Council #11981
Holy Family
Inverness, IL US
(kofc11981.com)
COUNCIL RECOGNITION
KNIGHTS OF THE MONTH
March 2025
Mike Gilbert
This year Mike, besides being a leader in the Café kitchen, he assumed the role of Council Director. Mike helped track council events and organize activities like honor guards for the parish. He also coordinated and led the baked fish operation at the Fish Fry, and he has been a regular Poker volunteer.
Mike's efforts on behalf of his Parish and his fellow Knights is Charity, Fraternity and Unity in Action! Thank you Mike for your continued contributions, and congratulations on being our March 2025 Knight of the Month!
February 2025
John Posch
John, is the heart and soul of our monthly Café, and he originated many of the practices and menu items we serve. In fact, John purchases the food for the majority of Knights sponsored Parish events. He drives long distances, going to many stores trying to save whatever dollars he can while ensuring the quality of what we serve. Each event we run is three or four days of John's time ensuring we are ready, from toothpicks to fish and eggs. John is always the first guy working, and among the last to leave at every event.
John's efforts on behalf of our Parish and fellow Knights are Charity, Fraternity and Unity in Action! We thank John for his continued contributions, and congratulate him on being our February 2025 Knight of the Month!
January 2025
Ron Wojewoda
Ron has been a constant contributor at our Café for at least a couple of decades, and he has probably made more eggs than anyone attending Holy Family! He is regular score keeper at the annual Kringle Classic for many years. Ron is also active in our parish as a Eucharistic Minister, Usher, and as Collections Counting minister. While you are no longer a trustee, we greatly appreciate your guidance, wisdom, and Friendship!
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December 2024
Mike Colby
I am proud to recognize Mike as our December 2024 Knight of the Month. It is due to the sacrifices of the many that we are able to accomplish the things we do at Holy Family.
Mike has been our Community Director a couple of years now. I have been amazed at how much this directorship does in the first six months of the year. Mike's directorship has the Intellectual Disabilities drive, which is our biggest fundraiser, you also have the Keep Christ in Christmas program, serving almost 330 kids, and he researched and planned our Christmas Party for months. He did all of this while working at most of the Café’s, Fish Fries, and at our Poker nights. I also know Mike is doing painting work at Viator House!
Mike's efforts on behalf of his fellow Knights are Charity, Fraternity and Unity in Action! Thank you Mike for your continued contributions, and congratulations on being our December 2024 Knight of the Month!
November 2024
Bob Vanselow
I am proud to recognize Bob as our November 2024 Knight of the Month. As you know, it is due to the sacrifices of the many that we are able to accomplish the things we do at Holy Family.
Bob's contributions are many and his service is very humble. Few people know just how many hours Bob spends setting up, wiring, and listening to the ideas of others at every food event. All morning on Saturdays, and then Bob is among the last to leave on Sunday. Also, the time he spends preparing for, and serving at our corporate mass.
Bob is also are involved in the majority of the planning and execution of some of our programs, like the changes to our Scholarship program.
Bob's efforts on behalf of your fellow Knights are Fraternity and Unity in Action! Thank you for the continued contributions, and congratulations to Bob on being our November 2024 Knight of the Month!
October 2024
Rich Surma
Rich has quietly worked behind the scenes as the council’s in-house artist. He creates posters for Christmas Parties, Fish Fries, and other events to help publicize them, as well as making tickets, placemats and other small touches that make our events more special. Rich also creates personalized certificates for all of our awards which help us better honor others. He is a familiar face at our events due to his regular role as event maître d or host, assigning seats, and greeting our guests!
We also appreciate his work helping the 4th degree!
Rich, your efforts on behalf of your fellow Knights are Fraternity and Unity in Action! Thank you for your continued contributions, and congratulations on being our October 2024 Knight of the Month!
September 2024
Dan Tokarz
Dan assumed a challenging position as Financial Secretary, and his effort in this position has been incredible. First, Dan's analysis of our Café helped us better understand this event and make adjustments. Second, Dan took it upon himself to collect the proceeds from each shift at Jewel during the ID drive, working some shifts that needed help since he was there. Lastly, but more significantly, Dan personally called and wrote members (some several times) who were behind in their dues. He collected approximately $1700 in back dues, and reconnected several brothers with the council.
