HR1303 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1303 LRB097 22320 MST 71075 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are deeply saddened to learn of the death of John P. Shonkwiler of Monticello, who passed away on July 18, 2012; and

WHEREAS, John Shonkwiler was born in Decatur on April 5, 1933, to Robert P. and Mary Dickey Shonkwiler; he graduated from Monticello High School in June 1951, the University of Illinois in 1955, and Northwestern University School of Law-Chicago in June 1962, with a juris doctor; he served in the U.S. Navy for 23 years in both active and reserve duty; he retired as a captain in Naval intelligence in 1978; and

WHEREAS, John Shonkwiler worked in his father's law office until 1965, when he was appointed magistrate of the Sixth Judicial Circuit; he was appointed an associate judge from 1971 to 1972, a circuit judge by the Supreme Court in 1974, and was elected to that office in 1974 by the people of Piatt County; he was a judge for 47 years and chief judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit for 18 1/2 years; and

WHEREAS, John Shonkwiler was a delegate to the National Conference of Special Court Judges, chairman for the Judicial Conference Committee on Contempt, member of the Illinois State Bar Association Assembly, member of the board of directors for the Illinois Judges Association, president of the Illinois Judges Association, member of the executive committee for the Illinois Judicial Conference, and was a member of the Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Mentoring; he received a commendation from the president of the Illinois Senate for his contribution to child support enforcement; and

WHEREAS, John Shonkwiler was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Mary Shonkwiler and his sister, Suzanne Shonkwiler Olds; and

WHEREAS, John Shonkwiler is survived by his sister, Mary Alice (Robert) Strodel; his five nieces and one nephew; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of John Shonkwiler, and we extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to his family as an expression of our deepest sympathy.