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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of John Conrad Wilkey, who passed away on
4December 6, 2022; and
 
5    WHEREAS, John Wilkey was born to Keith L. and Ruth Meier
6Wilkey in Quincy on November 6, 1935; he graduated from Camp
7Point High School, Illinois College with a Bachelor of Arts,
8Garrett Biblical Institute with a Master of Divinity, and
9University of Dubuque Theological Seminary with a Doctor of
10Ministry; he married Eileen Deloris Daggett on July 10, 1955,
11and she passed away on March 2, 2003; he married Stephanie
12Smith-Jarrat on April 24, 2004; and
 
13    WHEREAS, John Wilkey began preaching in 1953; he was
14ordained into the ministry of the Methodist Church where he
15took Deacon's orders in 1958 and Elder's orders in 1961; he
16served pastorates at Murrayville, Pontiac, Cuba, Augusta,
17Pittsfield, and Grace Church in Jacksonville; in retirement,
18he served at Law's Chapel in Atlanta, Texas; he also taught in
19the Jurisdictional License to Preach School for 20 years and
20taught religion courses at John Wood Community College,
21MacMurray College, and Illinois College; and
 
22    WHEREAS, John Wilkey served the Illinois Great Rivers

 

 

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1Annual Conference and its predecessor body, the Central
2Illinois Conference, as chair of the Board of Finance and
3Administration; he also served on the Board of Ordained
4Ministry and the District Board of Ministry for 25 years; and
 
5    WHEREAS, John Wilkey was elected by his peers to serve as a
6delegate to the North Central Jurisdictional Conference for
7four quadrennia and as an alternate delegate to the General
8Conference; and
 
9    WHEREAS, John Wilkey was an amateur bluegrass musician who
10was skilled at playing multiple instruments, especially the
11mandolin; in the 1960s, he and Eileen formed a folk band, The
12Prairie Ramblers, and performed throughout west central
13Illinois; and
 
14    WHEREAS, John Wilkey and his second wife, Stephanie,
15worked together as pastor and choir director at Grace Church
16and Law's Chapel from 1988 onward; together, they performed in
17many concerts with John playing the mandolin and guitar and
18Stephanie playing autoharp and singing; and
 
19    WHEREAS, As an outdoorsman, John Wilkey enjoyed cutting
20wood with his sons and son-in-law; he was a voracious reader,
21an audiophile, an avid gardener, and a tree farmer; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, John Wilkey is survived by his wife, Stephanie;
2five children, John Wesley (Sheryl), Brian Ross (Barbara),
3Brinton Geoffrey (Susan), Jael Ellen (Mark), and Jared Asbury
4(Yu Jie); seventeen grandchildren, Heather, Ariana, Christian,
5Eva, Ian, Greg, Jeff, Andrew, Steven, Megan, Brinton Jr.,
6Allison, Matthew, Michael, Katie, Molly and Keith; his sixteen
7great-grandchildren with one on the way; his brother, Larry
8(Janet) Wilkey; his sister, Janet Knorr; and his
9sister-in-law, Denise Wilkey; therefore, be it
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
11ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
12John Conrad Wilkey and extend our sincere condolences to his
13family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
14further
 
15    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
16presented to the family of John Wilkey as an expression of our
17deepest sympathy.