Representative Gerald (Jerry) E. Cornelius View All Years

JERRY CORNELIUS

Mr. Speaker: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character, and public service of the late Honorable Jerry Cornelius, begs leave to submit the following Memorial:

Jerry Cornelius was born March 28, 1935 in Davenport, Iowa. He graduated from Andrew High School in 1952 and from Iowa State University in 1956 with a bachelor of science degree in animal science. He married Wanda L. Burmahl on June 1, 1958 in Andrew and they had three children. He was a lifelong farmer and lived on a century farm. He was president and co-owner of Cornelius Seed Corn Co. and co-owner of Cornelius Land & Cattle farming operation.

Mr. Cornelius served on the board of directors of the Iowa Seed Association; the Andrew Community School District; Swiss Valley Ag Service; Maquoketa State Bank; Jackson County Farm Bureau and the Jackson County Fair. He was an active member of the Salem Lutheran Church in Andrew, where he was a choir member, organist and a church council member. He was the church treasurer for six years. He received numerous awards, including the Jaycee Outstanding Young Farmer Award in 1970, Iowa Master Farmer Award in 1991, Maquoketa Rotary Outstanding Agribusinnessman in 1993 and the Jackson County Farm Bureau Distinguished Service Award in 1995.

Mr. Cornelius was a member of the Republican Party and represented all of Jackson County and five townships in southern Dubuque County as 34th District State Representative. He served as Vice Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee and was a member of the Education and Economic Development Committee.

Mr. Cornelius died of cancer December 14, 1995 at Finley Hospital in Dubuque. He is survived by his wife, Wanda; three children, Charles (and Chris) of rural Bellevue, Nancy (and Lester) Johnson of rural Bellevue and Julie (and Jay) Jacobi of Bloomington, Illinois; five grandchildren; his mother, Alice Cornelius of Andrew; and a brother, Paul, of Lexington, Kentucky.

A Gerald E. Cornelius Agricultural Scholarship Fund has been established at Iowa State University in honor of his dedication to agriculture and education.

Now Therefore, Be it Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Seventy-seventh General Assembly of Iowa, That in the passing of the Honorable Jerry Cornelius, the State has lost an honored citizen and a faithful and useful public servant, and the House by this Resolution would express it appreciation of his service.

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

Dan Boddicker

Robert Osterhaus

Jerry Welter

Committee