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SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
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learn of the death of Ella Pfeiffenberger Anschuetz, formerly 
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of Alton, who passed away on June 27, 2009; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, A longtime Alton resident and widow of former 
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Alton surgeon Dr. Robert R. Anschuetz, she moved to Denver from 
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Alton in 2002 to be near family; a third generation Altonian, 
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Mrs. Anschuetz grew up on Bluff Street; she was the daughter of 
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Dr. Mather and Hortense Pfeiffenberger, the granddaughter of 
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three-time Alton mayor Lucas Pfeiffenberger, the mother of 
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seven children, and the grandmother of six; her maternal 
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grandfather Rodgers and Uncle Eben Rodgers established the 
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Alton Brick Company; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Before her marriage in 1942, Ella attended schools 
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as near as the former Irving and Roosevelt schools in Alton and 
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as far away as the University of Heidelberg in Germany; while 
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in Germany, she attended the 1936 Berlin Olympics and saw 
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Adolph Hitler; she graduated from Monticello Seminary, a high 
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school, and in 1934, she graduated as valedictorian of 
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Monticello College, a junior college; she earned an 
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undergraduate degree from Wellesley College, class of 1936, and 
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a master's degree from Washington University; and
  
 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, Many Altonians remember Mrs. Anschuetz as a 
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talented harpist; one of the high points of Mrs. Anschuetz's 
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life was her harp study at Michigan's Interlochen Music Camp; 
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she was the oldest of seven children who played together as a 
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family orchestra and even had a composition adapted for them; 
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in addition to playing with the Alton Civic Orchestra, as an 
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active member of First Presbyterian Church of Alton she played 
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the harp at Christmas Eve services for 50 years; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, In addition to her extraordinary dedication to her 
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family, she was particularly devoted to excellence in classical 
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music and education, as well as serving the Alton community in 
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several leadership positions; Mrs. Anschuetz's involvement in 
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Alton community service spanned more than half a century; she 
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led the Alton Community Service League as well as numerous Cub 
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Scout, Brownie, and Girl Scout troops; she also served on the 
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Jenny D. Hayner Library Foundation Board for 40 years and on 
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the United Way, Monticello Foundation, and Alton Museum of 
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History and Art boards; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, In addition to 21 years in the Irving School PTA, 
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she also enthusiastically attended countless dance recitals, 
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piano recitals, graduations, and ballgames; and she loved to 
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talk about the night she took her children, Bill and Sara, to 
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the Beatles concert at Busch Stadium; and

  
 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, She was preceded in death by her infant daughter, 
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Martha Ella; her brother, Dr. Mather Pfeiffenberger; and her 
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sister, Mary J. Pfeiffenberger; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Mrs. Anschuetz is survived by four daughters, Mary 
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Vogt, Elizabeth Yates, Jean Lipson, and Dr. Sara Anschuetz; two 
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sons, Dr. Robert Anschuetz and William Anschuetz; six 
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grandchildren; her sister, Jane Luer; and her brothers, Lucas 
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Pfeiffenberger, Andrew Pfeiffenberger, and Franklin 
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Pfeiffenberger; therefore, be it
  
 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
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her family and friends, the passing of Ella Pfeiffenberger 
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Anschuetz; and be it further
  
 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Ella Pfeiffenberger Anschuetz as a 
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symbol of our sincere sympathy.