ELMER ELLSWORTH HAGLER JORGENSEN

Jan. 9, 1933 – Aug. 8, 2016

My father, Elmer, passed away this past summer. He was a third-generation mason contractor (bricklayer), but was mostly known for his love of books and records. When I say music, it was not the typical Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley of his time. When I was young and my friends would come over, they would have to listen to John Philip Sousa marches, Bach or Tchaikovsky. My mother even said that when they were dating he would “woo” her by bringing over his record player and playing classical music. It must have worked, for he and Marge were married 62 years.

He had five daughters, so he had no one to carry on the family business. But his work lives on in the arched brick monument that stands in the union tent located on the southeast corner of the Illinois State Fairgrounds. He was a mad scientist, always tinkering around in his basement, and managed to complete a self-designed master’s in energy systems from Sangamon State University. He was definitely a man before his time.

But he was probably known best as the “book” man. He could buy a book for a quarter and turn around and sell it for $10. He had his own personal collection that included hundreds of books. He was very generous, both with his time and knowledge, and volunteered many hours at the Salvation Army in their book section. And if he knew there was a certain subject or type of book you were interested in, you could count on him to send quite a few your way.

If you remember Elmer, toast him with a cup of coffee while reading one of your favorite books and listening to classical music. We love him and miss him.

–Helen (Jorgensen) Moose, middle daughter