Karen Klegin and Patty Retzlaff work together on the silent auction items for the Sacred Heart parish picnic.
Klegin was born and raised in Clintonville, graduating from Clintonville High School. She earned a degree in teaching from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and a master’s in reading from UW-Stevens Point. Klegin was a reading specialist for 22 years for the Manawa School District before retiring.
She and her husband, Fuzzy, have been married 43 years and live in the town of Belle Plaine. They have two children and two grandchildren.
Retzlaff was born in Darboy, graduating from Kimberly High School. She earned a degree in elementary education from UW-Stevens Point.
For two years Retzlaff was a Jesuit volunteer corps teacher in Montana at the St. Labre Indian Mission. She then taught for three years at St. Anthony School in Neopit before taking time off to raise her three sons.
Retzlaff finished her career at Keshena Primary School, where she taught for 25 years.
She and her husband, Gary, have been married 36 years and live in the town of Belle Plaine. They have four grandchildren.
Q How did you get started helping with the silent auction?
A “We offered to take over the silent auction because we had some ideas how to do it,” Retzlaff said.
“We’ve been doing it for six years,” Klegin said. “They had the silent auction one year before we started. It’s really fun to see what people bring in.”
Q How many items do you have?
A “Our goal is to have 100 baskets,” Klegin said. “Usually people bring things in a bag. If it doesn’t sell we put it out again, and if it still doesn’t sell it goes to the church rummage sale. We’ve been pretty lucky. We used to work at the center, now we’re in the gym.”
“We usually do a lot of basket collecting throughout the year,” Retzlaff said. “If people just bring stuff in we will wrap it for them.”
Q What kind of items do you have?
A “We get gift certificates,” Retzlaff said. “We’ve had Packer tickets. Because we don’t do the oral auction any more, those items become part of the silent auction. At the silent auction I look for things to give to people for gifts. People can find something to give to somebody.”
“We usually make about $4,000,” Klegin said. “The big bags for wrapping come from Town and Country Cleaners. Dan Zierden donates them every year. The smaller bags I pick up from the Dollar Store.”
“That’s part of doing this,” Retzlaff said. “We pick up whatever we need and donate it.”
Q Why do you volunteer?
A “For me I’m only home during the summer,” said Klegin, who watches her grandchildren during the school year. “So I feel I should do something for the church.”
“It’s a fun project,” Retzlaff said. “And it gives me something to look forward to doing.”
The silent auction items, which include a Green Bay Packers hassock and Terry Redlin print, can be viewed in the gym after the 4:30 p.m. Mass on Saturday, Aug. 10, and again on Sunday, Aug. 11.
Breakfast will be served from 7:30-11:30 a.m. Sunday.
There will be a Polka Mass at 10 a.m., with music by the Maroszek Brothers, who will play under the tent until 3:15 p.m.
The picnic also includes kids games, crafts, bake sale, car show, book fair and food. Raffle tickets are currently being sold, with the drawing at 3:30 p.m. for prizes ranging from $50 to $2,000.
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