HJ0046 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0046 LRB098 13070 GRL 47583 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois General Assembly are saddened to learn of the death of Eunice Marie Krans Leitch of Des Moines, Iowa, who passed away on August 5, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Eunice Leitch was born on January 8, 1926 in Wakefield, Michigan; her parents were Enoch and Ella Krans; and

WHEREAS, Eunice Leitch excelled in school, where she developed a love of books and a special talent for speech and debate; in 1943, she set off alone on an over 500-mile bus trip to attend Michigan State University, where she majored in English and worked in the cafeteria to pay for her tuition; and

WHEREAS, While attending a friend's wedding in 1947, Eunice Leitch met Duncan Leitch, a World War II veteran and fellow student at Michigan State University; on their first date, they shared a hot fudge sundae and continued that tradition for almost every week of their nearly 66-year marriage; and

WHEREAS, Eunice Leitch taught high school English in the 1940s before leaving the profession for many years to raise her children; in the 1960s, she returned to teaching and spent several years shaping the lives of 2nd and 3rd graders at Pleasant Hill Elementary School in East Peoria; and

WHEREAS, Eunice Leitch loved the Upper Peninsula and made many happy memories exploring in the woods, ice skating on Sunday Lake, and climbing a 100 foot-tall fire lookout tower set among the pine trees near her home; she also loved chocolate, dill pickles, cats, and hunting for treasures at craft shows and antique shops; and

WHEREAS, Eunice Leitch was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Russell Krans, Marvin Krans, and Carol Krans Gembolis; and

WHEREAS, Eunice Leitch is survived by her husband, Duncan Leitch; her children, Illinois State Representative David Leitch, Paul Leitch, Brian Leitch, and Carol Leitch Fries; her extended family, Marlene, Soledad, and Debra Leitch and Tim Fries; her 11 grandchildren, Sarah (Todd) Stille, Ben Leitch, Betsy (Matt) Kunz, Duncan B. Leitch, Sally (Jared) Woodruff, Evan (Sara), Tim, Jeff, and Amy Leitch and Lauren and Doug Fries; her great-grandchildren, Bennett, Dallyn, and Reid Stille; her sister-in-law, Jean Krans; and her nieces and nephews, Betsy Coville, Amy Penegor, Mark Krans, and Lisa Zegers; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we, along with her family and friends, mourn the passing of Eunice Marie Krans Leitch; and be it further

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