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1		SENATE RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3		learn of the death of Delmar Francis Wilken of Champaign, who
4		passed away on May 4, 2015; and
5		WHEREAS, Delmar Wilken was born in rural Danforth on
6		December 24, 1921 to Sebo and Tracy Classen Wilken; he attended
7		Danforth Elementary School, the three-year high school in
8		Danforth, and the senior high school in Gilman; he attended the
9		University of Illinois' College of Agriculture, receiving his
10		bachelor's degree with high honors in 1947 and a master's
11		degree in 1952; he married Phyllis Anderson on August 17, 1947
12		in Cullom in a double-ring ceremony; he was in ROTC at the
13		University of Illinois and enlisted in the Enlisted Reserve
14		Corps in 1942; he served in World War II as an infantry officer
15		from 1943 to 1946, including occupation duty for one year in
16		Japan with the 25th Infantry Division; he was recalled to
17		active duty in 1951 for the Korean War and served with the 2nd
18		Infantry Division in 1951 and 1952, receiving a Purple Heart;
19		and
20		WHEREAS, Delmar Wilken's professional career started in
21		1948 as fieldsman in the Pioneer Farm Business Farm Management
22		Association in Bloomington, serving farmers in Tazewell,
23		Woodford, and McLean counties; he was employed in 1954 by the

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

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1		Association of Farm Business Analysis Specialist; he
2		contributed to the Prairie Farmer magazine profit planner
3		monthly column for 20 years; he was a member of the Alpha Zeta
4		and Gamma Sigma Phi, the national honorary extension
5		fraternity; and
6		WHEREAS, Delmar Wilken was a member of Grace Evangelical
7		Lutheran Church in Champaign for the past 60 years, having
8		served on numerous committees, and 7 years as church council
9		treasurer; he was a member of the Champaign-Urbana Noonday
10		Kiwanis Club since 1985; he served as a technical leader for
11		Agriculture Leader Groups from the State of Illinois for
12		International Goodwill People to People Travel Missions from
13		1973 to 1984; he and his wife led 9 missions, visiting
14		occupational counterparts in 30 different countries, including
15		3 missions to the former Soviet Union and 2 to China; they also
16		traveled extensively on their own to more than 20 other foreign
17		countries, primarily on vacations; and
18		WHEREAS, Delmar Wilken was preceded in death by his wife,
19		Phyllis; one brother; and one sister; and
20		WHEREAS, Delmar Wilken is survived by his 2 daughters,
21		Lyndell Wilken and Mylla (John) Hunter; his son, Royce (Lois)
22		Wilken; his brother, Donald Wilken; his sister, Marilyn Boedel;
23		and his 2 grandsons, Tyler Wilken and Zachary Wilken;

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