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1		SENATE RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3		learn of the death of Stephen H. Otis of Marengo, who passed
4		away on January 2, 2017; and
5		WHEREAS, Stephen Otis was born in Belvidere to Elsa (Behm)
6		and Stephen W. Otis on November 9, 1936; he served in the
7		United States Naval Reserve as a Seabee, achieving the rank of
8		Builder Second Class; he married Dorothy A. Slaughter at the
9		United Methodist Church on January 28, 1956; and
10		WHEREAS, Stephen Otis worked for Otis Construction and Otis
11		Building Supply, building hundreds of homes in the Marengo
12		area; he provided an opportunity for students to learn a
13		lifelong trade through the high school's Cooperative Work
14		Training Program from 1968 to 1984; he participated in building
15		projects at Judson College, Blackhawk Baptist Camp, and Lake
16		Springfield, often taking his younger grandsons along with him;
17		one of his proudest accomplishments was overseeing the
18		construction of a teacher housing project for the Hopi Mission
19		School in Arizona in 1986; and
20		WHEREAS, Stephen Otis was a member of the Marengo Planning
21		and Zoning Commission; he served on the Special Education
22		District of McHenry County Executive Board from 1970 to 1974,

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1		the McHenry County Regional Board of School Trustees, and the
2		McHenry County College Board of Trustees; he was the Marengo
3		Township Assessor for seven years and on the Board of Education
4		of Marengo Community High school from 1970 to 1979; and
5		WHEREAS, Stephen Otis was an active member of the First
6		Baptist Church in Marengo; he served as the Regional President
7		of the American Baptist Men; he also taught Bible study and
8		every May he was the head egg chef at the annual May breakfast;
9		and
10		WHEREAS, Stephen Otis enjoyed spending time with his
11		grandchildren, attending their sporting events, and working on
12		projects in his shop; in retirement, he was a founding member
13		of Dino's Breakfast Club and was revered for his Christmas
14		manger scene, which will be greatly missed; and
15		WHEREAS, Stephen Otis was preceded in death by his parents
16		and several other loved ones; and
17		WHEREAS, Stephen Otis is survived by his wife of 61 years,
18		Dorothy; his children, Stephen J. Otis, Elizabeth A. (Joseph)
19		Henning, and Jennifer W. L. (William) Hoeske; his
20		grandchildren, Ryan Carr, Stephanie (Dave) Fanthorpe, J.
21		Benjamin Henning, Trae Hoeske, Jesse Henning, and Lynsey
22		Hoeske; his great-grandchildren, Kerrigan Carr, and June

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1		Fanthorpe; his sisters, Jeanne (Jim) Schaefer, and Midge
2		(Lowell) Wagner; and his special dogs, Mable and Sparkle;
3		therefore, be it
4		RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
5		ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
6		Stephen H. Otis, and extend our sincere condolences to his
7		family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
8		further
9		RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
10		presented to the family of Stephen Otis as an expression of our
11		deepest sympathy.