COUNCIL RECOGNITION

FAMILIES OF THE MONTH

February 2026

Tom & Cindy Berg

Cindy is a member of the St Olaf 'Scrip' program, the Arts and Environment group and a member of the women's Bible Study. Tom and Cindy are essential with getting the Christmas trees delivered to the church and assisting with decorating them

January 2026

Tom & Cindy Berg

Cindy is a member of the St Olaf 'Scrip' program, the Arts and Environment group and a member of the women's Bible Study. Tom and Cindy are essential with getting the Christmas trees delivered to the church and assisting with decorating them

January 2026

Michael & Kelly Beaudrie

Kelly is the very hands-on St. James parish 'Director of Religious Education'. She also sends out the 'flocknote' email correspondence to the parish. Kelly and Michael are both Eucharistic Ministers and they assist at many parish functions.

December 2025

Gary & Pam Ida Family

Our December Family of the Month is the Gary & Pam Ida family of Sacred Heart/St Patrick’s parish. Gary is on the Finance Council and on the Buildings & Grounds Committee as well as being Usher. Gary and Pam are always willing to help with whatever needs to be done at St Patrick's / Sacred Heart parish.

November 2025

Sue Selz Family

Sue is in charge of "Feed My People" at Immaculate Conception church. She coordinates the 'Senior' dinners. Sue takes care of IC's 'Marian Nook'. Sue also helps with the Knights Of Columbus Blood Drives held at Immaculate Conception church.

October 2025

Jeff & Joan Kahl

Our October family of the month is the Jeff & Joan Kahl family of St Olaf parish. Jeff works at St. Olaf. Jeff and Joan go above and beyond Jeff's normal duties. They are regularly volunteering to assist wherever needed. Joan is a Master Gardener and Jeff & Joan have also worked together to spruce up around Father Jame's home.

September 2025

Dave & Janet Curley

Our September Family of the Month is the Dave & Janet Curley family. Dave and Janet are members of Sacred Heart/St Patrick's parish where they are both on the Family Life Committee. Dave is a Finance Council Member, Trustee, and liaison to the Pastoral Council. Janet serves as sacristan at Mass and Dave ushers at Mass.

August 2025

Rober & Ann Simonson

Our August Family of the month is the Robert and Ann Simonson family of Immaculate Conception. Ann is a cantor in the Immaculate Conception parish choir. Ann is involved in almost every event at the parish. Robert works along with Ann at most of the events.

July 2025

Justin Culbert and Roberta Culbert (Grandmother)

Justin is involved in almost every St Olaf activity: Usher, Eucharistic Minister, cleaning up around the church, shoveling snow in the winter and working at the yearly Fun Festival. Justin's grandmother also works at the parish Fun Festival.

June 2025

Mike & Kris Miller

Kris has served on the Sacred Heart/St Pat's Pastoral Council for years and now leads the very active Family Life Committee. Kris serves as Extraordinary Minister of Holy Eucharist. Mike has been an usher for years and helps with various projects.

May 2025

Mike & Carol Bauer

Mike sings in the Immaculate Conception Choir & has worked on a number of projects recently completed at IC. He also is a member of the IC Knight of Columbus Round Table. Carol works with the IC Arts and Environment team and is a seamstress for IC.

April 2025

Al & Patrice Taft

Patrice is the Pastoral Minister at St James parish & runs the parish RCI program. She also assists with making food for the parish mission each year. Al helps in the parish and helps at St James Summerfest as well as being an usher.

March 2025

John, Steven & Julie Folstad

Our March Family of the Month is the John, Steven and Julie Folstad Family. John, Julie and son Steven are all active members of Immaculate Conception parish. John and Julie help with the parish Lenten Fish Boils. Julie is a sacristan. Steven is an altar server. John donates blood during the parish blood drives.

February 2025

Eugene & Susan Tremblay

Gene leads the St Olaf 'Arts & Environment Committee' and is active in almost all events that occur at St Olaf parish. Gene's daughter Amy is the parish secretary and is also active in the parish.

