Volunteers recognized for service to Charles City

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

Jeremy Heyer is paying it forward.

Whether it’s his involvement and work done with the Lions Club, St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church or other causes, Heyer is making an impact in Charles City.

“It’s kind of like a pebble gets tossed in calm water and sends out those ripples. One good deed, somebody sees that or benefits from it – that may affect 5 to 10 different people or more,” said Heyer. “Then they’re apt to do something and it just keeps spreading.”

The same can be said for volunteer extraordinaire Susan Jacob, who consistently donates her time for a positive cause after retiring from teaching 14 years ago in Charles City.

“When I retired I became a full-time volunteer,” said Jacob.

Jacob and Heyer received the top honors at the Community Volunteer Recognition Awards held Friday morning at the Charles City Senior Center, hosted by the Charles City Area Chamber of Commerce and Community Revitalization.

Heyer was honored as Man of the Year and Jacob was bestowed with the distinction of Woman of the Year.

All told, 19 awards were given out to individuals who sacrificed their time and hard work to make Charles City a better place to live.

“America’s Hometown” definitely leads by example, according to Mark Wicks, Charles City community development director.

Wicks, who helped hand out the awards Friday, said Charles City is ranked second among 54 Main Street Iowa communities in volunteer service hours dedicated since 1996.

“We were No. 1 for a long time. Dubuque finally caught us,” said Wicks. Dubuque has a population more than seven times the size of Charles City

Heyer and Jacob each supported and organized trips to Imagine Missions in Haiti, trips that help transform lives at an orphanage in the third-world country. Heyer has been to Haiti to help with the school there three times and is headed back with Jacob this December.

“It’s neat to see that evolution of that orphanage at the school and how lives are changed there,” he said.

Heyer, a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Charles City, has put in countless hours helping Charles City Comet athletics grow and succeed. Heyer’s involvement with Boy Scout Troop 1078 has also impacted young adults in a positive way.

“Volunteerism is you just do it,” said Heyer. “It’s not about what can I gain out of it, who can see me do things or whatever else.”

In addition to her own involvement in the Haiti mission trips, Jacob, who has been married to her husband, Carl, for 45 years, has also traveled to Guatemala on mission trips.

Jacob has been an integral member of the City Improvement Association and has been very active in the 19th Amendment Society. She has also volunteered a large portion of her time at the Charles City Elks Lodge No. 418.

Jacob said she enjoys working with everyone in Charles City to make the bonds within the community stronger.

“This community has always been one that pulls together,” she said.

“It takes all of us to make it happen,” said Heyer.

2018-19 Community Volunteer Recognition AwardsFriday, April 26, 2019

Charles City Senior Center

Hosted by Community Revitalization and the Charles City Area Chamber of Commerce

• Caught in the Act Award I — Charles City Junior Varsity Softball Team.
• Hometown Hero Award — Angie Reams.
• Washington Elementary — Sue Davis.
• Lincoln Elementary — Donn and Cherie Schafer.
• Middle School — Dave Bahe.
• High School — Gene Martin.
• Caught in the Act II — Sue and Jason McDonald Family (Devon, Josh, Kendra, Annabelle and Jaxson).
• TLC: The Learning Center — Grandma Betty High.
• Caught in the Act III — Diane and Dan Meyer.
• Charles City Senior Center — Bev Grube.
• Caught in the Act IV — Dennis Donovan.
• Charles City Foster Grandparents Program — Toni Pieper.
• Caught in the Act V — Dale Milligan and Tim Chandler.
• Community Revitalization Volunteer of the Year — Steve Schiller.
• Community Revitalization Honor Club — Norma Breitbach.
• Charles City Area Chamber of Commerce Volunteer Business of the Year — Cambrex.
• Charles City Area Chamber of Commerce President’s Award — Tom and Julie Bock.
• Chamber Woman of the Year — Susan Jacob.
• Chamber Man of the Year — Jeremy Heyer.