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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

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

 

 

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

 

 

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1family, 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 Helen Kaiser as an expression of our
5deepest sympathy.