Your efforts on behalf of your fellow Knights are Fraternity and Unity in Action! Thank you for your continued contributions, and congratulations on being our September 2024 Knight of the Month!
August 2024
Frank Biank
I am proud to recognize you as our August 2024 Knight of the Month.
As you know, it is due to the sacrifices of the many that we are able to
accomplish the things we do at Holy Family.
Your help at the Café’s and Fish Fries is greatly appreciated, especially
becoming a convection oven crew member. You also secured Petersons
Bakery as a Café pastry donor, allowing us to have a fantastic sweet table
at our Café. This was a fantastic idea of yours, that you carried through to
completion!
Your efforts on behalf of your fellow Knights is Fraternity and Unity in
Action! Thank you for your continued contributions, and congratulations
on being our August 2024 Knight of the Month!
July 2024
Greg Flanagan
As you were finishing your 2-year term as Grand Knight, it could be expected that you would take a breath and put your feet up. Instead, you assumed some challenging duties which would have fallen to the new leadership team very early in their new term. You took a leadership role on the Installation Ceremony for the 2024-25 officers, the Feed My Starving Children pack night, and the Friar Johnpaul 70th birthday reception for 300, which included food procurement. You did all of this in an action packed 31 days!
Looking out for your successor and your fellow Knights is Fraternity and Unity in Action! Thank you for your continued contributions, your friendship, and congratulations on being our July 2024 Knight of the Month!
June 2024
David Swanson
Dave, Im proud to recognize you as our June 2024 Knight of the Month. As you know, it is due to the sacrifices of the many that we are able to accomplish the things we do at Holy Family.
Your consistent help at the Café, in the convection ovens and also your help cleaning up after the café is greatly appreciated. You were always among the first to arrive at every Café as the sun was rising, and among the last to leave in the afternoon. You were not just filling a job or a slot, you were there to help anyway you could.
Thank you for your contributions and your friendship, and congratulations on being Knight of the Month!
May 2024
David Piasecki
We selected Dave as our Knight of the Month for a couple reasons. First of all, Dave is a relatively new member of the council who has really jumped in with both feet… accepting various responsibilities, learning the café oven duty and so forth. Secondly, for much of this year, he has shadowed our outgoing treasurer, and will now be assuming the Treasurer position directly. For these reasons, and also for being a generally nice guy, we name Dave Piasecki as the May Knight of the Month
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April 2024
Lou Rundio
Our April Knight of the Month is Brother Lou Rundio. And it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to call this ”The Knight of the last 84 months or more”! Lou has been our council Recorder for at least seven years and he’s taking it on again next year. The Recorder is a job that is pretty much under the radar screen… not noticed by many and rarely given any praise or thanks. Somewhat invisibly, taking the meeting notes, getting them typed up and posted on the website is all behind the scenes work. Supreme guidelines requires this work gets done … especially because for various reasons, we we get called upon to ID “what we did and when we did it”. I also want to recognize “Mr Pancakes” for his contribution to the Café...especially, again under the radar, making sure the grill is squeeky clean at the end of the day. So, for those reasons, and also because he’s a great guy and a honorable gentleman, we grant the April Knight of the Month to Lou Rundio Let’s hear it for Lou!
March 2024
Frank Landowski
March ushered in Spring Training and Frank certainly took it seriously making the team as our utility infielder par excellence! At first base, he’s become a regular on the Poker team. At second, he fielded fish fry set up. He played shortstop, excelling at food serving. At third, he shone with rolled up sleeves to clean dishes. And, in extra innings, a few days after the last fish fry, he stepped up to the plate and hit it out of the park doing a lion share of the work to clean out the fryers! For all this and more we honor Frank as our March Knight of the Month !
February 2024
John Posch
John works tirelessly procuring food and supplies for all of our Knights Events. In February - March John procured for 5 Fish fries, causing 5 consecutive weeks of shopping, inventorying, set -up and serving.
January 2024
Mike Gilbert
Our January Knight of the Month is Brother Mike Gilbert. We’re recognizing Mike for two particular reasons.
