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1		SENATE RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3		learn of the death of Donald L. "Donnie" Merlie of Westville,
4		who passed away on July 30, 2015; and
5		WHEREAS, Donnie Merlie was born in Brooks, Pennsylvania on
6		February 28, 1922 to Vester and Rose Fava Merlie; he graduated
7		from Westville High School in 1939 and served in the United
8		States Army Air Corps during World War II as a "flyboy"; he
9		co-piloted C-47 cargo planes, carrying paratroopers for the
10		301st Troop Carrier Squadron, 441st Troop Carrier Group; he
11		flew in the D-Day Invasion, Operation Market Garden, and the
12		Battle of the Bulge; he received the Air Medal, the World War
13		II Victory Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the EAME Theater
14		Medal with 2 Bronze Stars, the Presidential Unit Citation, and
15		the Purple Heart; he married Eleanor Dowiatt on July 10, 1948
16		in Westville; and
17		WHEREAS, Donnie Merlie was honorable discharged as a
18		Lieutenant; he then went to the University of Illinois, where
19		he received his bachelor's and law degrees; he practiced law in
20		Vermilion County for 55 years, retiring in 2008 at age of 86;
21		during his career, he represented the Village of Westville and
22		Westville schools and was instrumental in the forming of the
23		Westville-Belgium Sanitary District; and

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1		WHEREAS, Donnie Merlie was a member of the Vermilion County
2		Airport Authority board, the Westville Lions Club, and the
3		Jaycees; for years, he and other pilots co-owned a Cessna 182,
4		which he flew to his military squadron's reunions and to go
5		quail-hunting, bringing along his bird dogs, most recently his
6		English pointers, Maggie and Spot; his passion was training his
7		well-bred dogs and watching them hunt; he also enjoyed walking,
8		golfing, and tending a large vegetable garden; in his late 80s,
9		he planted a mini-orchard of fruit trees in his backyard; he
10		was recently inducted into the Westville High School Hall of
11		Fame; and
12		WHEREAS, Donnie Merlie was preceded in death by his wife,
13		Eleanor; his son, Michael J. (Nancy); and his 3 sisters,
14		Caroline Merlie, Dora Vanzo, and Geraldine Balbach; and
15		WHEREAS, Donnie Merlie is survived by his daughters,
16		Melissa Merlie, Patty (Cliff) Merlie, and Carol (Mike)
17		Hatfield; his 4 grandchildren, Tony (Katie) Merlie, Jimmy
18		(Tina) Merlie, Angie Hatfield (Dan) Marker, and Nic Hatfield;
19		his 6 great-grandsons, Joseph, Will, Kyle, and Max Merlie and
20		Johnny and Dean Marker; his niece, Dana Clary; and his nephew,
21		Brian Vanzo; therefore, be it
22		RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL

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1		ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
2		Donald L. "Donnie" Merlie, and extend our sincere condolences
3		to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
4		it further
5		RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6		presented to the family of Donnie Merlie as an expression of
7		our deepest sympathy.