A working man

Lutheran, The, Mar 2005 by Favre, Jeff

Retiree gains recognition for saying 'yes'

Writer Studs Terkel has championed the working-class citizen for decades. His name is synonymous with everyday heroes. So it's appropriate that the Illinois Humanities Council uses his name to honor individuals for their volunteer work, just as it's appropriate for Carl Volkmann to receive the Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award.

Volkmann, a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Springfield, 111., was presented with a bronze medal by Springfield Mayor Timothy J. Davlin.

"I had been somewhat active volunteering when I was working, but I decided when I took retirement [as director of the city's Lincoln Library] at age 59 that I should do more," Volkmann said. "After that I pretty much said 'yes'to everything."

He has served as archivist of the ELCA Central/ Southern Illinois Synod, president of the Sangamon County Historical Society and secretary of the Mayor's Senior Citizens Commission of Springfield.

Much of Volkmann 's volunteer work has dealt with the arts. He's been a member of the Symphony Chorus of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra is one of more than a dozen organizations that Volkmann has assisted since retiring.

It was before an orchestra concert in November that he received the award from Davlin, who nominated him, an honor only Illinois mayors are allowed. "It was such a special place and time to receive the award," Volkmann said.

Although Volkmann-the son of a Lutheran pastor and graduate of Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa-opted for teaching history and then working in library sciences instead of becoming a pastor, his faith has played a central role in assisting others.

"I'm not the kind of person who goes door-to-door trying to get people to come to my church," he said. "Instead I use my leadership skills and my experience to help people in whatever way I can. I've tried to reach out to people by being an active voice in my community."

Stuart Embury, Bethel, Holdredge, Neb., was given the national Humanitarian Award by the American Academy of Family Physicians for his work in Haiti. The award represents his exceptional achievements as a family medicine physician. He has traveled nearly 30 times to Haiti, taking with him a complete surgical team, as well as a chaplain, seminarians and lay people.

Brad Hall, organist of Grace, Springfield, Ohio, won the Ruth and Paul Manz Organ Scholarship, a $1,500 award established by Mount Olive, Minneapolis, and administered by the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He is a senior studying for his degree in music at Wittenberg University, Springfield.

Tim and Eric Pollitz, New Creation, Ottawa, Ohio, led Ottawa-Glandorf High School to a Division II State basketball championship in 2004, the school's first. The twins each scored more than 1,000 points in their high-school careers; they are now attending Miami [Ohio] University.

Eleanor Waha, Bethlehem, Grand Marais, Minn., received the President's Call to Service Award from the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. In her 80s, she volunteers at her local historical society museum, the Cook County Fair, the Grand Marais Senior Center and the North Shore Care Center. She received a congratulatory letter from President Bush.

David Eitrheim, Our Savior, Menomonie, Wis., was named Family Physician of the Year 2004 by the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians. The award recognizes a physician who exemplifies the tradition of the "family doctor." Eitrheim has been a family doctor in Menomonie for 17 years.

100 plus

107: Charles Otteson, First, Staples, Minn. 106: Bertha Koester, St. John, Danforth, 111. 705. Louella Moe, Central, Minneapolis. 104: Clara Brian Lund, Grace, Eau Claire, Wis. 103: Edna Heyer, Concordia, Superior, Wis. 102: Aubrey Franklin Addy, Reformation, Columbia, S.C.; Xelpha Drinkwine, Our Savior, Superior, Wis.; Mabel Kelly Williams, Christ the King, Columbia, S.C. 101: Luella Burtness, Trinity, Santa Barbara, Calif.; Leo Hildebrand, St. Paul, Villa Park, 111.; Lydia Janssen,Fellowship, Tulsa, OkIa.; Bertha Reiger, St. Andrew/St. Luke, Wishek, N.D. 700: Ruth Johnson, I m m a n u e l , Venice, Fla.; Ella Klatt, Immanuel, La Vernia, Texas; Zelma Kluttz, Cross of Christ, Concord, N.C.; Mildred Lucke, St. Andrew, Los Angeles; Astrid Lundin,Emanuel, Hartford, Conn.; ChrisMostad, First, Minot, N.B.; Esther Nystrom,Immanuel, Boise, Idaho; Selma Probst, Peace, New Braunfels, Texas; Hertha Minona Roeder, St. Paul, Portland, Ore.; Esther Schultz, Immanuel, Webster, N. Y. ; Elsie Semrau, Bethlehem, Lansing, Mich.; Leonard Slette, First, Mahnomen, Minn.; Ann Somdahl, Lake Park, Lark Park, Minn.; Arline Walck, St. Peter, Sanborn, N.Y.; OlgaWiebe, Lord of Life, Clovis, Calif.

Share your good news of accomplishments and awards in "Faces." Send to: kathleen.kastilahn@ thelutheran.org or" faces," The Lutheran, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631-4183.

Jeff Favre

Favre is a contributing editor of The Lutheran.