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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Reverend Wesley Harold Wilkie, who passed
4away on January 25, 2020 at the age of 81; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Rev. Wilkie was born in Saginaw, Michigan to
6Harold and Irene (Rutkowsky) Wilkie on May 3, 1938; he
7graduated from the original Detroit Lutheran High School in
81955; he earned his bachelor's degree from Valparaiso
9University, where he studied theology; he obtained his Master
10of Divinity from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis; he married
11Luann Stein in 1962, and she preceded him in death in 1994;
12together, they had two daughters, Diana and Lauren; he was
13ordained in 1964; he earned his Ph.D. from the University of
14Chicago in 1971; he married Dorothy Fischer in 1996; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Rev. Wilkie joined the Theology Department of
16Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, now known as
17Concordia University Chicago; he served as acting president and
18academic dean at Concordia College Selma in Selma, Alabama in
191968; he returned to Concordia Teachers College and served as
20the dean of chapel from 1971 to 1974; he became a visiting
21instructor at Oak Hill Theological College in London, England
22from 1980 to 1981; he later served as a philosophy teacher at
23Concordia University Chicago, where he was eventually

 

 

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1appointed an associate professor of theology in 1990; he
2followed his passion for teaching church history and world
3religions by leading various student trips to countries around
4the world, including Jordan, Israel, Hong Kong, China, and
5England; he retired from full-time teaching in 2003; his
6scholarly interests included exploring Easter Vigils in the
7Orthodox traditions and membership in the North American
8Academy of Ecumenists; he regularly attended the National
9Workshop on Church Unity; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Rev. Wilkie was a member of Grace Lutheran Church
11and regularly attended the Bach Cantata Vespers services;
12alongside his wife Dorothy, he enjoyed fishing and traveling in
13the United States and throughout the world; he was an avid
14outdoorsman; he completed two marathons and was a frequent deer
15hunter; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Rev. Wilkie will be remembered for his passion for
17educating and the impact he left on his students; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Rev. Wilkie was preceded in death by his parents;
19his wife, Luann (Stein) Wilkie; his brother, Richard Wilkie;
20and his granddaughter, Erin Wilkie; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Rev. Wilkie is survived by his wife, Dorothy
22Wilkie; his children, Diana (Rick) Buffie, Lauren Wilkie (John

 

 

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1Elser), John Fischer (Cathy Ryan), and Kathy (Jeff) Spies; his
2grandchildren, Jennifer, Brian (Sara), Karin, Kirsten, Jai,
3and Nina; and his great-grandchildren, Ethan and Kallie;
4therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
6ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
7Reverend Wesley Harold Wilkie and extend our sincere
8condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
9him; and be it further
 
10    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
11presented to the family of Rev. Wilkie as an expression of our
12deepest sympathy.