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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Joseph McKinley "Joe" Wars of Elgin,
4who passed away on December 13, 2023; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Joe Wars was born to Arthur Joseph and Fannie
6Jackson Wars in Charlottesville, Virginia on May 13, 1942; he
7was baptized at an early age at First Baptist Church on West
8Main Street in Charlottesville; he graduated from Carver High
9School in Newport News, Virginia and attended Virginia State
10University; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Joe Wars had an illustrious sales career,
12starting with Sears & Roebuck in the late 1960s and continuing
13with Mattel Toys, Ferry Morris Seed Company, and Ron Hopkins
14Ford; in 1976, he was transferred by the Ferry Morris Seed
15Company from Roanoke, Virginia to Elgin, Illinois, where he
16served as district manager; he received numerous awards from
17the Ferry Morris Seed Company as well as his other employers;
18and
 
19    WHEREAS, Joe Wars was dedicated to serving his community
20wherever he resided; he was a past president of the national
21chapter of the Black Jaycees while living in Roanoke,
22Virginia, and he became a lifetime member of the local chapter

 

 

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1in Elgin; he chaired the City of Elgin's Dr. King Annual Food
2Drive since its inception in 2011; he served on the board of
3directors for the Elgin Boys and Girls Club and also belonged
4to the Elgin Human Relations Commission and the Elgin Image
5and Advisory Committee; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Joe Wars especially enjoyed celebrating and
7volunteering at Christmas; for many years, he donned a Santa
8suit, and he and his daughter, Stephanie, who served as his elf
9helper, distributed toys to children in the hospital; he also
10helped deliver gifts from the Salvation Army to area families;
11and
 
12    WHEREAS, For his volunteerism, Joe Wars received Elgin's
13Dr. King Legacy Award in 2017 and was named the honorary
14chairperson of the city's 2023 Crop Walk; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Joe Wars was known for his warm and welcoming
16personality; he will be remembered for his legacy of helping
17others; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Joe Wars was preceded in death by his parents;
19his brothers, Francis Jerome and Anthony Wendell Wars; and his
20aunt and uncle, Rosalee and Lawrence Keyes; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Joe Wars is survived by his wife of 59 Years,

 

 

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1Jeannette Davis Wars; his daughter, Stephanie (Martin)
2Wars-Williams; his grandchildren, Marissa, Ryan, and Taylor;
3his great-granddaughter, Olivia; his brother, Arthur Wars; his
4sister, Camilla (William) Wars Mitchell; his nieces, Chekisha
5and Yoma; his special cousins, Pauletta and Lawrence; and a
6host of other relatives and friends; therefore, be it
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
8ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
9Joseph McKinley "Joe" Wars and extend our sincere condolences
10to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
11it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13presented to the family of Joe Wars as an expression of our
14deepest sympathy.