Bill Text: IL SR0365 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the passing of Joseph D. "Joe" and Donna K. Bates.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Passed) 2023-10-26 - Resolution Adopted [SR0365 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SR0365-Introduced.html

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SR0365 LRB103 32918 LAW 62722 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
to learn of the deaths of Joseph D. "Joe" and Donna K. Bates,
who passed away on May 1, 2023; and
WHEREAS, Joe Bates was born in Princeton, Indiana on July
29, 1949; he graduated from Princeton High School in 1967; he
served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War from
1969 to 1971, and he received the rank of corporal; after being
discharged from the military, he pursued earning his
bachelor's degree in accounting from Indiana University in
Bloomington, Indiana; and
WHEREAS, Joe Bates worked for Bankers Life Casualty
Insurance Company in Chicago; during his career in the
insurance field, he held the positions of certified public
accountant (CPA), controller, and vice president; and
WHEREAS, Donna Bates was born in Chicago on May 18, 1951;
she graduated from Carl Schurz High School in 1969; she earned
her associate's degree in applied science from Wilbur Wright
College in 1971; and
WHEREAS, Donna Bates began her career with Bankers Life
Casualty Insurance Company in Chicago; she served as a

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teacher's assistant for North Elementary School in Crystal
Lake for over 20 years; in 1969, she began her singing career
with the Melodeers chorus of Sweet Adelines International, and
the group won multiple international competitions; she joined
the Melo-Edge quartet when it was formed in 1978, with the
quartet becoming international champions in 1983 and her being
named a Queen of Harmony; she performed with Melo-Edge on
three international cruises, the Phil Donahue Show, and a Toni
Tennille special; she was also a master director and an
instructor for the Sweet Adeline International organization;
and
WHEREAS, Joe and Donna Bates met while working at Bankers
Life Casualty Insurance Company and married in Chicago on
August 8, 1981; they had two daughters, Sarah and Abbie; they
resided in both Chicago and Princeton, Indiana; and
WHEREAS, Joe and Donna Bates loved spending time with
family and frequently traveled to visit family members across
the Midwest; they took pride in each accomplishment and
milestone that their daughters achieved; individually, he
enjoyed working on projects in the garage, while she enjoyed
tending to her garden; they both loved animals and enjoyed
taking their dogs on nightly walks together; and
WHEREAS, Joe and Donna Bates were preceded in death by

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Joe's parents, John and Wanda (Gordon) Bates; his sister,
Bonnie (Jerry) Lance; his sister-in-law, Martha "Billie"
Bates; his brother-in-law, Ron Caringer; Donna's parents,
Theodore and Kathryn (Sprincz) Pladis; her aunts and uncles,
Mae Sprincz, William Sprincz, Diane Sprincz, Steve Sprincz,
Emma Sprincz, Julia Rediger, and Arthur Rediger; and her
cousin, Janis Rumbley; and
WHEREAS, Joe and Donna Bates are survived by their
daughters, Sarah M. (fianc�, Matthew Raines) Bates and Abbie
K. (Morgan) Baer; Joe's sisters, Patricia (Tim) O'Rourke,
Priscilla Caringer, Barbara (Dale) Krieg, Pamela Bates; his
brothers, Robert "Bud" Bates, Jerry Bates, Jeff (Donna) Bates,
Tim (Lana) Bates, Tom (Karen) Bates, Edward (Vikki) Bates;
Donna's sister, Maureen Brzinski; and several nieces and
nephews; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
Joseph D. "Joe" and Donna K. Bates and extend our sincere
condolences to their family, friends, and all who knew and
loved them; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the family of Joe and Donna Bates as an expression
of our deepest sympathy.