January 2025

Dean & Jolene Schwartz

Our January Family of the Month is the Dean & Jolene Schwartz family. Dean and Jolene are regularly active members of St James the Greater parish in Eau Claire. Dean is an usher, an acolyte and even supplies cheese curds for the parish festival. Jolene sings in the choir and is a teacher's assistant.

December 2024

Bob & Terri Link

Bob and Terri are very active mbrs of Immaculate Conception (IC) parish. They organize and cook the IC pancake breakfasts. Bob organizes the KofC blood drives at IC and St. Olaf parishes while Terri cooks the food served served at the blood drives. Bob also is our council's adopt a highway coordinator as well as our community director.

November 2024

Zachery & Audrey Boerner

Zach is an Usher and helps with numerous things around both the Sacred Heart & St. Patrick's churches. Audrey is on the Parish Life Committee.

October 2024

Bill and Judy Ecklund

Bill and Julie are very helpful each year with the St. Olaf 'Fun Fest'. They also serve as St. Olaf 'Hospitality Ministers'. They own a business in Eau Claire and work with the parish staff to help promote St. Olaf Parish.

September 2024

Leon & Susan Cahill

Leon is a Lector at Immaculate Conception Church. Leon & Susan sponsor the IC youth Pizza Night and Susan bakes the pizzas (with Leons help) for every Pizza Night. Leon and Susan also started a CS Lewis religious reading group that spans the parishes of the deanery.

August 2024

Tery & Mary Allen

Terry and Mary are retired teachers of Regis Catholic Schools. Terry coached at Regis for years. Mary coordinates our Bingo. Terry was on Parish Council. They also take Holy Communion to the Homebound.

July 2024

Darin & Christine Opsal

Darrin & Chris are active members of St James parish. Darrin has taken over the role of grilling chicken for the parish festivities. They both are active organizers of the parish Summer Festival. Darrin also helps with the aluminum can collection

June 2024

Ed & Mary Kassing

Ed is involved with almost every larger maintenance job at Immaculate Conception Parrish as well as the large maintenance jobs at our Knights of Columbus Hall.

May 2024

Mike & Gina Ostrowski

Mike is a part of the St. Olaf's parish homebound ministry and Men’s Club and Gina has run the RCIA program for many years. Mike and Gina are very active members of the parish.

April 2024

Randy & Nancy DeMars

Our April Family of the Month is the Randy and Nancy DeMars family of Immaculate Conception Parish. Randy has been a long-time member of the Immaculate Conception parish finance council. Randy is an active member of the Knights of Columbus Immaculate Conception Round Table. Randy and Nancy help drive the yearly parish Holy Treasuries sale.

March 2024

Paul & Lynn Beutz

Our March Family of The Month is the Paul and Lynn Beutz family of Sacred Heart St Patrick’s Parish. They both serve on the parish Family of Life Committee and Paul is a lecturer and Lynn is a catechist.

February 2024

Landon & Beth Cerny

Landon and Beth are both active members of St James Parish. Landon has served as adult acolyte and the they have both been involved in St James Summer Fest.

January 2024

Chad & Jody Preston

Chad and Jody are members of St Olaf Parish and are very active in the parish and step up to help whenever needed. They are very active in the religious education program at St Olaf.

December 2023

Jim & Leanne Tunender

Jim and Leanne are active members of Immaculate Conception parish. They help clean the church each Monday. Jim is an altar server during the week. They also are involved with Eucharistic Adoration. Jim also helps with the Fish Dinners.

November 2023

Gary & Jan Liedl

Our November Family of the Month is the Gary & Jan Liedl family from St Olaf Parish. Gary is a Eucharist Minister, Usher, Mass Coordinator, Hospitality Host, member of Sacred Worship committee and an active member of St. Olaf Men's club. Jan serves at daily mass, is a choir member, helps at funerals, is a Sacristan, and is a substitute Choir Director.

September 2023

Tom and Mary Behling

Tom and Mary Behling - St. Olaf - Tom and Mary were the 2023 St.Olaf 'Fun Fest' Chairs. They kept all of the volunteers focused and engaged with the outcome being a successful and fun Parish event. Tom and Mary have been also long-time active members of the St. Regis Booster Club.

