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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to recognize milestone events in
4 the lives of Illinois citizens; and
 
5     WHEREAS, It has come to our attention that Jay and Betty
6 Vonachen are celebrating their 70th birthdays on May 22, 2010;
7 and
 
8     WHEREAS, Jay Vonachen was born on March 19, 1940; he is the
9 son of Bob and Helen Vonachen; in 1947, Jay's father opened
10 Vonachen Industrial Supply, which Jay ran until 2005; Bob had a
11 particular affinity for the North Woods in Minocqua, Wisconsin
12 and purchased the original family cabin from his father, Dr.
13 John Vonachen, in 1968; his love for Minocqua was passed down
14 to his children and grandchildren and remains a family
15 tradition to this day; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Betty Vonachen was born on June 9, 1940; she is
17 the daughter of Ansel and Evelyn Mathers; her father was
18 involved with farming and was employed with Caterpillar, Inc.;
19 her father also opened Sheridan Road Hardware, where her entire
20 family worked; after suffering a heart attack, Ansel left
21 Caterpillar, sold his hardware store, and went into the real
22 estate business; his major real estate projects included the

 

 

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1 Idyllbrook and Northgate Park subdivisions; and
 
2     WHEREAS, Jay and Betty Vonachen attended St. Philomena's
3 Grade School; Betty then attended Our Lady High School while
4 Jay attended Spaulding High School; Jay and Betty reunited for
5 their collegiate education at Marquette University; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Jay Vonachen serves as the CEO of Vonachen
7 Services, Inc., which he founded in 1968; as a prominent
8 state-wide and community leader, he is a former Chairman of the
9 Illinois State Chamber of Commerce and has served as a Trustee
10 at Bradley University, the Lakeview Museum Foundation, the
11 Community Foundation of Central Illinois, the OSF St. Francis
12 Advisory Board, the Fayette Companies, and the United Way
13 Pillars Society; he is also a generous fundraiser for numerous
14 political campaigns throughout Illinois and numerous community
15 endeavors, such as the Peoria School District 150 Truancy
16 Program; and
 
17     WHEREAS, Betty Vonachen is a former employee of United
18 States Congressman Bob Michel; she is an active member and
19 former President of the Junior League in Peoria, a former Board
20 Member of the Children's Home Association of Illinois, and a
21 former Chairperson of the Lakeview Museum Auction; she is also
22 currently in charge of the St. Thomas Landscape Ministry; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Jay and Betty Vonachen are blessed with 3
2 children, Molly Vonachen Miller (Mike), Matt Vonachen
3 (Lesley), and Elizabeth Vonachen Assalley (Thomas), and 8
4 grandchildren, Andria Assalley, Alexa Assalley, George
5 Assalley, Charlie Assalley, Lucas Crowley, Alex Crowley, Max
6 Vonachen, and Isabella Vonachen; therefore, be it
 
7     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
8 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
9 Jay and Betty Vonachen on the occasion of their 70th birthdays
10 and wish them continued success and happiness in the future;
11 and be it further
 
12     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13 presented to Jay and Betty Vonachen as a symbol of our esteem
14 and respect.