Bill Text: IL SR0262 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Mourns the death of William F. Merna of Canton.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-03-28 - Resolution Adopted [SR0262 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-SR0262-Introduced.html

---

SR0262 LRB101 11708 MST 58221 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
learn of the death of William F. "Bill" Merna of Canton, who
passed away on March 16, 2019; and
WHEREAS, Bill Merna was born in Bloomington to William R.
and Lida M. (Whittington) Merna; he graduated from the Spalding
Institute in Peoria and married Della Lou DeWitt in Peoria on
September 3, 1949; and
WHEREAS, Bill Merna retired from Nabisco in 1988 after a
43-year career; he was a popular salesperson, affectionately
known as the "Cookie Man"; and
WHEREAS, Bill Merna was a 60-year member of the Knights of
Columbus; he was a past Grand Knight of the St. George Council
3934 in Canton; he was a 3rd and 4th Degree Knight, working
both the Tootsie Roll Drive and the weekly Bingo game; he
enjoyed camping and attending the Knights of Columbus
International Camporee, which he and his wife even hosted once;
they also enjoyed camping at the Illinois State Fair; and
WHEREAS, Bill Merna liked to walk in the woods, searching
for mushrooms; he also liked deer and squirrel hunting trips;
and

SR0262 - 2 - LRB101 11708 MST 58221 r
WHEREAS, Bill Merna was a member of St. Mary's Catholic
Church in Canton; he volunteered for funeral dinners and the
food pantry; he spent many hours helping as a committee member
and leader of the St. Joseph's Cemetery Committee; he also
cheerfully delivered Meals on Wheels; and
WHEREAS, Bill Merna was known as "Uncle Bill" to countless
nieces, nephews, and cousins, some of whom were two and three
times removed; he was a mentor, role model, and dear friend to
so many more; he was devoted to his family and attended all the
events he could; and
WHEREAS, Bill Merna was preceded in death by his parents;
his wife of nearly 60 years, Della; his grandson, Adam Hindle;
and his sisters, Mary (Dick) Koehne and Eleanor (Jerry) Menke;
and
WHEREAS, Bill Merna is survived by his children, William M.
Merna, Nancy (Larry) Hindle, Phyllis (Lynn) Jarvis, Timothy A.
(Carol) Merna, and Thomas E. (Alisa) Merna; 13 grandchildren;
21 great-grandchildren; his sister-in-law, Eva Gilchrist; his
brother-in-law, Frank (Joyce) DeWitt; and his sister-in-law,
Marian DeWitt; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL

SR0262 - 3 - LRB101 11708 MST 58221 r
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
William F. "Bill" Merna and extend our sincere condolences to
his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the family of Bill Merna as an expression of our
deepest sympathy.