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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Nancy J. "Nonie" Froelich of Bloomington, 
4who passed away on July 17, 2019; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Nancy Froelich was born in Bloomington to Oscar 
6George and Catherine Karr Hoose on November 6, 1930; she 
7married William E. Froelich Jr. on November 25, 1950; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Nancy Froelich was a licensed funeral director for 
9over 50 years and was a strong support to her husband and 
10Froelich Memorial Homes and Heritage Enterprises; disappointed 
11that she did not complete her college degree, she returned to 
12school at the age of 59 and received her bachelor's degree from 
13Eastern Illinois University in 1989; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, Nancy Froelich was active in many public service 
15organizations, including the Gridley School Board, where she 
16helped develop the Tri-County Special Education District; she 
17served on various higher education boards, including the Board 
18of Governors of State Colleges and Universities, where she was 
19chairman from 1984 until 1989, the Illinois Board of Higher 
20Education's Citizens' Advisory Board, the Board of Higher 
21Education, the State University Retirement System Board, and 
22the ISU Board of Trustees; she served on the McLean County 
 
 
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1Board, where she served as board chair during the mid-1980s 
2growth spurt and economic expansion of McLean County, and was 
3instrumental in preserving the Old Courthouse, helping to 
4transform it into the McLean County Museum of History; she 
5served as secretary on the Museum's Board of Directors for many 
6years and was a strong advocate for its growth; she served on 
7the Board of the Mennonite College of Nursing and was a 
8recipient of an honorary nursing degree for "her dedicated 
9interest, support and understanding of the profession of 
10nursing"; Mennonite School of Nursing said, "she was a builder, 
11leader and role model for women in leadership"; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, Nancy Froelich received many honors, including 
13the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, the IWU Distinguished 
14Alumni Business & Professional Woman of the Year Award, the 
15Bloomington Rotary's Paul Harris Fellow Award, the State of 
16Illinois Preservation Award, the ISU John Maitland Jr. 
17Commitment to Education Award, and the McLean County Mayors' 
18Association Person of the Year Award and was named as  a History 
19Maker by the McLean County Museum; she was twice elected as a 
20delegate to the Republican National Convention; and
  
 
21    WHEREAS, Nancy Froelich was committed to her faith and to 
22Christ Community of Gridley; she served as the moderator of the 
23First United Church of Gridley from 1978 until 1982, when the 
24Congregational and Methodist Churches merged and the new church 
 
 
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1was built; she highly valued her relationships with those she 
2served and her community in Gridley and McLean County; she was 
3a builder and a leader who worked to make the community a place 
4where people could come together to grow and to share in the 
5benefits of a strong educational and working foundation; she 
6had a deep love for her family and taught them many valuable 
7lessons about life; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Nancy Froelich was preceded in death by her 
9husband, William, and her son, William E. Froelich III; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Nancy Froelich is survived by her children, Susan 
11(Paul) Laiming, Craig (Barbara) Froelich, and David (Kathy) 
12Froelich; her grandchildren, Paul (Melissa) Laiming, Katie 
13(Shannon) Bachelor, Will (Shauna) Froelich, Nicholas (Brandi) 
14Froelich, Churchill and John Froelich, Alex, Abbey, and Gabe 
15Froelich, and Jake and Matt Froelich; her great-grandchildren, 
16Sam, Anna, and Grace Bachelor, Abi, Esther, Paul III, Tuke, 
17Asher, Kias, and Cru Laiming, Lani May, William IV (Buddy) 
18Froelich, Annabelle and River Froelich, and Jasmyn Froelich; 
19her sister, Susan Jefferson; and her nephews, Paul and Tim 
20Jefferson and Rush Holt Jr.; therefore, be it
  
 
21    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL 
22ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
23Nancy J. "Nonie" Froelich and extend our sincere condolences to 
 
 
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1her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it 
2further
  
 
3    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
4presented to the family of Nancy Froelich as an expression of 
5our deepest sympathy.