CN logo

powered by FreeFind  

 

Rod Nilsestuen  1948-2010

Cooperative Community
Mourns Passing of Nilsestuen

Rod NilsestuenOn behalf of Cooperative Network, President and CEO Bill Oemichen issued the following statement on the passing of Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Rod Nilsestuen, who died yesterday July 21, 2010:


The State of Wisconsin and the cooperative business movement nationwide have lost a leader whose contributions will live on through the people and institutions grown and strengthened by his work.

It would be hard to name an individual more responsible than Rod Nilsestuen for the vision and focus that have energized and unified cooperatives in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The member co-ops of Cooperative Network and their member-owners have all benefited from his single-minded commitment. And yet, when the time came to take credit for the achievements of these vibrant enterprises, Rod would always position himself at the back of the line, not the front.

A humble man with much to be proud of, it was characteristic of Rod’s unselfishness that he lost his life in the service of others. There is no doubt that those of us who knew and worked with him will always remember him in that way.

Carol Nilsestuen and their three sons are certainly in our thoughts and prayers.

Among Nilsestuen’s many accomplishments as a cooperative leader in Wisconsin and nationally:

  • Then-Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives (currently Cooperative Network) Cooperative Builder Award Winner in 2007
  • National Cooperative Hall of Fame inductee in 2003
  • Founding chair of the National Rural Cooperative Development Task Force
  • Led the unification of the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives and Minnesota Association of Cooperatives which began in 1998, and was finalized in 2004. The organization became Cooperative Network in 2009.
  • Helped create the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, the Wisconsin Corn Promotion and Soybean Marketing Boards, Cooperative Development Services, the Center for Dairy Profitability, Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program, and the Midwest Dairy Marketing Initiative.

PRESS LINKS

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Rod Nilsestuen Memorial Fund, c/o the Nilsestuen Family, 329 South Street, De Forest, WI 53532. Proceeds will be donated to charities close to Rod's heart.


CONTACT US

Staff Phone Numbers and Email Addresses

Our Facebook pages

   
NEWS BRIEFS
Proposed Federal Hours-of-service
Exemption Thanks in Part
to Peterson, Petri
button Value of Cooperatives
Highlighted at Federal Workshop
Bill Local Co-op Leader Appointed
to Federal Advisory Board
Veto Co-ops Hail Raw Milk Veto
Bill Signings Cooperative Network Applauds
Governor for Bill Signings
WISCONSIN OFFICE MOVING!

On Monday August 2, 2010 our new address will be:

Cooperative Network
1 South Pinckney Street, Suite 810
Madison, WI 53703-2869.

New Location

The Wisconsin office will be closed July 28-30, 2010, during the move.

WI Moving!
MINNESOTA CO-OP HEALTH CARE


OVERVIEW

CO-OP HEALTH CARE REFORM

Co-opCare

THE HEALTH CARE & EDUCATION AFFORDABILITY RECONCILIATION ACT of 2010 SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Senate Passes Health Reform Bill and Comparison to the House Bill
Recent Releases and
Archived Health Care Stories
2010 ANNUAL MEETI NG

  NOVEMBER 15- 17, 2010

DETAILS AND REGISTRATION COMING SOON!

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITES

Your cooperative can now post"Jobs Available" here!

CALENDAR
AUGUST                                                            open/close 
10 - MN Electric Co-op Membership Meeting
St. Cloud, MN

AGENDA

11-12 Cooperative Network Board Meeting
Madison, WI

18 - WSTCA
Smart Grid Seminar
DETAILS/REGISTRATION
18 -19 Enrichment Courses
Co-ops 101 &
Director Liability Workshop
LOCATIONS/INFO/REGISTRATION
SEPTEMBER                       open/close 
6 - Labor Day

8 - Farm Supply, Grain and Fuel
Membership Meeting

Duluth, MN
AGENDA

23 - MN. Credit Managers
Network Meeting
26-27 WSTCA Fall Conference
Tundra Lodge, Green Bay, WI.
DETAILS/REGISTRATION
12 MONTH CALENDAR
CO-OPS IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Watch Video
VIEW VIDEO