Barb Teetzen is a 4-H leader, and she and her family volunteer at St. Jakobi Church in the town of Richmond.
She is a Shawano native, graduating from Shawano High School. Teetzen worked at Montgomery Ward, Wisconsin Finance and J.C. Penney before beginning work in the personnel office at the Shawano County courthouse in 1977. Teetzen then worked for 16 years in the University of Wisconsin-Extension office. She retired eight years ago.
Teetzen enjoys working in their flower and vegetable gardens along with scrapbooking.
She loves to sew, doing alterations for items including bridal gowns.
Teetzen and her husband, Bill, who is also retired, have been married 52 years.
They have three sons and eight grandchildren. The couple grew up and have lived in the town of Richmond all of their lives.
They have a cabin three miles from the Wisconsin/Michigan border where they fish, hunt, snowmobile, and pick berries.
The St. Jakobi annual pancake breakfast will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday in the parish hall. They will be serving all-you-can eat potato and wheat pancakes, porkies, cheese, applesauce, pies, coffee and milk. The cost is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and younger eat for free.
The Men’s Club started the breakfast over 50 years ago. When they needed the wives help to make the pies, it became a congregational event. Last year they served 600 people more than 100 pies, 500 pounds of potatoes and 13 gallons of maple syrup.
Q Where do you volunteer?
A “I have been a 4-H leader for 20-plus years. At the fair Bill and I have been taking care of the town of Richmond vegetable booth. That stems back from years ago when Bill’s dad and grandfather took vegetables to the fair and state fair. I have been a member of St. Jakobi Church all my life.”
Q What do you do for each of them?
A “In the Wolf River 4-H Club I am a project leader, mostly with clothing. At St. Jakobi I’ve been a member of the Altar Guild since it started. We set up communion and take care of the candles and paraments (cloths). I have made and worked on many banners. We usually get ideas from the pastor. Bill and I have been singing in the choir since we were young adults. Both Bill and my parents were in the choir. I am also one of the funeral coordinators. We take turns serving the funerals. Bill is the chairman for renovating the parsonage and headed up the committee for building the storage shed.”
The Teetzens’ sons are very involved in the church. Brad sings in the choir, doing many solos, and he is the congregational president. Bruce and his wife, Michelle, are on the pancake committee. Bryan and his wife, Melissa, are on the board of education, and she is a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher.
For the pancake breakfast, Barb will be cutting pies and Bill will be peeling potatoes. “We’re noted for having the best pancakes in the area and we really don’t have a recipe,” Barb said.
Q Why do you volunteer?
A “I like working with people and I like to do my share. If I’m a member of something, I need to be active.”
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