Norrel Franklin Wallace

Norrel Franklin Wallace, 91, of Carterville, Illinois, passed away peacefully Monday, March 13, 2023, at The Landings in Carbondale, Illinois. He was born October 5, 1931, in Mineral Wells, Texas, to Grover Richard and Mary Opal (Grantham) Wallace. He married Nancy Pauline Rivers on June 7, 1959, in Canadian, Texas.

Norrel is survived by his wife of 64 years, Nancy Wallace; brother, Leon Wallace (Nancy); children, Robin Sauer, April Ianiro (Steve), and Benjamin Wallace; grandchildren, Jeremy and Justin Sauer, Stefany Alexander (Tim), Hannah Foltz (Gabe), and Rachael Ianiro; great grandchildren, Aubree and Jackson Alexander, and beloved extended family members.

Norrel honorably served our country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict.

He earned a wildlife biology degree from Texas A&M. Directly after college, he worked for Texas Fish & Game for eleven years and then for the US Fish & Wildlife Service the remainder of his 34-year career. Norrel enjoyed working with wildlife and improving their habitats. Among his achievements were developing a recovery plan for the endangered red wolf in the southern states, as an advisor to congress member Harold T Johnson for two years in Washington DC, as a complex manager of a wetland’s preservation program in Minnesota, and on a three-man team to assist the Polish government with wetlands evaluation and preservation. His career with the US Fish & Wildlife Service culminated as the Manager for the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. He earned an award from the Fish & Wildlife Service for being one of the top refuge managers in the nation.

A good-natured and lovable man, he entertained family and friends with stories about all the humorous and memorable events in his life. There were many! His personal interests included golfing with friends, teaching adult Sunday school, volunteering with Nancy (sea turtle project in Trinidad and repairing houses in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina), woodworking and furniture making, fishing, hunting, gardening, and making maple syrup in the Minnesota woods near Ottertail Lake.

Norrel is loved, missed, and in our hearts forever. If you choose to make a charitable gift in his honor, please consider donating to the activities program at The Landings in Carbondale.

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