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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Donovan Francis Gardner of Bloomington,
4who passed away on June 24, 2017; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Donovan Gardner was born at home in Toledo to
6Francis Raymond and Hazel Blair Gardner on October 1, 1932; he
7graduated from Cumberland County High School in 1950 and
8married Barbara Anne Dey in Greenville on July 5, 1952; he
9joined the United States Air Force in 1952, serving at stations
10in the U.S. and in French Morocco; he left active duty in 1956
11with the rank of buck sergeant; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Donovan Gardner moved to Pontiac in 1960 when he
13became president and CEO of the chamber of commerce; in 1962,
14he was named administrator of Evenglow Lodge, a position he
15held for over 20 years; he was also a United Methodist senior
16living consultant, traveling and working to improve care
17facilities across the U.S. and in Kazakhstan and Cuba; after he
18retired, he returned to Evenglow as a member of the board; one
19of the accomplishments during his tenure was the creation of
20the Memory Care Building, Evenglow Inn; for two years, he
21served as the interim president and CEO of Evenglow; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Donovan Gardner was appointed to the Illinois

 

 

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1State Health Facilities Planning Board; he was a member of the
2Livingston County Board, the Livingston County Historical
3Society, and most recently, the Pontiac City Council; he played
4a key role in developing Pontiac's Route 66 attractions and was
5instrumental in securing the historic Strevell House; he
6created the "32ers Club" for local men born in 1932; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Donovan Gardner was active in the United Methodist
8Church, serving on the Conference Council, in ministries, and
9with the district committee on nominations; he served on the
10Illinois Great Rivers Conference Board of Trustees, the
11personnel committee, and as a lay delegate; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Donovan Gardner and his sons became involved in
13the Boy Scouts; he was Scoutmaster of Pontiac Troop 175 for
14several years and was actively involved in the W.D. Boyce
15Council; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Donovan Gardner married Carol Rickgauer Shaffer
17on December 30, 1996; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Donovan Gardner had a passion for outdoor sports,
19including camping, backpacking, bicycling, and canoeing, a
20passion he shared with friends and family; he also enjoyed
21tennis and basketball; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Donovan Gardner was preceded in death by his
2parents; his first wife, Barbara; and his son, Timothy; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Donovan Gardner is survived by his wife, Carol;
4his children, Brian (Trish) and Todd (Sarah); his stepchildren,
5Julie (Nicolas) Houzeau, Kelley (Kent) Erhardt, and Dyke
6(Kendra) Shaffer; and seven grandchildren; therefore, be it
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
8ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
9Donovan Francis Gardner, and extend our sincere condolences to
10his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
11further
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13presented to the family of Donovan Gardner as an expression of
14our deepest sympathy.