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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Walter Gerald Nelson of Bloomington, who
4passed away on January 6, 2017; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Walter Nelson was born in Peoria to Walter and
6Hazel Nelson on January 2, 1930; he graduated from St. Bernard
7Grade School and Spalding High School in Peoria, where he
8participated in football, baseball, and basketball; he
9completed his pre-law education at St. Benedict's College (now
10Benedictine College) in Atchison, Kansas and Bradley
11University in Peoria, where he was a cheerleader during his
12senior year; he received his Juris Doctorate from Creighton
13University in Omaha, Nebraska; during the Korean War, he was
14commissioned as a First Lieutenant Judge Advocate General (JAG)
15Officer at Fort Ord, California; he married Mary Ann Olberding
16on January 28, 1952; he married Mary Jo Sunderland in Peoria on
17April 6, 1991; and
 
18    WHEREAS, After his service, Walter Nelson returned to
19Peoria to raise a family and started a civilian practice; he
20moved from the private practice of law to insurance and spent
21over 39 years working for State Farm Insurance in Bloomington,
22retiring in 1995 as Vice-President and counsel; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Walter Nelson was included in the 49th edition of
2Who's Who in America; he served as President of the Association
3of Life Insurance Counsel and as Chairman of the legal section
4of the American Council of Life Insurance; he was founder and
5President of the National Organization of Life and the Health
6Insurance Guaranty Association; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Walter Nelson served on the Community Board of
8Directors for St. Joseph Medical Center; he was a member of St.
9Patrick Church of Merna, the Exchange Club, the Knights of
10Columbus, and the Bloomington Country Club; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Walter Nelson captained Nelson's Nine Nasty
12Nosepickers to a softball league championship; he enjoyed
13spending time with his friends, golfing, reading, playing
14piano, and seeing the Chicago Cubs win the World Series; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Walter Nelson was preceded in death by his first
16wife, Mary Ann; his parents; his daughter-in-law, Robbin
17Nelson; and his great-granddaughter, Emily Nelson; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Walter Nelson is survived by his children, Ann
19(Mike) Larkin, Mike (Pat) Nelson, Sue (Jay) Boor, Pat (Lori)
20Nelson, Tom (Tracey) Nelson, Tim (Lorraine) Nelson, and Molly
21(Dave) Edwards; 19 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; Mary
22Jo's children, Steve (Mary) Sunderland, Kevin (Tamie)

 

 

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1Sunderland, Tom (Judy) Sunderland, Colleen (Chuck) Hubert,
2Maureen (Bob) Grubbs, and Teresa (George) Girardi; her 19
3grandchildren; and her five great-grandchildren; therefore, be
4it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
6ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
7Walter Gerald Nelson, and extend our sincere condolences to his
8family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
9further
 
10    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
11presented to the family of Walter Nelson as an expression of
12our deepest sympathy.