SR0228 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0228 LRB101 11651 MST 57920 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Vernon Paul "Vern" Prenzler of Bloomington, who passed away on March 10, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Vern Prenzler was born in Bloomington to Walter and Alma Gerling Prenzler on August 11, 1928; he attended Trinity Lutheran Grade School and graduated from Bloomington High School; he graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1950, where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity; he served in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952 and was stationed in Italy, Austria, and Germany; he married Ruth Urquhart on January 28, 1955, and she passed away in 1974; he married Doris Petersen on July 4, 1983; and

WHEREAS, Vern Prenzler graduated from a lumber dealer short course at the University of Washington after his military service; he managed and later owned the Corn Belt Lumber Company, where his father preceded him as manager; in 1958, he discovered his true passion, developing real estate; he developed his first residential subdivision (Brightview) in Normal; he helped develop, often with partners, over 2,000 residential lots and commercial developments; he also named many of the streets in Bloomington and Normal; and

WHEREAS, Vern Prenzler served on the Bloomington City Council from 1961 to 1965; he voted to sell the electric plant and join Illinois Power and to build Evergreen Lake, which became a second source of water for Bloomington; he was a member of the McLean County Board and served on the McLean County Republican Central Committee; in 1967, he worked to prevent I-55 from being diverted to Peoria (the Kerner Curve plan), allowing for Bloomington-Normal to become a transportation hub; and

WHEREAS, Vern Prenzler enjoyed traveling, especially to Europe; he made friends everywhere he went and shared stories and photos with his family and friends; he was a member of the Young Men's Club and was active with the Bible Study Fellowship; he was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church and, for many years, St. John's Lutheran Church; and

WHEREAS, Vern Prenzler was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth; his parents; and his brother, Lyle; and

WHEREAS, Vern Prenzler is survived by his wife, Doris; his sons, Kurt (Rita) and Erik (Terri); his daughter, Judy; his stepson, David (Jan) Petersen; his stepdaughter, Karen Erickson; and his grandchildren, Alexis, Anna, Christian, Edward, Roland, Ruth, Brenda, Jim, Elizabeth, and Erik; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Vernon Paul "Vern" Prenzler and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Vern Prenzler as an expression of our deepest sympathy.