Foundation recognizes her efforts to help Clintonville people
By Bert Lehman
Sandy Loberg was awarded the Community Hero award at the Clintonville Foundation Gala on Saturday, Oct. 17.
The award and accompanying charitable fund were created by Dan Olk, a 1975 graduate of Clintonville High School.
Kathy Akey, who presented the award to Loberg, told attendees that Loberg has spent most of her adult life promoting and helping the people in the Clintonville area. Some of her volunteer activities include serving on the Clintonville Public Library Board, the Danish Cemetery Association of Bear Creek, the Relay for Life Board, the Clintonville Food Pantry Board of Main Street, Inc., and the Facilities Committee of the new high school.
Loberg has also been involved with the Clintonville Area Historical Society, where she has served as president, vice-president, secretary, and is currently the editor of the newsletter, The Pigeon Post. Akey said Loberg has been instrumental in many historical society events, including the recent Living Cemetery and 40th birthday celebration of the historical society.
Akey said current Clintonville Area Historical Society President Marilyn Berkvam said Loberg is “always offering ideas for community education and entertainment events and always willing to work to make them happen.”
Through her employment as secretary at United Methodist Church for 41 years, Akey said Loberg’s activities there have benefitted the community of Clintonville as a whole. Some of those activities included the WEE CAMP for kids, showing community movies, and special recognition days or fundraisers for individuals and groups.
Akey said two things stuck out to her when reviewing Loberg’s contributions to the Clintonville area, “the number of benefits she helped organize to help people with losses due to health issues or fires, and as noted by the selection committee, her ability to persuade others to volunteer.”
When Loberg accepted the award, she thanked Olk for sponsoring the award each year. She also thanked the person who nominated her, and the committee for selecting her.
She said she didn’t do all these things over the years without the help from others.
“I had lots of help — too many to name at this time,” Loberg said.
She thanked her family, including her husband Mike, sister Judy Johnson, and her four daughters — Jackie, Jody, Jamie, and J.J., as well as her adopted daughter Pam Skokan.
“Also my mom who helped tirelessly on projects but is now deceased, and a dear friend Jackie Pfeiler Baldwin,” Loberg said.
She also thanked members of her church, the historical society and the community.
She concluded, “I know it is called the Hero’s Award, but I do not feel like a hero, but rather a tired old volunteer.”
After the ceremony Loberg told the Tribune-Gazette that she was in “awe” when she found out that she was chosen for the award. She said she also felt “humbled.”
When asked why she volunteers as much as she does, she responded, “That’s my life’s work. I like doing that.”