SR0458 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0458 LRB100 12437 MST 25272 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Kathleen Ann Turnquist of Elgin, who passed away on March 28, 2017; and

WHEREAS, Kathleen Turnquist was born in Berwyn to Dorothy Spomer and Gustaf L. Larson on September 19, 1957; she graduated from Morton East High school in Cicero in 1975; in high school, she was involved with the Girl Scouts Cadet Program; she was regularly on the honor roll and was a member of the National Honor Society; during her senior year, she was a contestant in the Cicero Young Junior Miss Contest; she attended MacMurray College, which was made possible by several scholarships, including the first ever scholarship offered by Cicero American Legion Post No. 96; she also worked various part-time jobs during college and graduated with honors in only three and a half years; she went on to earn a master's degree in reading from Northeastern Illinois University in 1983 and had more than 40 additional hours of graduate work beyond that; during the summer of 1983, she attended an Illinois Education Association Summer Leadership Academy at Illinois State University in Normal; she married Jerry Turnquist in December of 1984; and

WHEREAS, Kathleen Turnquist enjoyed "playing teacher" with her friends and her brother, Ken; Ken's special needs prompted Kathy to become involved in activities to help developmentally disabled youth and young adults; she taught for a semester at Winchester Elementary School in Winchester CUSD No. 1, and joined Elgin Area School District U-46 in the fall of 1979; she first taught at Hanover Countryside Elementary School in Streamwood; she also taught at Coleman, Heritage, and Ridge Circle elementary schools; she later transferred to regular education and taught at Eastview Elementary School, Centennial Elementary School, Canton Middle School, and finally at Lowrie Elementary School; and

WHEREAS, In 1992, Kathleen Turnquist was among the nominees for the Elgin Junior Woman's Club "Outstanding Young Woman of Elgin" award; she was recognized in 1995 when she was named as an Education Foundation Grant recipient by the Elgin Chapter of the American Association of University Women; she was included in Who's Who Among American Teachers; and

WHEREAS, Kathleen Turnquist was a longtime building representative for the Elgin Teachers Association; she served on the district's Instructional Council and on numerous other committees; in 1985, she was appointed by the Elgin City Council to serve on the city's Sesquicentennial Committee; and

WHEREAS, In 1987, Kathleen Turnquist was a recipient of a lifesaving kidney donation and became an advocate for organ donation; she spoke to driver education classes about organ donation, appeared in an Illinois Secretary of State pamphlet, and regularly walked in the American Liver Foundation Liver Live Walk; and

WHEREAS, Kathleen Turnquist was preceded in death by her parents; and

WHEREAS, Kathleen Turnquist is survived by her husband, Jerry; her sons, Dennis and Eric; her brother, Kenneth Larson; many close friends; and numerous students whose lives she impacted over her teaching career; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Kathleen Ann Turnquist, 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 Kathleen Turnquist as an expression of our deepest sympathy.