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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Delmar Francis Wilken of Champaign, who
4passed away on May 4, 2015; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Delmar Wilken was born in rural Danforth on
6December 24, 1921 to Sebo and Tracy Classen Wilken; he attended
7Danforth Elementary School, the three-year high school in
8Danforth, and the senior high school in Gilman; he attended the
9University of Illinois' College of Agriculture, receiving his
10bachelor's degree with high honors in 1947 and a master's
11degree in 1952; he married Phyllis Anderson on August 17, 1947
12in Cullom in a double-ring ceremony; he was in ROTC at the
13University of Illinois and enlisted in the Enlisted Reserve
14Corps in 1942; he served in World War II as an infantry officer
15from 1943 to 1946, including occupation duty for one year in
16Japan with the 25th Infantry Division; he was recalled to
17active duty in 1951 for the Korean War and served with the 2nd
18Infantry Division in 1951 and 1952, receiving a Purple Heart;
19and
 
20    WHEREAS, Delmar Wilken's professional career started in
211948 as fieldsman in the Pioneer Farm Business Farm Management
22Association in Bloomington, serving farmers in Tazewell,
23Woodford, and McLean counties; he was employed in 1954 by the

 

 

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1University of Illinois and became a Professor of Agriculture
2Economics Farm Management Extension and Research Specialist;
3he also served as the Executive Secretary of the Illinois Farm
4Business Farm Management Association and as a State leader of
5the field staff for 31 years until his retirement in 1985; he
6authored and co-authored many Extension and research
7publications involving studies with Illinois Farm Business
8Records and organized many farm management tours of successful
9farms in Illinois during his tenure; and
 
10    WHEREAS, In 1982, Delmar Wilken was awarded the United
11States Department of Agriculture's highest award, The
12Distinguished Service Award by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
13John Block for outstanding leadership, professionalism, and
14innovation in developing and implementing effective farm
15business analysis and record keeping systems in the State and
16the nation; in 1984, he was a recipient of the Paul A. Funk
17Recognition Award, an award made annually to members of the
18University of Illinois College of Agriculture staff for
19meritorious service and outstanding contributions to Illinois
20and society in his particular field of study and service; he
21was a member of the University of Illinois President's Council
22and was an honorary member of the Society of Professional Farm
23Managers and Rural Appraisers, receiving their award in 1986
24for Outstanding Service to Illinois Agriculture; he was a
25County Farm Bureau member and a charter member of the National

 

 

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1Association of Farm Business Analysis Specialist; he
2contributed to the Prairie Farmer magazine profit planner
3monthly column for 20 years; he was a member of the Alpha Zeta
4and Gamma Sigma Phi, the national honorary extension
5fraternity; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Delmar Wilken was a member of Grace Evangelical
7Lutheran Church in Champaign for the past 60 years, having
8served on numerous committees, and 7 years as church council
9treasurer; he was a member of the Champaign-Urbana Noonday
10Kiwanis Club since 1985; he served as a technical leader for
11Agriculture Leader Groups from the State of Illinois for
12International Goodwill People to People Travel Missions from
131973 to 1984; he and his wife led 9 missions, visiting
14occupational counterparts in 30 different countries, including
153 missions to the former Soviet Union and 2 to China; they also
16traveled extensively on their own to more than 20 other foreign
17countries, primarily on vacations; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Delmar Wilken was preceded in death by his wife,
19Phyllis; one brother; and one sister; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Delmar Wilken is survived by his 2 daughters,
21Lyndell Wilken and Mylla (John) Hunter; his son, Royce (Lois)
22Wilken; his brother, Donald Wilken; his sister, Marilyn Boedel;
23and his 2 grandsons, Tyler Wilken and Zachary Wilken;

 

 

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1therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
4Delmar Francis Wilken, and extend our sincere condolences to
5his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
6further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to the family of Delmar Wilken as an expression of
9our deepest sympathy.