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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Donald Lee Zimmerman, who passed away on 
4March 22, 2016; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Donald Zimmerman was born in Mason City on August 
620, 1929; he graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University and 
7earned his master's degree in music education from the 
8University of Illinois; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Donald Zimmerman spent most of his career teaching 
10music in Knoxville and Rockford; he also was an orchestra 
11teacher at West High School and Guilford High School; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Donald Zimmerman was active in the Rockford music 
13scene, playing trombone in jazz bands; he was the founder of 
14the Rockford Chamber Orchestra and the Rockford Area Youth 
15Symphony Orchestra (RAYSO); a joy of his life was spending 
16summers with his family teaching music at the Amherst Summer 
17Music Camp in Maine; after retiring from teaching, his  passion 
18turned to home building, designing some of the most creative 
19homes in the Rockford area; he and his wife spent many winters 
20at the Vineyards in Naples, Florida, where he enjoyed golf and 
21made many wonderful friends; and
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Donald Zimmerman was co-founder of The Golden 
2Apple Award, given  to recognize excellence in teaching; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Donald Zimmerman was a member of the University 
4Club, the Rockford Country Club, and the Rotary Club (Cherry 
5Valley), where he received  a Service Above Self award; he was 
6incredibly proud of his family and was always planning the next 
7"Zimmfest" to bring  the family together in many great places, 
8including Green Lake, Colorado, Florida, and Jamaica; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Donald Zimmerman was preceded in death by his 
10sons, David and Steven; his parents; and a brother and sister; 
11and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, Donald Zimmerman is survived by his wife of 65 
13years, Betty; his children, Douglas (Joyce) and Brad (Julia); 
14his daughters-in-law, Arlene (Manuel) and Martha; his 
15grandchildren, Carrie Nicholas (Jeremy), Nicholas Zimmerman 
16(Suzanne), Keegan Zimmerman, Ashley Schwabero (Matt), Tyler 
17Zimmerman (Kelly), Colin Zimmerman, Rachael Zimmerman, Preston 
18Zimmerman, David Zimmerman, Allison Zimmerman, and Lindsey 
19Zimmerman; and his great-grandchildren, Kason, Wyatt, Everett, 
20Gwendolyn, Kaia, Caroline, Aubrey, and Wesson; therefore, be it
  
 
21    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL 
22ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
 
 
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1Donald Lee Zimmerman, and extend our sincere condolences to his 
2family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
3further
  
 
4    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
5presented to  the family of  Donald Zimmerman as an expression of 
6our deepest sympathy.