Illa Mae (Nelson) Purl , originally from Knoxville, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 30th, surrounded by the love of her family.

She was born on April 22, 1942, in rural Gilson, Illinois, the daughter of Kenneth D. and Evelyn (Wilson) Nelson. She graduated from Knoxville High School in 1960 and married the love of her life, Marshall Purl , on December 4th of that same year. Illa and Marshall later made their home in Geneseo, Illinois, where she built a life filled with family, friendships, and many cherished days on the golf course.

In July 1967, Illa began working at the Geneseo Telephone Company, where she dedicated 38 years before retiring in 2005.

A passionate and talented golfer, Illa could often be found with a club in her hand and a smile on her face. Whether playing a round with friends or watching the pros on TV, golf was her happy place. One of her proudest moments came on March 1, 2024, when she achieved a hole-in-one at King's Ridge Golf Course.

Above all else, Illa loved her family deeply. She was a devoted mother to Cari and Kevin , and a proud grandmother to Sarah , Matt , Lauren , and Asaaryia . Her legacy continues through her great-grandchildren— Blake , Selah , Margot , and Maddox —each of whom brought her immeasurable joy.

Following Marshall's passing in 2012, Illa relocated to Clermont, Florida, in 2019, where she enjoyed retirement, sunshine, and a slower pace of life.

Illa will be remembered for impeccable style, her warmth, humor, competitive spirit, and the steady, unconditional love she offered to everyone blessed to know her. She is survived by her daughter Cari Arnold of Clermont, Florida; son Kevin (Cindy) Purl of Annawan, Illinois; grandchildren Sarah (Dan) Williams of Naperville, Illinois, Matt (Jessie) Purl of Austin, Minnesota, Lauren (Zach) Posey of Plano, Illinois, and Asaaryia Purl ; great-grandchildren Blake and Selah Williams and Margot and Maddox Posey ; and her sister Shirley Karpowicz of Ft. Myers, Florida.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Marshall Purl ; her parents; her brother Dennis Nelson ; her sister Marilyn Sargent ; and her son-in-law Bob Arnold .

An open-house memorial gathering will take place on December 30th from 2–4 p.m. at the King's Ridge Clubhouse in Clermont, with a second gathering planned for January in Geneseo (date to be announced). Private graveside services will occur later in the spring. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in Illa's name to Cornerstone Hospice in Clermont, Florida https://cornerstonehospice.org.