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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Barbara "Barb" Ketcham Leiter of
4Peoria and Boca Grande, Florida, who passed away March 4,
52021; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Barb Leiter was born to John Robert and Ellen
7Shepherdson Ketcham in Peoria on January 9, 1945; she
8graduated from Richwoods High School in 1963 and from Bradley
9University in 1967 with a bachelor's degree in Education; at
10Bradley, she was affiliated with the Pi Beta Phi Sorority; she
11married Tom Leiter, her high school sweetheart, at First
12Federated Church in Peoria on June 17, 1967; and
 
13    WHEREAS, After moving to Champaign where Tom completed law
14school, Barb Leiter taught art to kindergarten and elementary
15students in Mansfield; in 1969, she and her husband moved back
16to Peoria where she taught at Northmoor School; she was a
17licensed and registered interior designer and employed her
18many talents in residential and commercial projects in
19Illinois and Florida, both in new construction and in historic
20preservation and restoration; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Barb Leiter volunteered her time to many
22philanthropic organizations and chaired numerous fundraising

 

 

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1activities, including the Heart Fund, Opera Illinois, and the
2Peoria Historical Society; she was active in the Lakeview
3Center, the Peoria Riverfront Museum, and the local public
4broadcasting company, WTVP; an exceptional event planner, she
5chaired the Peoria, Illinois Tri-Centennial Ball, created the
6Riverboat Gambler events for the Peoria Historical Society,
7and organized numerous other events for the Country Club of
8Peoria Centennial Celebration; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Barb Leiter was a member of the First Federated
10Church in Peoria and the Boca Grande Methodist Church in Boca
11Grande, Florida; she maintained membership in the DAR, the
12National Society of Colonial Dames of America (Chicago
13Chapter), the English Speaking Union, the Peoria Historical
14Society, the Junior League of Peoria, the Peoria Women's Club,
15the Boca Grande Woman's Club, PEO, the Country Club of Peoria,
16the Gasparilla Inn and Club, and numerous other educational
17and civic organizations; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Barb Leiter, along with her husband, enjoyed
19historic preservation, antiques, history, music, and, most
20importantly, family; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Barb Leiter was preceded in death by her father
22and mother; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Barb Leiter is survived by her husband, Tom; her
2four children, Elizabeth (Alexis) Khazzam, Matthew (Meghan)
3Leiter, Anne Bicket Leiter, and Margaret (Carter) Wellford;
4her grandchildren, Nicholas, Stella Grace, Matteo, Louisa,
5Frances, Leighton, and Caroline; and her brother, James Robert
6Ketcham; therefore, be it
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
8ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
9Barbara "Barb" Ketcham Leiter and extend our sincere
10condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved
11her; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13presented to the family of Barb Leiter as an expression of our
14deepest sympathy.