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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Marla Kim Benziger of Chicago, who
4passed away on September 24, 2023; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Kim Benziger was born in Chicago to Martin and
6Margaret (Kalcok) Seplak in 1942; she grew up on the northwest
7side of Chicago and attended Taft High School; she graduated
8from Illinois State University in 1964, where she studied
9elementary and art education; she married Robert Benziger at
10Third Unitarian Church in Chicago on June 27, 1964; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Kim Benziger taught at Mansfield Grade School,
12while her husband finished his education at the University of
13Illinois; she and her husband relocated to upstate New York
14and then to suburban Detroit; they returned to the Chicago
15area, Deerfield, in 1978; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Kim Benziger was interested in issues that affect
17women; she participated in two organizations, the League of
18Women Voters and the American Association of University Women
19(AAUW); she was most active in the AAUW, devoting her time and
20energy to actively promoting the organization's goal of
21advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy,
22education, philanthropy, and research; she volunteered in many

 

 

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1positions at the branch level; she was active at the state
2level as well, ultimately becoming both Deerfield branch and
3Illinois state president; following her term as state
4president, she joined the Legacy Circle, working to expand its
5membership at a state and national level; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Kim Benziger enjoyed traveling domestically and
7internationally with Robert, visiting all seven continents,
8especially enjoying the wide variety of wildlife and cultures
9around the globe; she also enjoyed gardening and cooking and
10had an extensive collection of cook books, which became
11heavily annotated from frequent use; her favorite role became
12that of a grandparent, and she treasured her time with her
13grandchildren, particularly enjoying holiday and vacation
14gatherings; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Kim Benziger was preceded in death by her
16parents; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Kim Benziger is survived by her husband, Robert;
18her sister, Margo (Vincent) McGrath; her sons, Keith (Nicole)
19and Seth (Katie); and her grandchildren, Theodore, Marit,
20Maya, Zachary, and Danika; therefore, be it
 
21    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
22ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of

 

 

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1Marla Kim Benziger and extend our sincere condolences to her
2family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
3further
 
4    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
5presented to the family of Kim Benziger as an expression of our
6deepest sympathy.