SR0291 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0291 LRB104 13458 LAW 25875 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Larry N. Varner of Kewanee, formerly of Galva, who passed away on April 19, 2025; and

WHEREAS, Larry Varner was born to D. Steve and Avis (Beede) Varner in Fort Knox, Kentucky on September 2, 1944; he graduated from Monticello High School in Monticello, Illinois in 1962; he earned his Bachelor of Science in English Education from Illinois State University in 1965; he married Patty Carper at the Morton Methodist Church in Morton on March 22, 1969; he received both a Master of Science and an Advanced Certificate in Counseling from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1970 and 1971, respectively; and

WHEREAS, Larry Varner taught English at Pekin High School during the 1965-1966 school year and the 1968-1969 school year, between which he served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1968; he began his counseling career at Galva High School in the fall of 1970, and he retired from Galva Junior-Senior High School in the spring of 1999; he served as coach of the Galva High School Scholastic Team from 1973 through 2008, and he was inducted into the Illinois High School Scholastic Coaches Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Larry Varner joined the Galva Lions Club in 2000, where he served as secretary for an extended time; and

WHEREAS, Larry Varner loved fishing in his spare time, belonging to the Little John Conservation Club and the Hook and Bullet Conservation Club and fishing at both clubs' lakes often; he spent many summer vacations fishing in the Minnesota Boundary Waters, the Turtle Flambeau area in northern Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and he often fished alongside his successive Brittany spaniels; he also enjoyed riding motorcycles, taking several weeks-long trips all over the United States and Canada with his brother, Bruce; and

WHEREAS, Larry Varner was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Alan Varner; and

WHEREAS, Larry Varner is survived by his wife of 56 years, Patty; his sons, Mark (Andreia Krause) Varner and Ben (Erin) Varner; two grandchildren; his brothers, Bruce (Connie) Varner and Eric (Sue) Varner; and his last Brittany spaniel, Maggie; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Larry N. Varner and 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 Larry Varner as an expression of our deepest sympathy.