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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Donald L. "Donnie" Merlie of Westville,
4who passed away on July 30, 2015; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Donnie Merlie was born in Brooks, Pennsylvania on
6February 28, 1922 to Vester and Rose Fava Merlie; he graduated
7from Westville High School in 1939 and served in the United
8States Army Air Corps during World War II as a "flyboy"; he
9co-piloted C-47 cargo planes, carrying paratroopers for the
10301st Troop Carrier Squadron, 441st Troop Carrier Group; he
11flew in the D-Day Invasion, Operation Market Garden, and the
12Battle of the Bulge; he received the Air Medal, the World War
13II Victory Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the EAME Theater
14Medal with 2 Bronze Stars, the Presidential Unit Citation, and
15the Purple Heart; he married Eleanor Dowiatt on July 10, 1948
16in Westville; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Donnie Merlie was honorable discharged as a
18Lieutenant; he then went to the University of Illinois, where
19he received his bachelor's and law degrees; he practiced law in
20Vermilion County for 55 years, retiring in 2008 at age of 86;
21during his career, he represented the Village of Westville and
22Westville schools and was instrumental in the forming of the
23Westville-Belgium Sanitary District; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Donnie Merlie was a member of the Vermilion County
2Airport Authority board, the Westville Lions Club, and the
3Jaycees; for years, he and other pilots co-owned a Cessna 182,
4which he flew to his military squadron's reunions and to go
5quail-hunting, bringing along his bird dogs, most recently his
6English pointers, Maggie and Spot; his passion was training his
7well-bred dogs and watching them hunt; he also enjoyed walking,
8golfing, and tending a large vegetable garden; in his late 80s,
9he planted a mini-orchard of fruit trees in his backyard; he
10was recently inducted into the Westville High School Hall of
11Fame; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Donnie Merlie was preceded in death by his wife,
13Eleanor; his son, Michael J. (Nancy); and his 3 sisters,
14Caroline Merlie, Dora Vanzo, and Geraldine Balbach; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Donnie Merlie is survived by his daughters,
16Melissa Merlie, Patty (Cliff) Merlie, and Carol (Mike)
17Hatfield; his 4 grandchildren, Tony (Katie) Merlie, Jimmy
18(Tina) Merlie, Angie Hatfield (Dan) Marker, and Nic Hatfield;
19his 6 great-grandsons, Joseph, Will, Kyle, and Max Merlie and
20Johnny and Dean Marker; his niece, Dana Clary; and his nephew,
21Brian Vanzo; therefore, be it
 
22    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL

 

 

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1ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
2Donald L. "Donnie" Merlie, and extend our sincere condolences
3to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
4it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6presented to the family of Donnie Merlie as an expression of
7our deepest sympathy.