HR1205 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1205 LRB097 22016 GRL 70855 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Helene M. Bartz, who passed away on June 21, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Helene Bartz was born in Elgin, North Dakota, in 1925; her parents were Henry and Marie Engelhardt; she married the Rev. Dr. Robert Otto Bartz in 1946; together, they had 2 children, Robert and Susan; he passed away in 1983; in 1989, she married Joseph Kubik; he passed away in 2010; and

WHEREAS, In 1957, Helene Bartz moved with her first husband to Arlington Heights, where she served as a teacher at St. Peter Lutheran School for 27 years; in 1965, she earned her bachelor's degree in primary education and secondary music from Concordia University; in 2002, she retired to Naples, Florida; and

WHEREAS, Helene Bartz began her teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse in Elgin, North Dakota; while there, she took a particular interest in 3 of her students who were loners, but also intellectually and artistically gifted; after her tenure at St. Peter, she founded 2 schools for the gifted in the Chicago area, Quest Academy (formerly The Creative Children's Academy) in Palatine and The Science and Arts Academy in Des Plaines; these organizations were and continue to be dedicated to the premise that giftedness needs to be nurtured in a safe, supportive environment to be transformed into extraordinary talents; and

WHEREAS, Helene Bartz served as a Master Coordinator in the Shaklee Corporation for 43 years and dedicated her life to helping others through nutrition and education; and

WHEREAS, Helene Bartz was the co-author of "The Exceptionally Gifted Child"; and

WHEREAS, In 1982, Helene Bartz was named "Woman of the Year" by the Chicago Tribune; in 1992, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from Concordia University for her contribution to the study of gifted education; she was the recipient of the 1994 Shaklee Community Caretaker Award, a national award for community volunteers; she was also honored as the Founder of Quest at their graduation in 2012 and gave an inspirational message of hope and gratitude; and

WHEREAS, Helene Bartz is survived by her daughter, Susan Bartz Paschal, and her fiance, James M. Herrick; her son, Rev. Robert O. Bartz Jr., and his wife, Lindy Sue Luster Bartz; her grandchildren, Luke, David, Jenni, BJ, Rachel, Andy and his wife, Meghan, Phillip and his fiancee, Victoria, Steven, and Peter and his wife, Jennifer; her 4 great-grandchildren; and her sisters, Gertrude Wiechman and Ruth Reim; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Helene M. Bartz; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Helene Bartz as an expression of our sympathy.