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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.