August 2023

Steve and Shawn Edge

Steve and Shawn Edge - St Pats/Sacred Heart: - Steve and Shawn are very active at St. Patrick's parish. Steve and Shawn do whatever is asked of them! Steve has been a Boy Scout Leader for a long time. Steve is also one of the regular helpers at our annual KofC Sportman's Banquet.

July 2023

Gary and Georgine Hughes

Gary and Georgine Hughes - IC: - Gary and Georgine are very involved one way or another in most of the things that happen at IC. Georgine is involved with church decorations, while Gary is involved with many of the maintenance/upgrade items.

June 2023

Tim & Angie Whiteside

Tim and Angie Whiteside - St. James: - Tim is an Usher and Angie is Eucharist Minister. Both are very active members of St. James parish.

May 2023

Andy & Jamie Bricco

Andy is a weekly Usher/Greeter at Sunday mass. Andy also keeps himself busy with repairs to the Rectory and the parish office. He is a humble man that is always ready to lend a hand to those in need. They are from Scared Heart/St Patrick's Parish

February 2023

Kurt & Nichole Crotteau Family

January 2023

Charles & Jennifer Muehlenkamp

February 2015

George & Mary Jo Walter

January 2015

Willard "Jake" & Pat Jochimsen

November 2014

Jerry & Susan Hamill

Jerry & Susan Hamill November 2014 Family of the Month Jerry and Susan have been married for 45 years. They have three grown children and four grandchildren from 4 to 11 years of age. Jerry has been a Knight for 25 years and a 4th Degree Knight for 11 years and has been active in the Honor Guards. Jerry has been the Grand Knight of the John F. Kennedy Council #1257 for two years. Jerry has served as a Director of Columbus Site Inc. for four years. Jerry has served as the Faithful Scribe, Faithful Navigator and Faithful Comptroller for the Bishop J. Sheen Assembly #1525. Jerry has been a Tutor for Literacy Volunteers of America here in EC. Susan and Jerry have been members of the Immaculate Conception Senior Choir for 20 years. Susan is also part of the “Alleluia” Funeral Choir. Susan has served on the Board of Directors for the Eau Claire chapter of Birthright. She has been a Eucharistic Minister. Jerry had been an Usher. When they lived in Arkansas Jerry served on the Bishop’s Financial Advisory Board and Susan served on the Parish Council. Susan makes afghans for “Warm-up America”, prayer shawls for Sacred Heart ministries, rosaries for the missions and the local Fatima group. Susan has filled Christmas stockings for the Mission Group at IC as well as made quilts for the missions. She is part of the prayer chain at IC and is part of a prayer group which meets the 2nd and 4th Sundays at Sacred Heart Chapel. Jerry and Susan work selling tickets for I.C. Fish Boils for several years

October 2014

David & Patricia Usher

Family of the Month September 2014 Knights of Columbus Council #1257 Eau Claire, WI Dr. David and Patricia Usher have four children; Bridget (17), Jack (15), Michael (13) and Luke (6). The children attend Regis Catholic Schools. The three older children are altar servers, and Bridget is a Eucharistic Minister. Dave sings in the 8:30 adult choir. The boys are in the Immaculate Conception BSA Pack 31 and Troop 31. Patty is the acting Cubmaster and Dave is the Charter Representative for both the Pack and the Troop. The Ushers have been members of Immaculate Conception parish for fourteen years. Patty has previously served as Chair of the parish council, Chair of the Building Committee which oversaw and implemented the plan and construction of the Father Klink Hall, and both Dave and Patty were co-chairs for the parish participation in the “We Belong to Christ “ capital campaign raising approximately 1.4 million dollars. Currently, Patty is serving as the Chair of the Regis Education Commission. Dave is a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #1257. He is on the Steering Committee for the Catholic men’s program entitled “That Man is You.” It is in its second year in the Eau Claire Deanery. Dave is board certified in both Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine and has his own practice, ReforMedicine, SC. Please give a warm and appreciative round of applause to this “Family of the Month”.

