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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Stephen F. Esslinger of Elmwood, who 
4passed away on August 11, 2015; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Stephen Esslinger was born in Washington on August 
69, 1946 to Russell M. and Neva Lichtenberger; he married Bonnie 
7Frazelle on May 14, 1966 in Lewistown; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Stephen Esslinger worked as a police officer for 
9the City of Peoria; "Essy", as he became known in the 
10department, was hired by the City of Peoria Police Department 
11in November of 1971; he was chosen as a field training officer, 
12bearing the responsibility for training newly hired police 
13officers; he continued to serve in this capacity until his 
14promotion to the rank of Sergeant in 1983; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, As a Sergeant, Stephen Esslinger supervised the 
16Communication Dispatch and Information Center, Third Shift 
17Patrol, and the Special Investigations Division; he was 
18promoted to Lieutenant in 1993 and graduated from the 
19Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command; 
20during his time as a Lieutenant, he served as commander of 
21several divisions, including Third Shift Patrol, Juvenile, 
22Criminal Investigations, and Special Investigations; he was 
 
 
SR0870- 2 -LRB099 13860 MST 37837 r

1appointed captain on June 6, 1999 and was the commander of The 
2Uniformed Services Division, the largest division of the police 
3department, until his retirement on March 20, 2003; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Stephen Esslinger was preceded in death by his 
5parents; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Stephen Esslinger is survived by his wife, Bonnie; 
7his 3 children, Dawn (Mike) Carter, Tonya (Mike) Doty, and 
8Heather (Lendsy) Gaiter; his 9 grandchildren, Brittany, 
9Alexus, Ashlee, Kevin, Trever, Zach, Uniquek, Ellaina, and 
10Sierra; his 3 great-grandchildren, Aniyah, Nevaeh, and Kiyan; 
11his sister, Camille (John) Gibson; his sister-in-law, Jeri 
12(Butch) Guenther; and his 2 nephews, Eric (Michelle) Guenther 
13and Shawn (Abby) Guenther; therefore, be it
  
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL 
15ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
16Stephen F. Esslinger, and extend our sincere condolences to his 
17family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
18further
  
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
20presented to  the family of  Stephen Esslinger as an expression 
21of our deepest sympathy.