Louis Nail
Jerseyville |
With Louis B. Nail goes the end of an era. He was born October 11, 1922 in a farmhouse on the property where he passed away on Tuesday, August 28, 2018.
During his time he won a scholarship to University of Illinois by being the top eighth grade student in Jersey County. He attended a one-room school house until that time. In high school during his senior year, he won another scholarship for again being the top student in the county at that time. He excelled in sports and was the captain of the football and basketball teams for Jerseyville. Later he received the honor as the Jerseyville Homecoming Spirit in which he was extremely proud. Until now he was the oldest living spirit.
He later helped start up one of the first grade-A milk farms in the county on the family farm. Later, he spent 16 years on the County Board and was the commissioner who was in charge of building the current Jail and Sheriff's Department. He also spent 20 years on the SW Regional planning commission aid in the development of Jersey County.
During all this activity and still farming, he found the time to earn the title of "Forester" for Illinois and planted over 115,000 hardwood trees during 20+ years on the farm property.
He married the former Grace E. Giller on January 24, 1953 in White Hall, IL and she survives. Also surviving are three sons, Matthew Nail of Austin, TX; Thomas and Fernanda Nail of Jerseyville, and Jeffrey and Tonya Nail of Acworth, GA. He is also survived by five grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Leland and Edith (Keehner) Nail and sister, Margaret Lee Pirtle.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 30, 2018 from 4 ? 7 p.m. at Alexander and Gubser Funeral Home in Jerseyville. Burial will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery at a later time. Pastor Joel Lohr will officiate. Memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice.
Alexander Funeral Home
