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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Christine "Chris" Eik Winick of
4Galesburg, who passed away on November 5, 2022 at the age of
571; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Chris Winick was born to Margaret Hansen Eik and
7Gunnar Eik in Galesburg on June 11, 1951; she graduated from
8Galesburg High School in 1969; she then attended Illinois
9Wesleyan University before transferring to Knox College, where
10she graduated with her degree in Political Science in 1973;
11she later received her Master of Public Administration from
12the University of Illinois at Springfield in 1989; she
13additionally earned a graduate certificate in Collective
14Bargaining and Labor Relations and was a certified hostage
15negotiator; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Chris Winick was a lifelong public servant,
17beginning her career with the State of Illinois; she first
18worked as an ombudsman with the Governor's Office of Human
19Resources in the Quad Cities area; she then served as a
20volunteer services coordinator and social worker with the
21Department of Children and Family Services; next, she worked
22at the Galesburg Mental Health Center, where her mother and
23sister were also employed; she later held positions at

 

 

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1Galesburg Community Unit School District 205, directing the
2district's before-school and after-school programs, and the
3InTouch Day Center for Older Adults; she then became a
4counselor with the Illinois Department of Corrections at the
5Henry Hill Correctional Center, where she worked until she
6retired in 2010; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Outside of work, Chris Winick was an active
8leader in politics and her community; she was a lifelong
9progressive Democrat and was the beating heart of the Knox
10County Democratic Party for many years, including serving as
11chair and briefly serving as the committeewoman for the 17th
12Congressional District on the State Central Committee of the
13Democratic Party of Illinois; she was elected as a delegate to
14the Democratic National Convention in 1984, 2008, 2016, and
152020; she also served on the Knox County Board from 1982 to
162002, including serving as chair of the Finance Committee,
17under both Democratic and Republican majorities, and as
18township supervisor from 1989 until her passing; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Chris Winick was a member of the Knox Alumni
20Council and a leader in the Galesburg Knox Club; she
21previously served on the boards of Family Planning Services,
22Safe Harbor, Temple Sholom, the Knox County FEMA, the Carver
23Community Action Agency, and the Knox County Head Start Policy
24Council; she also had served on the Illinois Attorney

 

 

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1General's Senior Citizen Advisory Council and as secretary of
2Illinois Women in Government; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Chris Winick received several accolades during
4her lifetime, including being named as the Knox County
5Democratic Woman of the Year in 2010 and receiving a Knox
6College Service Award in recognition of her years of service
7to her alma mater and community in 2014; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Chris Winick filled her home with paintings,
9prints, and sculptures, which were often created by local
10Galesburg artists and Knox College classmates; she was known
11for her passionate views, her style, and her impeccable
12wardrobe; she loved experiencing live music and theater, going
13on her daily walks at Lake Storey, traveling near and far, and
14having long chats with friends and acquaintances over coffee
15at Innkeepers, wine at Vintages, or a beer at Knox County
16Brewing Company; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Chris Winick was a beloved mother, sister, aunt,
18cousin, and friend who loved politics and serving her
19community; of her many accomplishments, she was proudest of
20her son, Ben, and her daughter-in-law, Lari Dierks; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Chris Winick was preceded in death by her
22husband, Norm Winick; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, At the time of her passing, Chris Winick was
2survived by her son and daughter-in-law; her sister, Marna;
3her sister-in-law, Diane (Lonnie) Graul; her brother-in-law,
4Andy (Sherry) Winick; her nieces, Brynn (Jim Baker) Seibert
5and Leslie (Josh) Wangeman; her nephews, Keith (Christy
6Wagner) Graul and Dylan Winick; and her many other close
7friends and family; therefore, be it
 
8    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
9ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
10Christine "Chris" Eik Winick and extend our sincere
11condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved
12her; and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
14presented to the family of Chris Winick as an expression of our
15deepest sympathy.