HR0868 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0868 LRB095 14941 KXB 40886 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Rosemary Berkel Crisp of Marion, who passed away on December 1, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Rosemary Berkel Crisp was a noted business leader and co-owner of Pepsi MidAmerica Company; she was a women's healthcare activist, philanthropist, and mother of six children; Mrs. Crisp was recently honored by Southern Illinois University Carbondale with its prestigious Inspiring Women of Achievement Award in October 2007; the honor befitted Mrs. Crisp's lifelong devotion to improving the quality of healthcare services across Southern Illinois and beyond; and

WHEREAS, She was born in Chicago and graduated in 1958 from St. Mary's Hospital School of Nursing in Evansville, Indiana; she worked as a nurse from 1958 to 1960 at Marion Memorial Hospital; she married Harry L. Crisp II in 1960 and focused her energies on raising a family, community service, and growing the family business, Pepsi MidAmerica Company, which she co-owned with her husband; from 1970 to 1985, Mrs. Crisp was a volunteer nurse for the American Red Cross, Lions Club, and Girl Scouts; even though she ceased practicing as a nurse in the mid-1980s, she continued to renew her nursing license every two years; and

WHEREAS, She was co-founder of the Southern Illinois Women's Health Conference and also served on the board of directors for the Hands of Hope clinic, which offers free health care to needy families; her charitable work has been recognized with dozens of awards; Mrs. Crisp has been previously honored as Citizen of the Year by the Greater Marion Area Chamber of Commerce; Southeast Missouri State University named their nursing facility Rosemary Berkel Crisp Hall of Nursing in recognition of her many accomplishments; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Crisp was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion; she served on dozens of boards, foundations, and committees during her lifetime; at the time of her passing, she was a Trustee of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, and a Director of the National Institute of Health, National Institute of Nursing Research in Washington, D.C., Southeast Missouri State University Foundation in Cape Girardeau, John A. Logan College Foundation in Carterville, University of Tennessee Women's Philanthropy Alliance, and the Marion Civic Center Foundation in Marion; her past board of director positions include Director of the National League for Nursing in New York, and the Society for Advancement of Women's Health Research, Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Rose Berkel; and

WHEREAS, Survivors include her husband of 47 years, Harry L. Crisp II; her son, H. Lee Crisp III and wife, Stacie; her daughters, Cynthia Crisp Dickens and husband, Brian Keith, Cara Crisp Sims and husband, Cris, Catherine Crisp Newbold and fiancé, Greg Wilson, Carole Crisp Schwarm and husband, Mark, and Cheryl Crisp Rabbitt and husband, Bob; her brother, Jim Berkel and wife, Sue; her sisters, Pat Pulley and husband, Barney, and Delores McCuan and husband, LaVerne; her sixteen grandchildren, Brandy Newbold Cohlmeyer, Tyler Newbold, Cameron Newbold, Ryan Rabbitt, Olivia Rabbitt, Taylor Rabbitt, Alexandria Rabbitt, Hunter Dickens, Harrison Dickens, Hayden Dickens, Hallie Crisp, Harry L. Crisp IV, Palmer Sims, Luke Sims, Jacob Schwarm, and Jeremiah Schwarm; and one great-grandchild, Elaine Cohlmeyer; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Rosemary Berkel Crisp; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Rosemary Crisp as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.