093_SR0266

 
                                     LRB093 13307 KEF 18583 r

 1                          SENATE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, The members  of  the  Senate  of  the  State  of
 3    Illinois  were  saddened  to  learn of the death of Arthur S.
 4    Nelson of Geneva on June 15, 2003; and

 5        WHEREAS, Mr.  Nelson  was  born  September  20,  1911  in
 6    Geneva,  the  son  of shopkeepers Walter F. and Julia (Strom)
 7    Nelson, he was raised and taught to run the  family  business
 8    which  was  stationed  at  the  center  of  the small town of
 9    Geneva; it was never  clear  whether  the  family  store  was
10    confectionery,  a  lunch stand, a bus station, or a community
11    service center; and

12        WHEREAS, After graduating  from  Geneva  High  School  in
13    1928,  Mr.  Nelson  pursued a bachelor of science degree from
14    the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana; he  was  very
15    active  in  the  Kappa Delta Rho fraternity; it was here that
16    his deep desire to learn was initially established; his  love
17    for  the  University  was  apparent throughout his life as he
18    continually gave back to the college any way he could; and

19        WHEREAS, After his college graduation in 1932, Mr. Nelson
20    returned to Geneva to help with the everyday workings of  the
21    family  store;  he  met,  fell  in  love, and married Bernice
22    Wagner; in the following years, the couple had two sons, Kent
23    "Lion" Nelson in 1939 and Gregg Nelson in 1944; and

24        WHEREAS, Mr. Nelson became very active in many  community
25    affairs;  he  served as a member of the Geneva Lions Club for
26    more than 50 years; he was a member of  the  Delnor-Community
27    Hospital  Men's  Foundation,  the  Geneva  Golf Club, and the
28    Geneva Historical Society; he served as a  three-term  Geneva
29    alderman  from  1955  to  1967, chairing the city's power and
30    light committee for  eight  years  and  heading  the  parking
31    committee;  he  also served on the Geneva Community Chest for
32    two years; and
 
                            -2-      LRB093 13307 KEF 18583 r
 1        WHEREAS, After the passing of his father,  he  took  over
 2    the  operation  of Nelson Brother's Trucking which is another
 3    family business; concurrently, he was  elected  president  of
 4    the State Bank of Geneva; he served on the board of directors
 5    at the bank for the last 50 years; his love for the operation
 6    and  management  of the businesses was passed on to his sons;
 7    for his many contributions to the community of Geneva, he was
 8    given the distinguished "Wood Community Service Award"; and

 9        WHEREAS, Mr. Nelson  belonged  to  the  United  Methodist
10    Church in Geneva; and

11        WHEREAS, His extreme generosity as well as the sharing of
12    his invaluable life experiences is greatly appreciated by all
13    those  who have known him; his passing will be deeply felt by
14    many, especially his sons, Kent "Lion" Nelson and Gregg (Joy)
15    Nelson; and his grandchildren, Tim, Jamie, Kristina, and Tom;
16    and

17        WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; and his
18    wife, Bernice; therefore, be it

19        RESOLVED, BY  THE  SENATE  OF  THE  NINETY-THIRD  GENERAL
20    ASSEMBLY  OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing
21    of Arthur S. Nelson along with all who knew and loved him and
22    extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends; and
23    be it further

24        RESOLVED, That a suitable  copy  of  this  resolution  be
25    presented  to the family of Arthur S. Nelson as an expression
26    of our deepest sympathy.