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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Lois "Joan" Criswell of Peoria, who
4passed away on May 5, 2018; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Joan Criswell was born in Shelby County, Indiana
6to James Karl and Gertrude (Pherigo) Devening on February 25,
71929; she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Religious Education
8from the Baptist Missionary Training School (BMTS) in 1951, and
9her Master of Business Administration from the University of
10Illinois in 1983; she married Garland Eugene Criswell in East
11Chicago, Indiana at First Baptist Church on March 18, 1951; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Joan Criswell started her career with the Brooks
13House of Christian Service in Hammond, Indiana, the Gary
14Neighborhood House in Gary, Indiana, and the YWCA in Peoria;
15she then became the first paid Executive Director of Peoria
16Planned Parenthood; she eventually served as Executive
17Director to two other agencies and successfully helped to merge
18Planned Parenthood of McLean County and Planned Parenthood of
19Champaign County into the Planned Parenthood of Central
20Illinois; she also served as administrator of Title 10 Family
21Planning with the Illinois Department of Public Health; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Joan Criswell retired in 1993, but continued to

 

 

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1volunteer with many organizations, including Church Women
2United (Treasurer), American Baptist Women Ministries, Peoria
3Habitat for Humanity, the BMTS Alumnae Associations Executive
4Committee where she was also editor of BMTS "ECHOES", and as a
5volunteer driver for the Red Cross for many years; she was a
6lifetime American Baptist and a Member of Peoria First Baptist
7Church for 60 years, serving on various committees and as
8moderator; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Joan Criswell cherished her time with her family,
10attending every birthday, recital, sporting event, and special
11occasion for each of her children, grandchildren, and
12great-grandchildren; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Joan Criswell was preceded in death by her
14parents; her daughter, Janice E. Criswell; and her sister,
15Dorothy Reed; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Joan Criswell is survived by her husband, Garland;
17her children, Kent (Nancy) Criswell, Cherilyn (Daniel) Wilson,
18and Susan Engstrom; her grandchildren, Christina (Reece)
19Copeland, Jennifer (Joshua) Strickler, Janice Wilson, Stefanie
20(Ross) Garman, Kelly (Abigail) Criswell, Brandon Forsha, Barry
21Forsha, and Jami (Patrick) Kreuzer; and 21
22great-grandchildren; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
2ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
3Lois "Joan" Criswell, and extend our sincere condolences to her
4family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
5further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to the family of Joan Criswell as an expression of
8our deepest sympathy.