September 2014

Jeremy & Lisa Johnson

Jeremy and Lisa Johnson October 2014 Family of the Month. Jeremy and Lisa Johnson married August 14, 2004 at St James the Greater Parish in Eau Claire and are 12 year members of the Parish. They have 6 children: Nevaeh age 9, McKail age 7, Nadirah age 5, McKellan age 3, Namarah age 2 and Nadianna 2 months. Jeremy was raised Lutheran and went through the RCIA program at St James becoming Catholic in 2005. Jeremy has gone through the Diocesan Lay Ministry Program, taught the Baptism classes to new parents at St James, joined the Knights of Columbus council 1257 in 2010 and served as Newsletter Editor from 2011-2013. Lisa was born blind and underwent corneal implant surgery in was able to get limited vision in one eye. Although she is still legally blind she does have enough sight to live a fairly normal life. Lisa became a speaker and advocate for the Lions Club Eye Bank after being able to receive some vision from corneal implant surgery and she has been speaking at Lions club event for the last 12 years. At St James Parish Lisa is on St James Social Justice Committee, Elizabethan Mistry, and sells scrip. Jeremy and Lisa and their children serve hospitality after mass and the three oldest children go to school at St James. Jeremy and Lisa are both teachers and stared their careers teaching in the Chippewa Falls School District and they both eventually when on to earn their Doctorate Degrees in Education from the University of Minnesota. Our council is proud to select the Jeremy and Lisa Johnson as our October 2014 Family of the Month for their dedication to their family, church and community.

August 2014

Bill & Vicky Hawn

Bill and Vicki Hawn August 2014 Family of the Month John F Kennedy Council 1257 Bill and Vicki Hawn have been marries for 37 years and have been parishioners of Immaculate Conception in Eau Claire since 1981. They have 4 children; Kimberly, Mark, Matt and Christina ages 36, 32, 30 and 27. As parishioners of I.C. parish Bill and Vicki have been Eucharistic Ministers, presenting couples in Marriage Preparation, Canna Dinner Committee, Diocesan Annual Appeal, Sunday Schools teachers, founding members of the parish couples club and Bill is the past president of the Immaculate Conception School board. All of Bill and Vicki’s 4 children attended Regis Catholic Schools and were involved with many activities with Regis. Bill and Vicki served on the Regis Foundation and were involved with many fund raising activities relating to Regis Catholic Schools. Three of the four children were Bishops Medal winners, one graduated from Notre Dame University, two from St John’s University and one from St Benedict’s University. The children were involved with many of the parish, Regis Catholic School and Community activities along with Bill and Vicki. In 2010 Bill and Vicki were recipients of the Non Sibi Award from Regis in recognition of time, talent, effort or financial contribution to Regis Catholic Schools. In the community Bill has been very involved with Pro Life. Bill is an officer and past president of the Eau Claire Chapter of Wisconsin Right to Life and has been one of the people responsible for the Pro Life Rallies that are help in Eau Claire in January of each year to mark the anniversary of the Roe Vs Wade decision in the United States that legalized abortion. Bill has been involved with most every aspect of organizing the really each year for over 10 years. Bill and Vicki are also St Francis Food Pantry Volunteers. Bill became a Knight in 2009 and has served as the Council Pro Life Chairman for the last four years. Bill does an excellent job keeping the council informed of Pro Life issues and events that are going on in our community, state and on the national level. Bill has successfully ran our council’s LifeSavers for Life collection the past three years raising money for Culture of Life fund as well as Pro Life efforts in our community. Bill, Vicki and their daughter Kimberly recently worked Country Jam Parking to help raise money for the council’s charity fund. For this families efforts in their Parish, Community and Council, we select them as our August 2014 Family of the month.

