Since the inception of the Living Treasures program in 2001, the Shawano County’s Aging Unit has honored 80 people, including five people who joined the list Tuesday.
The event at the Fellman Center honored Gloria Bowman, Agnes Burazin, Bill Calkins, Lynn Wickesburg and Louise Zahn for their volunteerism and contributions to their communities.
“Volunteers do not necessarily have time, they just have the heart,” said Holly Konitzer, social worker with the Department of Aging.
The Aging Unit receives an average of 15 applicants per year for Living Treasures awards, Konitzer said.
“We are just happy to have them and recognize people every year,” Konitzer said. “Everything that they have done to make this society better and encourage future generations to volunteer should be honored.
“Every year, we have a different variety of people added. It’s amazing at all of the contributions that they do for the community.”
Bowman taught in Wittenberg in the 1960s. She volunteered with the Girl Scouts and Parent-Teacher Organization, and made numerous quilts for missions. She continues to contribute at the Homme Home for the Aging, where husband Stuart resides.
Burazin and her husband, John, were licensed foster parents. Agnes Burazin also knitted and crocheted, donating the items she made to needy families within the community and to her church. She served on the Birnamwood Village Board on multiple occasions.
Calkins spent much of his working life in Chicago, but has given much time to the community since returning to Tigerton. He also welcomed his parents to reside with him. Calkins continues to volunteer at Alpha House in Wittenberg and at the Senior Center in Tigerton.
“He always tells a lot of stories and jokes,” said granddaughter Laura Biehn, who brought two of her children to the event. “As children, he played the guitar for us. We were always singing.”
After her mother died when Wickesburg was a student at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, she helped raise her younger siblings. During her time in Cecil she became the church organist at Immanuel Lutheran in White Clay Lake. Wickesburg remains active by tending to her garden and spending time with her grandchildren.
Zahn contributed to Lutheran World Relief by donating her quilts to families in need. She fulfilled her passion of being a teacher by offering her services at churches throughout the area, including St. James Lutheran Church, where she taught Bible study.
The Living Treasures presentation takes place in May because it is national Older Americans Month.
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