SR1395 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1395 LRB099 16151 MST 40477 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Stephen Mark "Steve" Holy of Champaign, who passed away on December 13, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Steve Holy was born in Urbana on January 16, 1954 to Fred and Ethelyeen (nee Hoppler) Holy; he went to Garden Hills Elementary School and graduated from Champaign Central High School in 1972; he earned an Associate in Graphic Design at Parkland College and his bachelor's degree in legal studies from Kaplan University; he married Jeanne Brown in 1974; he married Kristen Fischer on May 5, 2005; and

WHEREAS, Steve Holy worked for Kraft, Champaign Audio Visual, Digital Media Group, the Police Training Institute, and finally the Erwin, Martinkus & Cole Law Firm; and

WHEREAS, Steve Holy was a lifelong practitioner of martial arts and a teacher; he was martial arts director at the Guardian Dragon Dojo, Yon-Dan (fourth degree-Isshin-Ryu Karate) and second-generation black belt under Grandmaster Shimabuku; he also taught self-defense classes at Parkland College and Urbana Adult Education; in recent years, he provided private firearm training and self-defense lessons; and

WHEREAS, Steve Holy enjoyed classic rock music and sci-fi movies and was passionate about firing guns at his private shooting range; he enjoyed making home improvements and upgrading his and Kristen's rural property; he loved animals, especially Cassie, the dog he and Kris adopted from the Champaign County Humane Society; he was fond of family gatherings, often hosting them with Kristen in their home; he especially liked seeing his sons every Thursday night for the gathering of the "Holy Men"; and

WHEREAS, Steve Holy was preceded in death by his grandparents, Harold and Gertrude (Dorsey) Hoppler and Josef and Millie (Rehor) Holy; and

WHEREAS, Steve Holy is survived by his wife, Kristen; his sons, Matt Holy (Kara Beyer) and Patrick Holy (Aimee Densmore); his parents; his 2 sisters, Eileen Miller (Thomas Miller) and Ellen Holy (Greg Sellers); his sister-in-law, Hannah Bonicatto (Dan Bonicatto) and her sons, Tony Ehl and Andy Ehl; his sister-in-law, Jackie Myers (Paulette Ratkovich); his brother-in-law, Jonathan Fischer (Vi); his many aunts, uncles, and cousins; and Cassie, his faithful canine; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Stephen Mark "Steve" Holy, 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 Steve Holy as an expression of our deepest sympathy.