Truman E. Nehls, 80, of Woodhull, Illinois died Sunday, July 31, 2016 at home. Services are 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 4, 2016 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Woodhull. Burial is in the Woodhull Cemetery. Visitation is 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at Peterson-Wallin-Knox Funeral Home in Woodhull. Memorials may be left to ALS Association, Bethany Lutheran Church or AlWood Academic Foundation. Online condolences can be made at www.petersonwallinknox.com.
He was born May 27, 1936 in Geneseo, IL to Walter and Hazel Nelson Nehls. Truman graduated from Geneseo High School in 1954. He attended Cornell College for two years and graduated from Arizona State University where he received his master’s degree. He married Marlene “Deed” Swanson Patterson May 29, 1966 in Peoria, Illinois.
He taught in the Phoenix school system for three years before coming to the AlWood School District in 1962 where he was employed as the guidance counselor, retiring in 1991. After retirement, he worked for Lafferty Construction in Alexis and others where he did painting and finish work.
Truman was confirmed at the Concordia Lutheran Church in Geneseo and was a former member of the Zion Lutheran Church in North Henderson where he served on the church council. He was currently a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Woodhull where he served on the council for many years. Truman was instrumental in starting the elderly housing projects in Alexis and Woodhull. He served on the board of directors at Clover Manor in Woodhull for 22 years and served as secretary/treasurer for 8 years. Truman enjoyed visiting his former students, loved to golf and was quite proud of his six hole-in-ones.
Survivors include his wife, Deed; two daughters: Teresa (Dave) Johnson of Lakeland, Florida; Elisabeth Templeton of Woodstock, Georgia; one son: Michael Patterson of Galesburg, Illinois; one daughter-in-law, Debra Patterson of Alexis, Illinois; 8 grandchildren: Samantha, Cheryl, Melissa, Marci, Megan, Jana, Jarrett and Megan; 7 great grandchildren; one brother: Wendell (Vera) Nehls of Phoenix, Arizona; one niece, Cynthia (William) Lackey of Gold Canyon, Arizona; two nephews, Michael Nehls of Gold Canyon, Arizona and Craig (Jennifer) Nehls of Spotsylvania, Virginia.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, John Patterson and one sister: Joanne.
