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Joyce Diebel's greatest happiness came from 
5spending time with her family; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Joyce Diebel was preceded in death by her 
7husband; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Joyce Diebel is survived by her children, Joy 
9(Hal) Lambert, Paul (Shannon) Diebel, and John (Tanya) Diebel; 
10five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren; therefore, be 
11it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL 
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
14Joyce Diebel 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 Joyce Diebel as an expression of our 
18deepest sympathy.