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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Marlene Ann Lantz of Rensselaer, Indiana
4(formerly of McHenry), who passed away on October 5, 2017; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Marlene Lantz was born in Streator to Edward A.
6Kettmann and Mariette A. Griesmar on January 5, 1947; she
7attended St. Mary's School and graduated from Marian Central
8Catholic High School in 1965; she then studied at Elgin
9Community College and the Milwaukee School of Mortuary Science,
10where she earned her apprentice license as a Funeral Director
11and an embalmer; with a never-ending passion for knowledge, she
12also completed courses in forensic medicine at St. Louis
13University School of Medicine, Wayne State University, and at
14Northern Illinois University, in addition to police science
15courses at Elgin Community College; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Marlene Lantz began her career as a morgue and
17autopsy assistant; she then received her professional license
18and worked for Sherman Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin,
19and Wait-Ross-Allanson Funeral Home in Algonquin until she
20became Chief Deputy Coroner for McHenry County; she was then
21elected Coroner for McHenry County; her career as Coroner
22spanned 24 years, until her retirement in 2012; during her time
23as Coroner, she also served a two-week stint as McHenry County

 

 

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1Sheriff; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Marlene Lantz enjoyed the investigative aspect of
3her job, and she worked tirelessly to uncover how deaths
4occurred and to find ways to prevent such tragedies in the
5future; she was proud of the positive working relationships she
6established with law enforcement officials, rescue and fire
7personnel, physicians, and funeral directors during her
8career; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Marlene Lantz used her training and experience to
10teach about the dangers of drugs and alcohol abuse at local
11schools and out-of-state colleges and universities; she
12conducted mock prom accident re-enactments at local high
13schools; she gave freely of her time to comfort the friends and
14family members of deceased; she kept in touch with many of them
15for years after the deaths of their loved ones; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Marlene Lantz loved to travel to Wisconsin or
17Southern Illinois to shop at antique stores and to find new and
18unusual treasures to add to her collections; she enjoyed
19reading and watching crime stories with her beloved cats, and
20most recently, adopted two kittens; she liked carpentry,
21repurposing old items, remodeling her home, and working in her
22yard; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Marlene Lantz was preceded in death by her father;
2and her stepfather, Vernon Wilson; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Marlene Lantz is survived by her mother; her
4sisters, Judith Kettmann, Karen (Peter VanTuyl) Wilson, Linda
5(Ray) White; her brother, Alan (Fay) Wilson; her nephews, Ben
6White and Matthew (Meghan Nelson) White; her niece, Hannah
7Wilson; and her great-niece, Penelope White; therefore, be it
 
8    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
9ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
10Marlene Ann Lantz and extend our sincere condolences to her
11family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
12further
 
13    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
14presented to the family of Marlene Lantz as an expression of
15our deepest sympathy.