Harold William Nolen

, age 98 of Stronghurst, Illinois died at 2:35 A.M. Friday January 14, 2011 in the Oak Lane Nursing & Rehab Center in Stronghurst. He was born November 11, 1912 near Stronghurst, the son of Algert and Esther Hartquist Nolen. On May 31, 1935, he married Lois Livermore in Crown Point, Indiana. She preceded him in death on March 17, 2000. On September 10, 2010, he married Anne Mulholland in Stronghurst.

Mr. Nolen received his Bachelors Of Science degree from the University of Illinois in Champaign in 1934. While at Illinois, he played on the Fighting Illini Football team and was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. Following college, he taught vocational agriculture for two years in Bardolph, IL, and later for thirteen years at Pleasant Plains High School in Pleasant Plains, IL. In 1949, Harold returned to the family farm where he was born, and farmed until his retirement.

He had been a livestock judge at county and state fairs and 4-H competitions. He was a Director Emeritus of the Bank Of Stronghurst and a member of the Oquawka Masonic Lodge. He had served on the Stronghurst School Board, Farm Bureau Board, Henderson County Zoning Board, Henderson County Fair Board, Stronghurst Grain & Merchandise Board, and the Henderson County Soil and Water Conservation Board. He was a member of the Stronghurst Bethel Lutheran Church, where he had served on the Church Council, was a member of the Marks & Marthas, and taught adult Sunday School for many years.

Survivors include his wife, Anne, one son - Richard (Linda) Nolen of Bloomington, IL., one daughter - Mary Ann Nolen of Rockford, IL., five grandchildren- Craig (Elizabeth) Heacock, Heidi (Bill) Young, Marissa (Reid) Bannecker, Laurel Nolen, Julia (Kevin) Cunningham, five great granddaughters, and one sister - Doris Miller of Greeley, CO. He was preceded in death by his first wife and one sister - Lucille Freed.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday January 17, 2011 in the Bethel Lutheran Church in Stronghurst with Pastor Terry Muller officiating. Burial will be in the Stronghurst Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the Bethel Lutheran Church, Stronghurst Ambulance Seervice,or to the charity of the donors choice.