[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 98 (Monday, June 28, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING DIANNE WALLER-NYMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. DEBORAH L. HALVORSON

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 28, 2010

  Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to the 
life of Dianne Waller-Nyman. Dianne passed away on June 11th after a 
long bout with cancer. Dianne was a dedicated public servant, a 
longtime political activist, and a dear friend whom we will miss 
dearly.
  Dianne was a pioneer in many of her endeavors. She was the first 
woman to serve as a regional manager with the Handy Andy chain of 
hardware stores. Dianne was also the youngest person ever elected as a 
Trustee of Park Forest South, Illinois (later known as University 
Park).
  For those of us who knew Dianne, one of her most admirable traits was 
the passion with which she pursued causes she believed in. For several 
decades, Dianne was active in local politics and government. She served 
several terms on the Park Forest South/University Park Board of 
Trustees and over the years Dianne managed or volunteered for dozens of 
campaigns at the federal, State, and local levels. She was proud to be 
a very early supporter of now President Obama when he ran for the U.S. 
Senate in 2004. Even as Dianne battled cancer towards the end of her 
life, she continued to play a leadership role in local political 
organizations.
  I can also say that I would not be serving as a Member of Congress 
today without Dianne's tireless efforts on my behalf. We often referred 
to Dianne as the ``Sergeant Major'' because we knew we could count on 
her to get the job done.
  Dianne is survived by her loving husband, Arnie, three children--Ron 
Waller, Edie Fortner, and Diana Tomsic, and five grandchildren--Nick, 
Matt, Phillip, Richie, and Kal. My thoughts and prayers are with them 
in this time of loss. We share their sorrow, but we join them in 
honoring the remarkable life of Dianne Waller-Nyman.

                          ____________________