Allen Wayne Nelson, 70, Virginia, died Sunday, January 29, 2023, at Springfield Memorial Hospital with his wife at his side.

He was born January 25, 1953, in Virginia, the son of Halan and Helen (Baumgardner) Nelson. He married Mary Ann Eveland on May 26, 1978, in Beardstown, and she survives. He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Dave Valenti and Frank Nelson.

Wayne was a graduate of Virginia High School. At eighteen, he became the supervisor at the Virginia Water Plant. He joined the Illinois Rural Water Association (IRWA) staff in June of 1994 until May 29, 2015. He had been responsible for IRWA’s USEPA-funded training program which provided training to water system operators and decision makers, both in the classroom as well as during on-site visits to their water systems. He had also been an integral part of planning conferences and emergency response training throughout the state. Wayne had provided all types of technical assistance, mainly to assist systems with compliance issues. He served on the Water Supply Operation Advisory Board. He retired as supervisor at the Curran Gardner Township Public Water District in 2022.  Wayne held a Class A public water supply license as well as a Class 2 wastewater operator license. He was proud to have served fifty years in the water treatment industry.

Wayne served on the Virginia County Board for twelve years. He loved his animals and whenever traveling on the road, he had a knack for rescuing cats and one special beagle dog.

Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, at the Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Virginia, with burial at Walnut Ridge Cemetery. A visitation will be held 4-6 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to P.A.W.S. of Jacksonville. Condolences may be left online at buchanancody.com.