SR1026 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1026 LRB097 23578 MST 72607 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dr. Ronald G. Rathke of Carlinville, who passed away on November 29, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ronald Rathke was born on November 7, 1934, to Irvin and Kathryn Elizabeth (Price) Rathke in Litchfield; he graduated from Carlinville High School in 1952 and married Carolyn Ann Calverd at the Federated Church in Carlinville on June 5, 1955; he attended Blackburn College and graduated from Washington University School of Dentistry in 1959; he served in the U.S. Air Force as a captain at Offut Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, until 1961; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ronald Rathke opened a dental practice in Carlinville in 1961; he remained there serving the area until his retirement in 1993; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ronald Rathke loved to spend time with his family, hunt, fish, garden, and travel; he was an animal lover and he was involved with extensive reforesting projects through the State of Illinois Conservation Department; in 1984 and 1985 he planted over 7,000 black walnut trees on his property; he served on the Carlinville Public School board for 19 years, was a founder of the Carlinville Public School Foundation, and a lifelong supporter and advocate of the Carlinville School District; he was a member of the Carlinville United Methodist Church and a board member for Farmers and Merchants National Bank in Carlinville; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ronald Rathke was preceded in death by his parents, Irvin and Kathryn Elizabeth Rathke and his sister-in-law, Joyce Weller; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Ronald Rathke is survived by his wife, Carolyn; his daughters, Denise Boente (Dr. Steven), Cheryl Davis (Shawn), and Lynne Evans (Robert); his grandchildren, Dr. Erin Boente, Elyse Srygley (Trey), Stephen Boente, Michael Davis (fiance Alicia Robinson), Nicholas Evans, and Elisabeth Evans; his brother-in-law, Floyd Weller; his nieces, nephews, and cousins; and his dog, Katie; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Dr. Ronald Rathke, 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 the family of Dr. Ronald Rathke as an expression of our deepest sympathy.