July 2014

Chris & Emmalee Morse

Chris and Emmalee Morse have been married 3 years and are members of Immaculate Conception Parish in Eau Claire. Chris became a member of the church in 2010 after completing the RCIA program at Immaculate Conception and he joined the Knights of Columbus in 2012. Chris and Emmalee over the past four years have been involved in the following activities at Immaculate Conception; they have both worked at the parish fish boils 4 years, both been involved in the parish RCIA program for the past 4 years, both worked at the parish bazar with Emmalee serving on the organizing committee and Chris has ushered at masses the past 4 years. Chris and Emmalee are both Red Cross volunteers in Eau Claire, Chris is a disaster services volunteer and Emmalee is a CPR instructor. Emmalee works at Eau Claire Parks and Recreation where she is in charge of the Youth Aquatics programs, Day Camp for special needs adults, cooking programs and art programs. Chris joined the Knights of Columbus in 2012 and earned the Shining Armor Award. He has served as the council’s State Raffle chair for the past two years as well as serving as Advocate and is now serving as Warden. Chris and Emmalee have been both helped the council raise money the last two years by selling parking passes at the Country Jam in Eau Claire and will work all three days of the event this year. For these reasons Chris and Emmalee Morse are our Family of the Month for July 2014. John F Kennedy Council 1257 Eau Claire, WI

March 2014

Terry & Jackie Polus

TERRY AND JACKIE POLUS MARCH 2014 FAMILY OF THE MONTH JOHN F KENNEDY COUNCIL 1257 Terry Polus, membership number: 2968249 Terry and Jackie Polus are members of Sacred Heart-St Patrick’s parish in Eau Claire and have been married for 28 years. They have 5 children: Stephanie age 26, Michael age 25, Mary age 22, John age 18 and Adrian age 14. All five children have attended St. Peter’s Catholic School in Tilden and McDonnell Catholic High School in Chippewa Falls. Terry and Jackie have been members of Sacred Heart Parish and later SH-SP after St Patrick’s merged with Sacred Heart since 1986. Terry has been an active member all his life except for the time he spent away from Eau Claire serving our country in the United States Navy. Terry has received all of his Sacraments at Sacred Heart Church in Eau Claire. Terry has been a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1991 and became a Third Degree member in 1998. Terry has been involved in many ways at Sacred Heart-St Patrick’s Parish. He has been an Adult Server, Reader, Communion Minister, Bible Study Facilitator, taught Catholic Theology of the Body, been on the Sacred Worship Committee and Family Life Committee, did FOCUS evaluations with engaged couples, along with Jackie served as the coordinating couple for Marriage Preparation for the Eau Claire Deanery for 10 years. Terry also took Lay Ministry from 1987-1989 and currently works part time at the parish as a janitor and grounds keeper. Jackie is a Family Practitioner in Eau Claire and is a founding member and past president of the Chippewa Valley Catholic Medical Guild that is a group dedicated in applying Catholic principles in the practice of medicine and medical practices. Jackie is also a Natural Family Planning Consultant for those that are looking at trying Natural Family Planning. Jackie has also served as a reader and Communion Minister at Sacred Heart-St Patrick’s Parish and along with Terry has been involved in marriage preparation in the Eau Claire Deanery for over 20 years. Terry and Jackie’s Boys (Michael, John and Adrian) were all servers at mass at Sacred Heart-St Patrick’s and their son John is exploring the possibility of becoming a priest and is in his first year of Seminary. For their service to the Parish of Sacred Heart-St Patrick’s, the Eau Claire Deanery and the community, we are proud to submit Terry and Jackie Polus and their family as our March Family of the Month.

