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92_SR0341
LRB9216221RHrh
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to
3 express their sincere condolences to the family and friends
4 of the Reverend William L. Oaks of Petersburg, Illinois, who
5 passed away on February 19, 2002; and
6 WHEREAS, Reverend Oaks was born on March 6, 1927 in
7 Canton to William Howard and Freda Kohler Oaks; he married
8 Marilyn Blaser in 1950 in Moline; and
9 WHEREAS, Reverend Oaks graduated from Canton High School
10 and earned a bachelor's degree from Augustana College in Rock
11 Island, where he was an All-American football player who
12 signed with the Chicago Bears; he was elected to both the
13 Augustana College and Canton sports hall of fame; he earned a
14 master of divinity degree from Northern Baptist Seminary and
15 was ordained in 1959; and
16 WHEREAS, Reverend Oaks was a United States Navy veteran
17 of World War II and the pastor emeritus at Elliott Avenue
18 Baptist Church, where he served for 25 years; he was also a
19 pastor at churches in Dixon and Elgin; and
20 WHEREAS, Reverend Oaks was a past president of the
21 American Baptist Church of the Great Rivers Region and served
22 on the American Baptist Board of Managers in several
23 capacities; in addition, he was instrumental in founding the
24 Horizon House and established the Fund of Renewal Project;
25 and
26 WHEREAS, The passing of the Reverend William L. Oaks will
27 be deeply felt by all who knew and loved him, especially his
28 wife, Marilyn; his daughter, Sarah Oaks; his sons, John
29 (Janis) Oaks, Mark (Lori) Oaks, and the Reverend Fred (Judy)
30 Oaks; his 8 grandchildren; his great-granddaughter; his
31 brother, Darren Oaks; his sisters, Pauline Casey and Donna
-2- LRB9216221RHrh
1 Westerfield; and his several nieces and nephews; therefore,
2 be it
3 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SECOND GENERAL
4 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
5 all who knew him, the death of the Reverend William L. Oaks
6 of Petersburg, Illinois; and be it further
7 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8 presented to the family of the Reverend William L. Oaks with
9 our sincere condolences.