In December 2009, the wetland at the heart of Lover's Pond Nature Preserve was renamed in honor of James "Gene" Korando, a lifelong resident of the area, farmer, avid outdoorsman, and duck hunter. Born on May 26, 1925, on Kaskaskia Island, he came from a family that had settled in the Mississippi bottomlands in the mid-1800s and grew up exploring the surrounding woods and waterways. With his wife Pearl, he raised seven children and farmed there, and Lover's Pond was one of his favorite hunting spots. He became well known locally and nationally for his handmade duck calls and his duck soup. In 2009, the State of Illinois honored him by renaming Lover's Pond for him, citing his dedication to duck hunting, his skill and generosity with his duck calls, and his big heart. His duck soup became a much-anticipated feature of the St. Ann's Annual Parish Picnic, where fans bought 160 gallons at the 2009 event, and the recipe was also chosen for the Ducks Unlimited Cookbook. James "Gene" Korando died on September 29, 2010.