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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Donna Mae (Bonar) Haerr of St. Louis,
4Missouri, formerly of Peoria, who passed away on March 18,
52023; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Donna Haerr was born to Donald and Edna Lape
7Bonar in Bloomington on May 9, 1930; she married Alvin R. Haerr
8in Peoria in August 1957; she attended the University of
9Illinois, where she pursued premed studies and majored in
10biochemistry; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Donna Haerr pursued a career in medical
12technology in Chicago and eventually in Peoria; later in life,
13she reentered the workforce as the development director at
14WCBU, a public radio station in central Illinois; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Donna Haerr was a born leader with a vision, and
16she dedicated her passion to developing a community through
17the arts, culture, and values; she served as president of the
18Peoria Symphony Guild and the Lakeview Art Museum Board of
19Directors; she served on multiple boards and was a member of
20the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, the Lakeview Art Museum, the
21Peoria Opera Company, the Salvation Army, and the Boys and
22Girls Club of Peoria; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Donna Haerr was a key figure in establishing the
2Community Foundation of Central Illinois in 1985, serving as
3the its first executive director; during her tenure, she
4helped initiate the Women's Fund in 1993; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Donna Haerr was a faithful member of First
6Federated Church; she served as a lay leader for the church's
7board and on the Mission Committee to coordinate community
8reading programs and missions across the globe; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Donna Haerr's favorite symphony was Beethoven's
10Symphony No. 9; in her final years, her artistic muse
11culminated in a gallery of paintings inspired by her favorite
12classical symphonies and treasured art pieces from around the
13world; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Donna Haerr was preceded in death by her
15grandson, Robert Kohn; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Donna Haerr is survived by her children, Debra
17(James) Victor, Mark (Meg) Haerr, Diana (Andy) Kohn, and Eric
18(Piya) Haerr; her grandchildren, Michael (Taylor Morgan) Kohn,
19Kathryn Haerr (Matthew) Marcenelle, Christopher (Helena)
20Haerr, and Davis Haerr; and her great-granddaughter, Gianna
21Marcenelle; therefore, be it
 

 

 

SR0280- 3 -LRB103 32299 ECR 61601 r

1    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
2ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
3Donna Mae (Bonar) Haerr and extend our sincere condolences to
4her family, 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 Donna Haerr as an expression of our
8deepest sympathy.