Judy Zeitler volunteers for Special Olympics, Delta Kappa Gamma and St. James Lutheran Church.
Zeitler was raised in Plymouth and graduated from Plymouth High School. She earned a degree in elementary education from Lakeland College and began teaching in Shawano. For nearly 20 years she taught fourth and fifth grade and also substituted at Shawano and neighboring school districts. Zeitler retired in 2005.
She was married to Edgar Zeitler, who taught choral music at Shawano High School for 21 years before his death in 1987.
Zeitler has two children and one granddaughter. Zeitler lives in Shawano, where she enjoys reading and making her own greeting cards.
Q Where do you volunteer?
A “I volunteer for Special Olympics, Delta Kappa Gamma and at St. James Lutheran Church.”
Q What do you do for each one?
A “For Special Olympics, I coach track and field in the spring and volleyball in the fall. Track and field starts in March and goes through June. Volleyball is on Monday evening at Shawano Community Middle School. Special Olympics is practically full time starting in August. I help with the bowling program and with the Free Spirit bowling on Friday afternoons. Free Spirit is a special league for the developmentally disabled. There are about 60 bowlers. I collect funds from the bowlers. In Shawano, we bowl at Lakeshore Lanes. They have been wonderful to us. Bowlers need to get a first, second or third place to go on. Ashwaubenon is where we have district and regional tournaments. After the regional, they can go to the state tournament in Weston if they qualify. I provide transportation for the Free Spirit group. I enjoy it, and I know they are appreciative to get transportation.
“I volunteer at church for various organizations. I’m a Stephen minister. We visit members of the church who are ill or in a nursing home. We give them encouragement and contact from the church family. I’m a member of the Tabitha Society. We serve for funerals and meet once a month. I also provide transportation for the Fun and Fellowship group that is open to citizens who are developmentally disabled.
“The Delta Kappa Gamma Society supports education in various capacities. DKG is a sorority of either active or retired female teachers who are interested in supporting education. I have been a member since 2002. I joined when I was teaching. We buy books for parents of newborns to encourage reading at an early age. Some of the things we sponsor are young author programs and college scholarships.”
Q Why do you volunteer?
A “I’m appreciative of what the community has done for us and has been supportive of my family through the years. I have a daughter who is developmentally disabled, and there’s always a need for volunteers.”
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