As you know, for a number of years the Holy Family Gala has had an auction item called “Dinner with Terry”. In fact, a couple brothers have been the winners of that item. The Knights have provided the funding as well as the preparation and serving of the event. Mike has been the lead for the last three events and has done an excellent job of managing the budget while presenting a very attractive and tasty dinner to the guests. More visibly to most of us, Mike is a key member of our café team. He leads a good share of the kitchen staff, making sure we get things going at the right time and the food is out on the line on time and when it needs to be supplemented. Mike also serves as our council Chancellor. So for those reasons, and more, we name Mike our January Knight of the Month!
December 2023
Mike Colby
Mike took the Job as Community Director this year, and he has been "Very Busy" in his first 5 Months! Mike helped run a successful ID Drive, and then planned our first post covid Christmas Party. The Christmas Party was a great success due to the planning of Mike and his wife Marie!
November 2023
Bob Vanselow
Besides Bob's work as a Council Director, Bob also volunteers for the majority of events. Bob is usually among the first to arrive, and the last to depart. Bob's uplifting spirit and work ethic multiplies every event assignment he fills!
October 2023
Dan Ostermeyer
First - Dan is a new addition as Director of our Life Programs, and in his first 60 days he helped coordinate a Blood Drive and Holy Families participation in the Right to Life March. Dan is also our hot beverage manager at the Cafe. Thanks to Dan for Stepping Up, and Stepping Quickly into his new duties!
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September 2023
Deano Dalaly
For his work coordinating money and other logistics for the Intellectual Disabilities Drive. This required lots of hours over two weekends for a guy who is very busy already! The council thanks Deano for his outstanding effort!
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August 2023
Glenn Yamamoto
For his great work on the Vocations Drive and Adoration Schedule.
July 2023
Steve Scheifers
For Steve's work on the Marian Ministry, promoting devotions and adoration
June 2023
Rick McMahon
For Rick's work on the council website.
FAMILIES OF THE MONTH
March 2025
Dan and Mary Hall
Dan and Mary, you have been selected as our “Family of the Month” for March 2025. This recognition is presented because of the many ways you both have contributed to our council, and our parish.
The Council appreciates your help annually at the Fish Fries. Dan of course being the “Pizza Man”, you take pride in the seasoning and veggies on his Lenten creations. Dan is also, less famously the “French Fry Man” among other jobs. Mary you were at first assisting Dan, but later she became a leader on the food line. Mary, you seemed to most of us, to be everywhere at the same time!
As you’ve demonstrated, participation is what makes our council’s activities possible. Our Knights, spouses, widows and friends, are an extended family that not only works together, but we also enjoy each other’s company. Your efforts and participation strengthen our Knights Family. Thank you so much, and congratulations!
February 2025
Dan and Katy Ostermeyer
Dan and Katy are true partners in our “Life” activities. They run our quarterly Blood Drives, our Baby Bottle collections, as well as participating in every event together. At our Café and Fish Fries, they both not only have regular jobs, but they also recruit family members like Katy’s sister and niece to fill open jobs. You are both sterling examples of what a Knight Family should be
As Dan and Katy have demonstrated, participation is what makes our council’s activities possible. Our Knights, spouses, widows and friends, are an extended family that not only works together, but we also enjoy each other’s company. Their efforts and participation strengthen our Knights Family. Thank you Dan and Katy, and congratulations!
January 2025
Jill Harris
Jill has a great history with the Café, helping to create many menu items that are still crowd favorites today! More recently Jill and her company “Better Way, Inc.” have been so generous in printing placemats for our monthly Café. We greatly appreciate your continued support!
December 2024
Mike and Marie Colby
Mike and Marie were selected as our “Family of the Month” for December 2024. This recognition is presented because of the many ways you have contributed to our council, and our parish.
Mike and Marie, you exemplify this award, helping our council as a couple the majority of the time. You rarely see Mike without his “Better Half”. Our events benefit from Marie’s skills in organizing our serving line, and Mike’s skill in food preparation. Just as important, is Marie’s assistance to Mike in his many Council Director duties like catering events and getting a Christmas Party venue.
Mike and Marie's participation is what makes our council’s activities possible. Our Knights, spouses, widows and friends, are an extended family that not only works together, but we also enjoy each other’s company. Thank you so much, and congratulations!
November 2024
Margaret Espinosa
Margaret has been selected as our “Family of the Month” for November 2024. This recognition is presented because of the many ways she has contributed to our council, and our parish.
I don’t remember a time when Margaret was not helping us. She and Nick were always assisting. We greatly appreciate her monthly assistance at the Café and Fish Fries, both in helping on set up, as well as serving, and even cleaning up at our events.
