SR0667LRB101 14186 MST 63054 r


  
1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Dr. James W. "Jim" Thatcher of Moline, 
4who passed away on August 31, 2019; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Dr. Thatcher was born in Marshalltown, Iowa to 
6Thomas Warren and Hazel Florence (Martin) Thatcher on August 
729, 1935; his family moved to a small farm near Cedar, Iowa, 
8where he attended high school; he graduated from Iowa Wesleyan 
9College in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology; he 
10served two years in the U.S. Army, spending 13 months in Korea; 
11and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, Upon his discharge from the military, Dr. Thatcher 
13became alumni director at Elmhurst College; he  married Marilyn 
14Joyce Schweitzer in Hedrick, Iowa on May 6, 1961; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, Dr. Thatcher graduated from the College of 
16Dentistry at the University of Iowa in 1965 with a Doctor of 
17Dental Surgery; he was accepted into an oral surgery residency 
18at the University of Iowa in 1965; after completion of the 
19master's program in oral surgery, he was on the University of 
20Iowa teaching staff for five years; he joined the River Valley 
21Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery practice in Moline in 1974 and 
22retired in 1998; and
 
 
 
SR0667- 2 -LRB101 14186 MST 63054 r

1    WHEREAS, Dr. Thatcher was active in many dental 
2organizations, including serving as the president of the Rock 
3Island District Dental Society and president of the Illinois 
4Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons; he volunteered 
5as a board examiner for the American Board of Oral and 
6Maxillofacial Surgery for six years; he also participated on 
7several committees of the American Association of Oral and 
8Maxillofacial Surgery and was named National Committee Man of 
9the Year in 1998; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Dr. Thatcher was an avid fisherman and enjoyed 
11annual trips to Canada with his friends and family; he was an 
12avid golfer, known for his hole-in-three, and held long-term 
13memberships with the Short Hills Country Club in East Moline, 
14where he served as president in 1985, and the Stoneybrook 
15Country Club in Sarasota, Florida;  he was also a long-standing 
16member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Moline; he was a member of 
17the Moline Rotary Club, serving as president in 1991; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, Dr. Thatcher was preceded in death by his wife of 
1952 years, Marilyn, and his parents; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, Dr. Thatcher  is survived by his children, Dr. 
21Lonnette (Dr. Tom) Breneman, John Thatcher, and Dr. Craig (Dr. 
22Leanne) Thatcher; his  grandchildren, Matthew, Marshall, 
 
 
SR0667- 3 -LRB101 14186 MST 63054 r

1Joseph, Madison, and Braden; his  nephew, Dr. Bart (Kate) 
2Bycroft; his niece, Melanie (Rick) Hopke; and his 
3great-nephews, Dr. Jonathan (Holly) and Alex Bycroft; 
4therefore, be it
  
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL 
6ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
7Dr. James W. "Jim" Thatcher and extend our sincere condolences 
8to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be 
9it further
  
 
10    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
11presented to  the family of  Dr. Thatcher as an expression of our 
12deepest sympathy.