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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Vernon Paul "Vern" Prenzler of
4Bloomington, who passed away on March 10, 2019; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Vern Prenzler was born in Bloomington to Walter
6and Alma Gerling Prenzler on August 11, 1928; he attended
7Trinity Lutheran Grade School and graduated from Bloomington
8High School; he graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in
91950, where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity;
10he served in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952 and was stationed
11in Italy, Austria, and Germany; he married Ruth Urquhart on
12January 28, 1955, and she passed away in 1974; he married Doris
13Petersen on July 4, 1983; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Vern Prenzler graduated from a lumber dealer short
15course at the University of Washington after his military
16service; he managed and later owned the Corn Belt Lumber
17Company, where his father preceded him as manager; in 1958, he
18discovered his true passion, developing real estate; he
19developed his first residential subdivision (Brightview) in
20Normal; he helped develop, often with partners, over 2,000
21residential lots and commercial developments; he also named
22many of the streets in Bloomington and Normal; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Vern Prenzler served on the Bloomington City
2Council from 1961 to 1965; he voted to sell the electric plant
3and join Illinois Power and to build Evergreen Lake, which
4became a second source of water for Bloomington; he was a
5member of the McLean County Board and served on the McLean
6County Republican Central Committee; in 1967, he worked to
7prevent I-55 from being diverted to Peoria (the Kerner Curve
8plan), allowing for Bloomington-Normal to become a
9transportation hub; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Vern Prenzler enjoyed traveling, especially to
11Europe; he made friends everywhere he went and shared stories
12and photos with his family and friends; he was a member of the
13Young Men's Club and was active with the Bible Study
14Fellowship; he was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church
15and, for many years, St. John's Lutheran Church; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Vern Prenzler was preceded in death by his first
17wife, Ruth; his parents; and his brother, Lyle; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Vern Prenzler is survived by his wife, Doris; his
19sons, Kurt (Rita) and Erik (Terri); his daughter, Judy; his
20stepson, David (Jan) Petersen; his stepdaughter, Karen
21Erickson; and his grandchildren, Alexis, Anna, Christian,
22Edward, Roland, Ruth, Brenda, Jim, Elizabeth, and Erik;
23therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
2ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
3Vernon Paul "Vern" Prenzler and extend our sincere condolences
4to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
5it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to the family of Vern Prenzler as an expression of
8our deepest sympathy.