Endowments

Warren Waack was born July 21, 1946 DeWitt, Iowa. He graduated from Central Community High School in DeWitt in 1965. Warren served in the U. S. Air Force from January 1967 – January 1971 in which most of that time was served in Vietnam and other locations overseas. After being honorably discharged, he returned to

“Senora”Anne Volkman dedicated her life to education. She taught Spanish at Central Community High School for over a decade. As a teacher she exuded enthusiasm for not only learning a foreign language, but understanding other cultures as well. In her teaching career she took hundreds of students out of the country for the first time.

William “Bill” Turnis was born February 17, 1946 at Monticello, Iowa. He graduated from the former St. Paul High School in Worthington Iowa in 1964. Bill served in the U.S. Army from 1965 – 68 in which time he served a tour of duty in Vietnam. After being honorably discharged, he attended the University of

“Any job worth doing is worth doing well” was a statement Carolyn Hilmers Ruggeberg said many times during her lifetime. She said it to her sons and students at Welton and Ekstrand Elementary School. Carolyn was the first secretary at Welton and Ekstrand schools. Education and children’s needs were always Carolyn’s first priority. Carolyn Hilmers

At nearly 90 years of age, Henry Pelham of DeWitt stands behind his advice to students: “Math is something you’ll need; get all the math you can.” In fact, Pelham believes so strongly in the importance of an education in mathematics, he is willing to put his money where his mouth is. Pelham recently made

Bob Parrott was publisher of the DeWitt Observer for 41 years, until his death in 1996. Raised in Wheaton, Illinois, he graduated from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, during which time he met Phyllis Null of Monticello. Phyllis graduated from Monticello High School and taught for a few years in a one-room schoolhouse in Jones

Wilma J. Owen has been a part of the DeWitt Community all of her life, although born and raised in Follets, Iowa. DeWitt has been her place of education and Christian Life with Grace Lutheran Church. Wilma married James D. Owen Jr., in DeWitt on July 24, 1957 and they were happily married for almost

William (Bill) Homrighausen spent his high school years in journalism classes and as a reporter for the Clinton Herald newspaper working for 50 cents a week. The Clinton Herald stories included a variety of subject pertinent to the times and the local high school football games. This teenager wrote, then rode his bike downtown to

Helen Jeanne Krause was born in August of 1917. While attending Iowa State University she met and married Donald Helble in July of 1941. Helen Jeanne graduated from Maquoketa High School, and Marycrest College with a degree in elementary education. Mrs. Helble was an outstanding fourth grade teacher for 25 years in the Central DeWitt

(8/5/86-3/25/00)“When our special needs daughter was born, we were concerned that our local school district might not be able to accommodate her. We were thrilled when the district agreed to accept Lyndsey into Ekstrand’s special education program. Yet, we recognized the high cost of adaptive equipment, and realized that state and local funding might not

Fred Gerdes (1928 – 2013) Doris Gerdes (1930 – 2014)Fred and Doris Gerdes, both born and raised in South Dakota, moved to De Witt in 1956. They were both involved in school and community activities while raising their four boys. Fred served on the Central Community School Board, was a former member of the Saber

Barbara K. Dull (1927-1992) Max J.Dull (1926-2005)Barbara and Max Dull moved to Dewitt in the fall of 1961. Max moved his family to become and agency manager for the Farm Bureau. He later became an independent insurance agent and sold insurance for thirty years. With five young children, Barbara worked as a homemaker and mother, volunteering in