SR1600 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Jean Alice Handke, who passed away on January 11, 2016; and

WHEREAS, Jean Handke was born in Chicago to James and Ruth (nee Williams) Faulkner on November 24, 1923 and resided there until the family moved to Wheaton; she graduated from Wheaton High School in 1941 and continued her education at Western Illinois University in Macomb, where she received her bachelor's degree in education in 1946; she married James Handke on July 31, 1949; and

WHEREAS, Jean Handke began her teaching career in San Jose, Illinois, where she taught commercial subjects at San Jose High School for 4 years; her career as an educator spanned over 35 years in Crystal Lake, starting with 4 years of substitute teaching at 10 different schools; she found a permanent home in 1964 at Central School (now Hussman Elementary), where she taught 4th grade; during this period, she returned to school at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and received her master's degree in outdoor education in 1973; for 13 years, she was Outdoor Education Director for School District 47; she hosted many overnight stays at the Veteran Acres Nature Center and utilized the resident program at George Williams College in Williams Bay, Wisconsin; after a brief return to North School to teach 4th grade, she retired from teaching in 1988; and

WHEREAS, Jean Handke was active in various community groups; she spent many years volunteering with the Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts; she was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and volunteered at Sherman Hospital, the Food Pantry, Meals On Wheels, and Helping Paws; she was a long-time member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Crystal Lake; she served as a Sunday school teacher for 15 years and served on the Altar Guild and volunteered at PADS; after retiring, she began traveling, visiting 49 of the 50 states, along with travels to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean; an avid camper since childhood, she and her husband had many camping adventures with their children; they continued camping into retirement, acquiring ever larger trailers until they found their "little house", a 35-foot, 5th-wheeler that they enjoyed full time; and

WHEREAS, In 2006, Jean Handke and her husband retired at Hearthstone Village; she enjoyed running the "store" at Hearthstone Village twice a week and kept the Hearthstone library organized and always filled with new books; and

WHEREAS, Jean Handke was preceded in death by her adoring husband of 65 years, James Handke; her parents, James and Ruth Faulkner; and her sister, Ruth Ottoson; and

WHEREAS, Jean Handke is survived by her daughter, Bev (Rich) Hodges; her son, Cary (Linda Roth) Handke; her daughter, Jan Handke; her 3 grandsons, Jason (Kerry) Hodges, Nathan (Kelly) Hodges, and Louis Handke-Roth; her 5 great-grandchildren, James, Savannah, Mae, Grady, and Kordell Hodges; her brother, James (Irma) Faulkner; her brother-in-law, Raymond Renken; and many nieces and nephews across the country; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Jean Alice Handke, and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

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