SR0940 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0940 LRB099 13636 MST 37587 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Donald L. "Donnie" Merlie of Westville, who passed away on July 30, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Donnie Merlie was born in Brooks, Pennsylvania on February 28, 1922 to Vester and Rose Fava Merlie; he graduated from Westville High School in 1939 and served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II as a "flyboy"; he co-piloted C-47 cargo planes, carrying paratroopers for the 301st Troop Carrier Squadron, 441st Troop Carrier Group; he flew in the D-Day Invasion, Operation Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge; he received the Air Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the EAME Theater Medal with 2 Bronze Stars, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Purple Heart; he married Eleanor Dowiatt on July 10, 1948 in Westville; and

WHEREAS, Donnie Merlie was honorable discharged as a Lieutenant; he then went to the University of Illinois, where he received his bachelor's and law degrees; he practiced law in Vermilion County for 55 years, retiring in 2008 at age of 86; during his career, he represented the Village of Westville and Westville schools and was instrumental in the forming of the Westville-Belgium Sanitary District; and

WHEREAS, Donnie Merlie was a member of the Vermilion County Airport Authority board, the Westville Lions Club, and the Jaycees; for years, he and other pilots co-owned a Cessna 182, which he flew to his military squadron's reunions and to go quail-hunting, bringing along his bird dogs, most recently his English pointers, Maggie and Spot; his passion was training his well-bred dogs and watching them hunt; he also enjoyed walking, golfing, and tending a large vegetable garden; in his late 80s, he planted a mini-orchard of fruit trees in his backyard; he was recently inducted into the Westville High School Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Donnie Merlie was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor; his son, Michael J. (Nancy); and his 3 sisters, Caroline Merlie, Dora Vanzo, and Geraldine Balbach; and

WHEREAS, Donnie Merlie is survived by his daughters, Melissa Merlie, Patty (Cliff) Merlie, and Carol (Mike) Hatfield; his 4 grandchildren, Tony (Katie) Merlie, Jimmy (Tina) Merlie, Angie Hatfield (Dan) Marker, and Nic Hatfield; his 6 great-grandsons, Joseph, Will, Kyle, and Max Merlie and Johnny and Dean Marker; his niece, Dana Clary; and his nephew, Brian Vanzo; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Donald L. "Donnie" Merlie, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Donnie Merlie as an expression of our deepest sympathy.