The Kenosha County Aging and Disability Resource Center, together with other businesses and organizations recently hosted the Annual Older American’s Month Celebration: Now and Then. Awaken a Dream: What’s On Your Bucket List?
During the event two Kenosha residents were awarded the 2011 Remarkable Older American Award. This prestigious award is given annually to one woman and one man, each of whom are a Kenosha County resident, are 60 years of age or older and have given outstanding service to his/her community through volunteerism, commitment to family and/or career achievements which have made a substantial and positive impact.
This year’s awardees — both Western Kenosha County residents – were:
- Charles “Chuck” Johnson (Nominated by Barb Wetherbee) — “Chuck always has a smile on his face. We need more people in the world like him. If not for Chuck’s help with the dining program it might not exist.†Chuck volunteers at the Senior Dining, Twin Lakes American Legion- 5 days week. He serves dinner, helps with dishes and clean up. He has endless energy, picks up bread from Westosha and delivers it. He volunteers for his church Messiah Lutheran. A teacher, for 39 years, he was featured on Milwaukee TV for challenging students to collect 1,000,000 tabs- recycling and help for children with cancer.
- Dolores “Dee” Prestay (Nominated by Donna Barhyte, Linda Valentine, Violet Miller, Charles Walker, Matt and Sue Farra, Debbie Greskiw, Kathi Ridolfi, Linda Bernhardt, Jackie Cepaitis) — “Dee, as she is commonly called, has a heart of gold. The word “No†just isn’t in her vocabulary. No job is too big, no task, too small; and her answer to every request is ‘I’d be glad to do it.’†Dee volunteers for Western Kenosha County Historical Society and several churches. She has been instrumental in supporting ongoing historical documentation for Salem Township, CCLRD Lake District, and her own local community. She actively helps with the clean up and trimming of the community center, park and beach area. She is a substitute teacher for special needs children, and helps care for her 90-year-old mother.
