Mike Ascher is the voucher writer for the Salvation Army in Shawano.
Ascher was born in Shawano. A graduate of Shawano High School, he earned a degree in liberal arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s in history from the University of Missouri in Columbia. He returned to Shawano and worked at Shawano Municipal Utilities and Amway. He taught at Sacred Heart Catholic School for 12 years, was executive director for Big Brothers, held several other jobs in Shawano and became Main Street manager for Shawano and Two Rivers.
Ascher then was ordained a minister and served at Zion in Bonduel and Salem in Red River, Swedish United Methodist in Siren and Lewis Memorial Methodist in Lewis. He suffered kidney failure in 2008. In August 2009, he got a kidney from his son, Karl.
He was an alderman for the city of Shawano and was on commissions and committees. For 10 years, Ascher was part of 48 productions at the Mielke Arts Center.
Ascher and his wife, Candy, a minister at United Methodist Church in Oneida, have been married 27 years. Between them they have five children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Ascher does a lot of volunteering for Church on the Hill. where he is a member.
Q What does the Salvation Army do?
A “It’s to help people in times of need. It’s not long-term help, but a bridge to social services where they can get long-term help.”
Q What kind of help do you provide?
A “We help with lodging. If you’re traveling and your car breaks down, you can get a voucher at the police station. State troopers can write vouchers, too. We have a number of homeless people who came in this week. We can get rooms for them at the Wisconsin House. We help people with rental assistance. Many landlords will accept our vouchers. I’ve had husbands and wives both working, but with their minimum wage jobs, if an emergency comes up, they need help. We give assistance with utilities. If we have a good year with the Red Kettle Campaign, we can help more people.”
Q How long have you been helping?
A “I’ve been the voucher writer for six years. SAFPARC lets us use a room for no rent. I am retiring. My wife is retiring on June 30, and she has a 13,000-mile trip planned.”
Q Why do you volunteer?
A “Because things need to be done. When I was in the eighth grade, my mother, Rose, worked at the county hospital. One Saturday a month, they had dances. My sister, Rita, would get up and go dance and I had to, too. I complained to my dad, Felix, that no one else in my class had to do it. He said, ‘No one from your class is eating at this table.’”
Q How can people help?
A “Every so often, someone comes in and says ‘Thank you’ because they have a job and an apartment. When they ask how they can pay back, I say ring bells. People have left money in their wills. Checks need to be made payable to the Shawano Salvation Army, or it will go to London, England.”