Margaret's participation is what makes our council’s activities possible. Our Knights, spouses, widows and friends, are an extended family that not only works together, but we also enjoy each other’s company. Margarets efforts and participation strengthen our Knights Family. Thank you so much Margaret, and Congratulations!
October 2024
Diane Mason
We greatly appreciate Diane's monthly assistance at the Café and the Fish Fries, both in helping on set up, as well as serving at the events. She has also assisted many times at the Chicago Food Depository Produce Distribution. Diane has helped the Knights, while doing so many things for our parish that are not connected to the Knights like Mass hospitality.
As you know, participation is what makes our council’s activities possible. Our Knights, spouses, widows and friends, are an extended family that not only works together, but we also enjoy each other’s company. Your efforts and participation strengthen our Knights Family. Thank you so much, and congratulations!
September 2024
Irene Pezdirtz
We greatly appreciate Irene's monthly assistance at the Café and Fish Fries, both in helping on set up, as well as serving at the events. She regularly helps to prepare food for the Knights Corporate Mass and brunch, as well as assisting at the Chicago Food Depository Produce Distribution. Irene also worked a shift at Jewel for the ID drive. She did all of this while doing so many things for our parish that are not connected to the Knights.
As you know, participation is what makes our council’s activities possible. Our Knights, spouses, widows and friends, are an extended family that not only works together, but we also enjoy each other’s company. Your efforts and participation strengthen our Knights Family. Thank you so much, and congratulations!
August 2024
Jim and Jan Riedl
You have been selected as our “Family of the Month” for August 2024. This recognition is presented because of the many ways you both have contributed to our council, and our parish.
We greatly appreciate you both assisting us regularly at the Café, especially in helping on Saturday set up. It is interesting when some of our regular volunteers take a month off, how many little things are missing, things they do regularly that we sometimes fail to notice! So, thank you for all the tasks you both regularly do for the Café and Fish Fries!
As you know, family participation is what makes our council’s activities possible. Our Knights, spouses, widows and friends, are an extended family that not only works together, but we also enjoy each other’s company. Your efforts and participation strengthen our Knights Family. Thank you so much, and congratulations!
June 2024
Kent and Carol Deener
Kent and Carol, you have been selected as our “Family of the Month” for June 2024. This recognition is presented because of the many ways you both have contributed to our council, and our parish. You were both nominated by PGK Greg Flanagan as one of his last acts as Grand Knight, as well as our Deputy Grand Knight Bob Vanselow, and I concurred.
We greatly appreciate you both serving food at our 2024 Installation last month, and your assistance at the Fish Fries, Café, and Poker events. We also appreciate Kent becoming a 4th degree “Sir” Knight and your participation at that ceremony.
As you know, family participation is what makes our council’s activities possible. Our Knights, Spouses, Widows and Friends, are an extended family that not only works together, but we also enjoy each other’s company. Your efforts and participation strengthen our Knights Family. Thank you so much, and congratulations!
April 2024
Bob and Pat Vanselow
Our April Family of the Month is Bob & Pat Vanselow. We’ve identified this honor specifically for their work in coordinating the April Corporate Mass and Brunch, but like so many things of this nature, we’re also thanking them for doing that for the last several years! And, we’d be remiss not to mention their stellar efforts with our cafés, fish fries, and parish picnics. They are a great team and it’s wonderful to be able to count on them for the help we need. So, for those reasons we’ve named Bob & Pat Vanselow our April Family of the Month
February 2024
Ron and Kathy Wojewoda
Ron and Kathy are fantastic examples of what a Catholic Marriage should be. They cook at all Knights food events, and also help at the monthly Produce Distribution. They are also Eucharistic Ministers and Ushers for the Parish.
January 2024
The Ostermeyer Family
Dan has been a mainstay on the café team for many years, and is our chief “Mr. Coffee”. He’s also our Respect Life Chair, taking lead on activities such as the Blood Drive and the Baby Bottle Campaign. Katy Is one of our Lady Knights where she has become one of our finest flex-workers… helping where ever needed… for a year or more at the café and fish fries. Son William, who joined our council last year and is undoubtedly the youngest member of our council, assists at many of our events and was instrumental in identifying and working a project for our council to send Christmas cards to disabled.