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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Donovan Francis Gardner of Bloomington, 
4who passed away on June 24, 2017; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Donovan Gardner was born at home in Toledo to 
6Francis Raymond and Hazel Blair Gardner on October 1, 1932; he 
7graduated from Cumberland County High School in 1950 and  
8married Barbara Anne Dey in  Greenville on July 5, 1952; he 
9joined the United States  Air Force in 1952, serving at stations 
10in the U.S. and in French Morocco; he left active duty in 1956 
11with the rank of buck sergeant; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, Donovan Gardner moved to  Pontiac in 1960 when he 
13became president and CEO of the chamber of commerce; in 1962, 
14he was named administrator of Evenglow Lodge, a position he 
15held for over 20 years; he was also a United Methodist senior 
16living consultant, traveling and working to improve care 
17facilities across the U.S. and in Kazakhstan and Cuba; after he 
18retired, he  returned to Evenglow as a member of the board; one 
19of the accomplishments during his  tenure was the creation of 
20the Memory Care Building, Evenglow Inn; for two years, he 
21served as the interim president and CEO of Evenglow; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Donovan Gardner was appointed to the Illinois 
 
 
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1State Health Facilities Planning Board; he was a member of the 
2Livingston County Board, the Livingston County Historical 
3Society, and most recently, the Pontiac City Council; he played 
4a key role in developing Pontiac's Route 66 attractions and was 
5instrumental in securing the historic Strevell House; he 
6created the "32ers Club" for local men born in 1932; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Donovan Gardner was active in the United Methodist 
8Church, serving on the Conference Council, in  ministries,  and 
9with the district committee on nominations; he served on the 
10Illinois Great Rivers Conference Board of Trustees, the 
11personnel committee, and as a lay delegate; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Donovan Gardner and his sons became involved in 
13the Boy Scouts; he was Scoutmaster of Pontiac Troop 175 for 
14several years and was  actively involved in the W.D. Boyce 
15Council; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Donovan Gardner married Carol Rickgauer Shaffer 
17on December 30, 1996; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Donovan Gardner had a passion for outdoor sports, 
19including camping, backpacking, bicycling, and canoeing, a 
20passion he shared with friends and family; he also enjoyed 
21tennis and basketball; and
 

  
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Donovan Gardner was preceded in death by his 
2parents; his first wife, Barbara; and his son, Timothy; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Donovan Gardner is survived by his wife, Carol; 
4his children, Brian (Trish) and Todd (Sarah); his stepchildren, 
5Julie (Nicolas) Houzeau, Kelley (Kent) Erhardt, and Dyke 
6(Kendra) Shaffer; and seven grandchildren; therefore, be it
  
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL 
8ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
9Donovan Francis Gardner, and extend our sincere condolences to 
10his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
11further
  
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
13presented to  the family of  Donovan Gardner as an expression of 
14our deepest sympathy.