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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Reverend Donald Becker of Oak Park, who
4passed away on July 30, 2017, at the age of 89; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Reverend Becker was born in Farley, Missouri to
6the Reverend Alvin and Martha Oetting Becker on May 28, 1928;
7he was baptized at St. John Lutheran Church in Farley and
8confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Campbell Hill; he
9graduated from St. Paul Lutheran High School and Junior
10College, a preparatory school for aspiring pastors; he entered
11Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri in 1948 and spent two
12years as a vicar in Lutheran churches in Japan and the
13Philippines; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Reverend Becker was passionate about diversity in
15the church; it was during his time as a vicar that he decided
16to serve in churches that included diverse racial and cultural
17groups; he graduated from the seminary in 1954, becoming the
18pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Emporium, Pennsylvania;
19from 1958 until 1996, he served as pastor of First Immanuel
20Lutheran Church on the near west side of Chicago; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Reverend Becker married Carolyn Gresens on
22November 20, 1960 and their parish life and family life became

 

 

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1inseparable; his wife supported his lifelong mission to end
2prejudice along racial and economic lines, working with him as
3deaconess, superintendent of work with children and youth, and
4as an administrative assistant for the church; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Reverend Becker served as pastoral counselor for
6more than a dozen inner-city Lutheran congregations; he was an
7active participant in the 1960s civil rights movement and one
8of his passions was to help the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
9take an active role in racial integration and in civic and
10political issues that affect the poor; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Reverend Becker was the recipient of the Seeds of
12Hope Award from Wheat Ridge Ministries for his dedicated
13service to the community; and
 
14    WHEREAS, After his retirement, Reverend Becker served as
15the Urban Linkage Coordinator of the Northern Illinois District
16of the Lutheran Church from 1997 to 2004; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Reverend Becker was preceded in death by his
18parents; his siblings, Elfred (Hildegarde), Paul, Norbert,
19Irma (Robert) Schmidt, and Leonard Becker; and his
20brother-in-law, Arthur Crosmer; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Reverend Becker is survived by his beloved wife,

 

 

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1Carolyn; his children, David and Martin (Laura) Becker; his
2siblings, Vera Crosmer, Marvin (Jean), and Robert (Gloria); his
3sister-in-law, Gerry Becker; and many nieces and nephews and
4great-nieces and great-nephews; therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
6ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
7Reverend Donald Becker, and extend our sincere condolences to
8his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
9further
 
10    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
11presented to the family of Reverend Becker as an expression of
12our deepest sympathy.