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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, William "Bill" Sayles Wake passed away on July 24, 
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2004 at his home; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Wake was born May 16, 1926 in Galesburg; he 
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graduated from Galesburg High School in 1943; he  enlisted in 
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the Navy and was stationed at Berea College in Berea, Kentucky; 
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toward the end of the war, he was transferred to the University 
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of Michigan, where he earned his MBA degree and  met his first 
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wife, the late Barbara (Bobbie) Wake; they were married on 
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September 4, 1948 in New York; and

 
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    WHEREAS, They moved to Elgin and he began his career with 
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Aurora Eby-Brown; he and a partner bought Eby-Brown in 1957, 
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and he moved to Aurora to manage the facility; in 1983, he sold 
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the company to two of his sons, but he remained chairman; he 
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and Bobbie moved to Geneva in 1993; shortly thereafter, she was 
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diagnosed with cancer, which the couple jointly battled on and 
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off until her death in 1999; in 2000, he married Elinor Nuyen 
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of Aurora, whom he met through their mutual  involvement with 
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the Association for Individual Development, which  provides 
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services for individuals with disabilities; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He received numerous civic and industry awards; he 
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served as a board member of Merchants National Bank for several 
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years; he was deeply involved with Easter Seals and other 
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organizations serving those with disabilities for most of his 
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adult life; he was actively involved with various clubs and 
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organizations; he also enjoyed filming and participating in the 
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numerous Canadian fishing trips he took with his friends; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The passing of Mr. Wake will be felt by all who 
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knew and loved him, especially his wife, Elinor; his two 
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stepchildren, Carey J. Nuyen and Jonathan B. (Marcela) Nuyen; 
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his six children; and his grandchildren, Doug (Susan Gomez) 
 


 






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LRB093 23823 CSA 53861 r




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Wake, Esther and Anne Gomez, Dick (Karen) Wake, Stevie, Sam, 
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and Alex Wake, Suse (Brian) Fitzpatrick, Lindsay, Bill and Drew 
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Karich, and Jarrett Fitzpatrick, Tom Wake, Tim Willie, and Sean 
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Wake, Mag (Jim) Bussey, Maggie (Steve) Fohn, Katie, Dan and 
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Emily Fohn, and Jennie Wake; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He is also survived by his niece, Judy (Dick) 
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Hendricks, and his nephews, Terry (Barb) Shirrod and Bob 
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(Kathy) Wake; he was preceded in death by his parents, Flossie 
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and William S. Wake; his sister, Barbara Shirrod; and his 
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brother, Tadd Wake; therefore, be it
 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
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William "Bill" Sayles Wake and extend our sincerest condolences 
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to his family and friends; and be it further

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