Joel Brunsvold

Joel Brunsvold was an Illinois politician who served as a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives and later as the Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Early life Joel Brunsvold was born February 26, 1942, in Mason City, Iowa. Brunsvold's family later moved Wisconsin before settling in Rock Island where he graduated from Rock Island High School in 1960. He went on to study at Augustana College, where he earned a bachelor of arts and set multiple football records while playing for the Augustana Vikings that still stand today. During his last semester, he married his wife Barbara L. Bashaw. In the following session, Senator Jacobs proposed legislation to rename the Department of Natural Resources's headquarters after Joel Brunsvold.