SR1765 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1765 LRB099 21473 GRL 47638 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of W. Charles Witte of Bloomington, who passed away on April 10, 2016; and

WHEREAS, W. Charles Witte was born on September 21, 1941 in Chicago; his parents were Dr. William B. and Caroline Hess Witte; he married Donna Vera Skrinskus on October 12, 1968; and

WHEREAS, W. Charles Witte graduated from Bloomington High School in 1959; he was drafted in the United States Army in 1966, graduated from the United States Army Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning, Georgia in 1967, and served as an Intelligence Officer in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968, where he taught English to Vietnamese school teachers, and taught interrogation at the United States Army Intelligence School in Fort Holabird, Maryland from 1968 to 1969; he graduated from Illinois State University in 1971, where he served as President of the Student Body from 1970 to 1971 and initiated the Student Legal Services Program; he later received his Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 1975; he was also a 1980 graduate of the National Judicial College and a 1982 graduate of the National College of Juvenile and Family Court Judges; and

WHEREAS, After college, W. Charles Witte returned to Bloomington and practiced law with the firm of Pratt, Larkin, Witte, and Sternberg, P.C. from 1975 until he was appointed Associate Circuit Judge in December of 1978; he was subsequently elected as McLean County Resident Circuit Judge in November of 1988 and retained as a Circuit Judge in 1994 and 2000; he retired from the bench in December of 2001; and

WHEREAS, W. Charles Witte was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to chair the state-wide Judicial Education Conference from 1986 to 1988; he served as faculty member for numerous Judicial Conference and Illinois State Bar Association Education Programs; he was a member of the American, Illinois, and McLean County Bar Associations and the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association; he was also a founding member and President (2000-2001) of the Robert C. Underwood American Inn of Court; and

WHEREAS, In 1980, W. Charles Witte developed and for 20 years taught a Criminal Justice Education Program for over 1,800 sixth grade students visiting his courtroom each year; the presentation has been used as a model by other judicial circuits; and

WHEREAS, W. Charles Witte was an active Bloomington Kiwanis Club member for 38 years, serving as the organization's President in 1985 and 1986 and the recipient of the George F. Hixon Award in 1998; he served as a member of the BroMenn Healthcare Board of Directors for 9 years and was the organization's Chairman from 2000 to 2003; he served as a member of the Bloomington Country Club Board of Directors for 6 years; he served on the Illinois State University Foundation Board for 19 years and was the organization's Vice-Chair from 1982 to 1988; he served on the ISU Alumni Association Board for 20 years and was the organization's President from 1975 to 1977; he also served on the Bloomington Fire and Police Commission from 2008 to 2015 and a board member of the Illinois Wesleyan Associates; and

WHEREAS, W. Charles Witte was awarded the E. Burton Mercier Alumni Service Award in 1998 and was inducted into the BHS Hall of Fame in 2007; and

WHEREAS, W. Charles Witte was a member of Second Presbyterian Church for over 50 years; he served as an usher, trustee, elder, and senior high camp counselor; he also served as a board member of the Immanuel Bible Foundation for over 20 years and was the organization's President from 2005 to 2011; and

WHEREAS, W. Charles Witte was an avid cyclist and enjoyed countless rides with his friends, including the Youstabees; he looked forward to meeting every week with his Wednesday morning breakfast group; he also loved living in and taking care of Spring Ridge and spending time with his grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, W. Charles Witte was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Dr. Craig H. Witte; and his sister, Jo Karyl Berens; and

WHEREAS, W. Charles Witte is survived by his wife, Donna; his daughters, Drs. Alison Jane (Keith Anthony) Gildehaus and Elizabeth Ann (Joseph Donald) Edmondson; his grandchildren, Katelyn Reese, Emerson Lane Gildehaus, and William David and John Charles Edmondson; his nephews, Christopher (Beckie) Witte and Adam (Candice Smith) Witte; his nieces, Sally Berens (Ryan Postma) and their children, Dries and Silas, Nelltj (Brian) Prosise, and Abra Berens (Erik Hall); and his brother-in-law, Dr. Lee Berens; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of W. Charles Witte; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of W. Charles Witte as an expression of our sympathy.