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92_HR0393
LRB9209068RHrhA
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives wish to express their sincere condolences to
4 the family and friends of Leonard W. Nickel, who passed away
5 into eternal life on May 16, 2001; and
6 WHEREAS, Leonard W. Nickel was born on February 14, 1945
7 in Vincennes, Indiana to Wilhelm and Lela Nickel; he married
8 Gwendolyn K. Schweizer on September 19, 1965; and
9 WHEREAS, Leonard W. Nickel graduated in 1969 from
10 Southern Illinois University in Carbondale with a bachelor of
11 arts in history, and in 1970 with a master of science in
12 education; he taught American history at Carbondale Community
13 High School for thirty years, in which time he made an
14 indelible impression upon the minds of hundreds of students,
15 many of whom have gone on to become teachers because of Mr.
16 Nickel's influence on their lives; and
17 WHEREAS, Leonard W. Nickel was a second term member on
18 the Jackson County Board, where he served as Chairman of the
19 Jackson County Rehabilitation and Care Center and as Chairman
20 of the Road and Bridge Committee; in addition, he was also
21 serving as a member of the Southern Illinois Tourism Board
22 and served for two years with the Shawnee Resource and
23 Development Board; and
24 WHEREAS, Leonard W. Nickel was a member of Oak Grove
25 United Methodist Church in Makanda; he was affiliated with
26 the following organizations: the National Education
27 Association, the Illinois Education Association, the Southern
28 Illinois University Alumni Association, Ducks Unlimited, the
29 National Rifle Association, and the National Wild Turkey
30 Federation; and
31 WHEREAS, Leonard W. Nickel's hobbies included Civil War
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1 and World War II re-enactments, hunting, fishing, high school
2 theater, construction, and masonry; he served as the
3 Carbondale Community High School Junior Class Sponsor,
4 overseeing the High School Junior-Senior Prom and enjoyed
5 working with high school students in all capacities and at
6 any hour, representing with his life's work the true meaning
7 of volunteerism and caring; he also enjoyed collecting
8 antique weapons and other historical artifacts at auctions
9 and yard sales, where he was known as "The King of Yard
10 Sales"; and
11 WHEREAS, The passing of Leonard W. Nickel will be deeply
12 felt by all who knew and loved him, especially his wife,
13 Gwendolyn; his daughters, Heather Lynn and Anne Elizabeth
14 Nickel; his son, Daniel Austin Nickel; his mother, Lela
15 Nickel; and the faculty, staff and countless number of
16 students, past and present, at Carbondale Community High
17 School; therefore, be it
18 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
19 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
20 we mourn, along with all who knew him, the death of Leonard
21 W. Nickel of Carbondale, Illinois; and be it further
22 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
23 presented to the family of Leonard W. Nickel with our sincere
24 condolences.
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