Bill Text: IL SR0567 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Elaine L. Rundle-Schwark of Springfield.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-10-20 - Resolution Adopted [SR0567 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-SR0567-Introduced.html

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SR0567 LRB102 20893 MST 29777 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
to learn of the death of Elaine L. Rundle-Schwark of
Springfield, who passed away on October 5, 2021; and
WHEREAS, Elaine Rundle-Schwark was born to Richard and
Eleanor Rundle on December 8, 1945; she was educated in the
Boston public schools and graduated with a degree in education
from Boston State Teachers College (University of
Massachusetts-Boston) in 1968; and
WHEREAS, Elaine Rundle-Schwark became the foster parent to
two sisters, Ruthann and Wanda Montgomery, in June of 1984;
the following year she legally adopted them; she married
Stephen Schwark on October 9, 1987, and the family moved to
Springfield in 1988 when Stephen accepted a teaching position
at Sangamon State University (University of
Illinois-Springfield); and
WHEREAS, Elaine Rundle-Schwark was a fifth-grade teacher
at John Marshall Elementary School in Boston for over two
decades; she received numerous awards for her excellence in
teaching and was a demanding but effective teacher who
students came to love; while teaching full time, she completed
a master's degree in education focused on counselor training;

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in the 1980s, she began work towards a doctorate in education;
after moving to Springfield in 1988, she worked with students
in the 5th grade at St. Agnes School as a case study for her
dissertation, which she defended in the Spring of 1992; and
WHEREAS, Elaine Rundle-Schwark began to teach part time in
Sangamon State University's Applied Study Term, an internship
program, after completing her Ed.D.; she soon became assistant
director, and from 2003 to 2009, she served as director; she
remained a faculty member for almost 20 years, retiring in
August of 2009 and ending a remarkable 40-year career in
education; and
WHEREAS, Elaine Rundle-Schwark and her husband especially
loved taking their grandchildren on vacations; she loved to
decorate and for 12 years lived in a near century old Victorian
home in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston; in 1999, she
designed the house that she and Steve had built; she was a
gifted genealogist and produced books on the history of both
her family and her husband's family; she was also a woman of
great faith and a long-time member of the congregation of
Cherry Hills Church; and
WHEREAS, Elaine Rundle-Schwark was preceded in death by
her daughter, Ruthie, and her sisters, Martha and Anita
Borrell; and

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WHEREAS, Elaine Rundle-Schwark is survived by her husband
of 34 years, Steve; her daughter, Wanda; her grandchildren,
Alair, Mason, and Alexander "Xander"; her sister, Evelyn
(Steve Pedro); and her brother, Richard (Judy); therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
Elaine L. Rundle-Schwark and extend our sincere condolences to
her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the family of Elaine Rundle-Schwark as an
expression of our deepest sympathy.