One of the highlights of the Grand Marais Lions Club Fisherman’s Picnic is the naming of the Senior Citizens of the Year and Citizen of the Year. On Saturday, August 3, Lion Rosemary Lamson called John and Mary McElevey to the Harbor Park stage to be honored as the 2013 Senior Citizens of the Year. Lamson also announced that the 2013 Citizen of the Year was Rod Wannebo. See more about the Fisherman’s Picnic honorees on page A3.
From the opening of Fisherman’s Picnic 2013 at the Grand Marais Lioness Buffet dinner on Wednesday, July 31 to the finale grand prize drawing on Sunday, August 4, picnic-goers were busy. There is something for everyone at Fisherman’s Picnic and this year the weather cooperated and made being outside for the many events a genuine pleasure.
One of the highlights of the festival is the naming of Citizen and Senior Citizen of the Year and under the bluest of skies, Grand Marais Lion Rosemary Lamson gathered community members to the stage in Harbor Park to announce the 2013 honorees.
Mary and John McElevey named Senior Citizens of the Year
The only surprise for the audience in hearing that John and Mary McElevey of Grand Marais had been named Senior Citizens of the Year was—what took so long?
Lamson read the long list of community involvement for the McEleveys, who have came to Cook County 53 years ago, shortly after they were married. They both worked hard, Mary as kindergarten and special education teacher and John as pharmacist at Village Drug Store. In spite of being busy with full careers and raising three girls—Janie, Lynn and LeeAnn—the McEleveys have always been involved in community organizations and events.
Frithjof Rodney “Rod” Wannebo was named 2013 Citizen of the Year and received a ride in a snazzy convertible in the Fisherman’s Picnic parade on Sunday, August 4. Wannebo was recognized for his role in establishing the Cook County Tennis Association as well as his service as a member of the School District 166 school board.
They are both active members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Marais, with Mary serving as Julefest coordinator for 35 years.
They are both active Lion and Lioness club members; in fact they were seen working just days before the Senior Citizen award was given—John selling Lions Club raffle tickets, Mary overseeing the Lioness Buffet Dinner.
The McEleveys have also been involved in the Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star, the Hospital Auxiliary, the Cook County School Board, Devil Track Lake Property Owners Association and so much more.
As they made their way to the stage, there was heartfelt applause and a lot of hugs for this couple that has truly earned this honor.
Danny Berka of Grand Marais was in Harbor Park when it was time to draw the ticket for the $10,000 Fisherman’s Picnic grand prize and Lions Mark Sandbo and Mike Carlson recruited him to help. Berka took the job seriously, thoughtfully sorting through the ticket bin before picking the ticket belonging to Bonnie Goebel of Burnsville. Goebel was not in Grand Marais but will collect her winnings as soon as she is back up the shore.
Rod Wannebo recognized as Citizen of the Year
The award for Citizen of the Year went to a very busy and productive man, Frithjof Rodney Wannebo of Grand Marais. Wannebo grew up in Cook County and left to pursue his career. After serving in the U.S. Army for three years, teaching school and serving as a school administrator in Department of Defense Schools for 30-plus years and serving as associate dean of graduate studies at Mount St. Mary’s College for several years, Wannebo retired and came home to Cook County in 1992.
Retirement did not slow him down and shortly after moving back to Grand Marais, Wannebo became a member of the Cook County Tennis Association, eventually becoming a representative on the U.S. Tennis Association Northern Section. He served on the USTA board from 2003 to 2008. In a letter of recommendation for the award of Citizen of the Year, Gene Glader, Tennis Association president, wrote that Wannebo was instrumental in founding the Cook County Tennis Association. Glader noted that Wannebo worked toward the reconstruction and expansion of Cook County’s tennis courts. Glader wrote, “Frankly, without Rod’s involvement, the community would not have the quality tennis facilities and programs we now enjoy.”
In addition to his work with the tennis association, Wannebo has served on the School District 166 school board twice, where he has been up to the challenge of declining school enrollment and budget problems.
Another letter of support added that Wannebo aspires to make our community better, healthier, happier and more well rounded. The writer added, “And maybe most importantly, Rod doesn’t just do all this hard work on his own—he inspires many of the rest of us to work hard right along with him.”
And the winner is…
For at least a month before the Fisherman’s Picnic officially begins, Grand Marais Lions can be seen selling tickets to the Fisherman’s Picnic Big Raffle with its $10,000 grand prize. At 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 4, a crowd gathered in Harbor Park to see the Lions pull the winning ticket. Danny Berka of Grand Marais was invited to draw and he thoughtfully rummaged through the drum packed full of purple tickets. There was a hush as he turned over the ticket to Lion Mark Sandbo who read the name of the winner— Bonnie Goebel of Burnsville, Minn.—Goble was not present but will claim her $10,000 prize the next time she visits her cabin in Cook County.
Winning $1,000 was Denny Olson of Mesa, Arizona, $500 was Jorey Schliep of Schroeder.
More than 150 other prizes, large and small, were also part of the raffle. To find out if you won something, stop by Sven & Ole’s Pizza or Joynes Department Store to look at the list of prize winners or visit www.grandmaraislionsclub.com.
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