SR0365 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0365 LRB103 32918 LAW 62722 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the deaths of Joseph D. "Joe" and Donna K. Bates, who passed away on May 1, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Joe Bates was born in Princeton, Indiana on July 29, 1949; he graduated from Princeton High School in 1967; he served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1971, and he received the rank of corporal; after being discharged from the military, he pursued earning his bachelor's degree in accounting from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana; and

WHEREAS, Joe Bates worked for Bankers Life Casualty Insurance Company in Chicago; during his career in the insurance field, he held the positions of certified public accountant (CPA), controller, and vice president; and

WHEREAS, Donna Bates was born in Chicago on May 18, 1951; she graduated from Carl Schurz High School in 1969; she earned her associate's degree in applied science from Wilbur Wright College in 1971; and

WHEREAS, Donna Bates began her career with Bankers Life Casualty Insurance Company in Chicago; she served as a teacher's assistant for North Elementary School in Crystal Lake for over 20 years; in 1969, she began her singing career with the Melodeers chorus of Sweet Adelines International, and the group won multiple international competitions; she joined the Melo-Edge quartet when it was formed in 1978, with the quartet becoming international champions in 1983 and her being named a Queen of Harmony; she performed with Melo-Edge on three international cruises, the Phil Donahue Show, and a Toni Tennille special; she was also a master director and an instructor for the Sweet Adeline International organization; and

WHEREAS, Joe and Donna Bates met while working at Bankers Life Casualty Insurance Company and married in Chicago on August 8, 1981; they had two daughters, Sarah and Abbie; they resided in both Chicago and Princeton, Indiana; and

WHEREAS, Joe and Donna Bates loved spending time with family and frequently traveled to visit family members across the Midwest; they took pride in each accomplishment and milestone that their daughters achieved; individually, he enjoyed working on projects in the garage, while she enjoyed tending to her garden; they both loved animals and enjoyed taking their dogs on nightly walks together; and

WHEREAS, Joe and Donna Bates were preceded in death by Joe's parents, John and Wanda (Gordon) Bates; his sister, Bonnie (Jerry) Lance; his sister-in-law, Martha "Billie" Bates; his brother-in-law, Ron Caringer; Donna's parents, Theodore and Kathryn (Sprincz) Pladis; her aunts and uncles, Mae Sprincz, William Sprincz, Diane Sprincz, Steve Sprincz, Emma Sprincz, Julia Rediger, and Arthur Rediger; and her cousin, Janis Rumbley; and

WHEREAS, Joe and Donna Bates are survived by their daughters, Sarah M. (fiancé, Matthew Raines) Bates and Abbie K. (Morgan) Baer; Joe's sisters, Patricia (Tim) O'Rourke, Priscilla Caringer, Barbara (Dale) Krieg, Pamela Bates; his brothers, Robert "Bud" Bates, Jerry Bates, Jeff (Donna) Bates, Tim (Lana) Bates, Tom (Karen) Bates, Edward (Vikki) Bates; Donna's sister, Maureen Brzinski; and several nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Joseph D. "Joe" and Donna K. Bates and extend our sincere condolences to their family, friends, and all who knew and loved them; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Joe and Donna Bates as an expression of our deepest sympathy.