Karl Barkow volunteers for several organizations. He is a Shawano native, graduating from Shawano High School in 1964.
He was drafted into the military but could not serve because of his sight. He was given educational grants by the Army and earned an associate degree in management from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
For 36 years, he was a driver for Prange’s in Green Bay. That is where he met his wife, Jean, who worked there for 35 years. They have been married 30 years and have two children and four grandchildren. They live in the town of Wescott in a home they built themselves.
Karl hunts and fishes, and Jean cans meat and produce from her garden. They used to raise and take their purebred beagles to field trials and now have four females.
“That’s my department,” Jean said. “He hunts and I take care of them.”
Karl also picks up fresh roadkill and gives the meat to whomever needs it.
Q Where do you volunteer and what do you do?
A “At the Shawano Fish and Game Club, our main project is raising and releasing pheasants for Shawano County. We raise and release over 1,000 pheasants every year. I fix fences and bleach brooder houses.
“For the Shawano Gun Club, I help clean up the grounds, put new backing on the targets, and during sighting-in days I’m there two weekends before gun season starts to help hunters. Major renovations have been done at the range.
“The Northeastern Wisconsin Beagle Club has 120 acres on the Suamico River with an electrified fence around it. We train and run trials for the Midwest Dog Trials. We run four classes of dogs.”
“At the Masonic Lodge, one of our major projects is the Shrine Circus in Green Bay. We have seminars for new members. There is a picnic at the Shawano lodge for the community.
“I monitor about 30 bluebird houses for Bluebird Restoration. I send in the results to the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin.
“The White Clay Lake Sportsmen’s Club has a fishing derby once a year. This year it will be on Feb. 13. The funds go to the walleye program. We release 2,000 extended growth walleyes in White Clay Lake. We also raise pheasants.
“In the Walleyes for Tomorrow, our main project started five years ago to get walleyes back in Shawano Lake. Ten of us got together and formed the club. We had three banquets and meat raffles for fundraisers. We keep 10 percent for a rock project. We will put a walleye spawning reef off Rosenow’s Point in Shawano Lake. In August we have a free fishing day for kids.
“I donate and fight for Second Amendment rights in the National Rifle Association.
“The Wisconsin Deerhunters have a banquet every year, and we donate to probably 10 different organizations in Shawano County.”
Q Why do you volunteer for so many organizations?
A “I’m an alcoholic and I went to Bellin for a 28-day program. They said I should have other areas of recreation. So other than tavern time, I have people time and go to meetings.”
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