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1		SENATE RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3		to learn of the death of Helen Jean Kaiser of Morton, who
4		passed away on December 8, 2023; and
5		WHEREAS, Helen Kaiser was born in Waukegan to Everett and
6		Flora (Zenor) Smith on February 28, 1928; she graduated from
7		Morton High School; she married Joe Merchenthaler in 1949 and
8		Harold "Lem" Kaiser in 1976; and
9		WHEREAS, Helen Kaiser worked in the medical office of Dr.
10		Monroe for many years and then later at the First National Bank
11		of Morton; and
12		WHEREAS, Helen Kaiser and her first husband, Joe, loved to
13		go antiquing and collected vintage glassware and dishes; they
14		vacationed often in Hot Springs, Arkansas; after his passing,
15		she married Lem and embraced the role of mother and
16		grandmother in the Kaiser family; she doted on the many
17		grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and they provided much
18		joy to her and Lem; she loved family get-togethers with
19		extended family and could always be counted on to pack a
20		delicious picnic lunch for outings to the park and holiday
21		meals with all the trimmings; she and Lem enjoyed taking bus
22		trips with their friends and traveling to Florida, Hawaii, and

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1		Cancun, Mexico; and
2		WHEREAS, Helen Kaiser was interested in history and
3		genealogy and donated many items from the Zenor family farm to
4		the Putnam County Historical Society; she also had a gift for
5		painting still life pictures; she was a member of the
6		Apostolic Christian Church and was deeply committed to her
7		faith; and
8		WHEREAS, Helen Kaiser was preceded in death by her first
9		husband, Joe Merchenthaler; her second husband, Harold; and
10		her brother, Robert (Jane) Smith; and
11		WHEREAS, Helen Kaiser is survived by her stepchildren,
12		Loren "Lon" (Cindy) Kaiser, Thomas (Lisa) Kaiser, Jean (Don)
13		Lashbrook, and Scott (Julie) Kaiser; her nieces and nephews,
14		including Barbara Laugel; her sisters-in-law, Katherine Kaiser
15		and Wilma Stieglitz; her grandchildren, Jeff (Mary) Kaiser,
16		Kim Emery, Heather (Ryan) Gray, Joe Williamson, Dawn (Brian)
17		Sharpe, Terah (Jason) Allen, Angie (Andy) Ogburn, Weston
18		Taylor, Jesse (Emily) Lashbrook, and Jake and Laura Kaiser;
19		and 21 great-grandchildren; therefore, be it
20		RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
21		ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
22		Helen Jean Kaiser and extend our sincere condolences to her

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1		family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
2		further