February 2014

Randy & Nancy DeMars

RANDY AND NANCY DEMARS FEBRUARY 2014 FAMILY OF THE MONTH JOHN F KENNEDY COUNCIL 1257 Randall DeMars membership number: 4274186 Randy and Nancy DeMars have been married for 26 years and are members of Immaculate Conception parish in Eau Claire. Nancy joined the parish in 1983 and Randy joined in 1985. They have three children, Matthew age 25, Andrea age 21 and Morgan age 18. All three children are graduates of Regis Catholic Schools in Eau Claire from grade K-12. Randy became a member of the Knights of Columbus in 2010, became a 2nd & 3rd Degree member in 2012 and became a 4th Degree member in 2013. Randy has been involved with the council’s Tootsie Roll drive from 2010 to present, LifeSavers for Life Program 2010 to present, Air Show & Country Jam Parking 2010 to present, Brat Stands 2010 to present. Randy has had a key role the Bolton Refuge House Christmas Party since 2010 including playing Santa for the children and shopping for groceries to stock the pantry and the Bolton House for the Holidays. Randy became the council Youth Director in 2012 and has helped with the Christmas Poster Contest, Free Throw Contest and Pro-Life Essay Contest. Randy is also currently serving as a council officer holding the position of Chancellor. As a long-time resident of Eau Claire (41 years) Randy has also been involved in city and county government. Randy served on the Eau Claire City Council 1993-1995, Eau Claire Planning Commission 1993-1995, Special Assessment Committee 1993-1995, Chairman Downtown Parking Ramp Committee and Member Select Committee on Historic Preservation. The entire Family has been involved with Immaculate Conception Parish, all three children were baptized and confirmed at I.C. The entire family has helped with many parish Fish Boils and church Bazars with Randy and Nancy both selling tickets at both events. Randy and Nancy have been script sellers for the past 15 years and users of script for the past 10 years. Four of the family members are Eucharistic Ministers, Nancy since 2006, Randy since 2010, Andrea since 2011 and Morgan since 2012. For all their service to the our council, their parish and the community the John F Kennedy council 1257 has selected the Randy & Nancy Demars family as our Family of the month for February 2014.

January 2014

Jerry & Bonnie Olson

JANUARY 2014 FAMILY OF THE MONTH JOHN F KENNEDY COUNCIL 1257 EAU CLAIRE, WI Bonnie and Jerry Olson have been married for over 53 years and are active members of St James the Greater Parish in Eau Claire. They have three children, nine grandchildren and one great grandchild. Their two daughters, Renee and Lisa and son Scott, were graduates of Regis High School in Eau Claire and some of their grandchildren are attending or did attend Regis Schools. Jerry and Bonnie are big supporters of the Regis Catholic Schools in Eau Claire. Jerry Olson was the 2010 Medallion Award winner for the Lacrosse Diocese. This is given to the Knight with highest dedicated service achievements in the community, his parish and in the Knights of Columbus over an extended period of time. Jerry, a knight of 55 years, has been the Grand Knight for 3 years, the District Deputy, the Faithful Navigator for the Assembly of 4th Degree Knights, and participated in 20 state conventions. At St. James the Greater Jerry and Bonnie are very active. Bonnie is a greeter, a Eucharistic Minister, a calligrapher for Baptismal certificates and the Remembrance Book, and has been President of the Eau Claire Catholic Women’s Club. She has been President and a Board member of the Volunteer Partners of Sacred Heart Hospital and State Treasurer of their State of Wisconsin organization. Both Jerry and Bonnie frequently are involved in serving refreshments in the gathering space after Mass at St James. Often they either make or donate many of the snacks that are served. Jerry Olson has been a parish Lector for 22 years, a Eucharistic Minister and served on the Parish Council for 6 years with 3 years as President. Jerry served 44 years on the Parish Building Committee and was actively involved in the building addition. As a skilled woodworker, he has personally built 5 sanctuary pieces of furniture. Jerry and Bonnie served as co-chairs of the parish Summer Fest for 4 years. Jerry has been very active helping with projects at Regis High School, he built the confessional screen and kneeler for the Regis Chapel after it was remodeled due to a fire that damaged the chapel. This past summer Jerry completed a large project at Regis High School refinishing all the doors and door frames in the building that had not been refurbished in 60 years. In total 162 doors were striped, sanded, stained and varnished over a 4 year time period. Jerry led this project from beginning to end with the assistance of a dozen or so brother Knights. In total 1242 man hours and $1,981 in materials were donated by the council. Although many Knights help in this project Jerry ran this project, procuring materials, working out scheduling with Regis maintenance staff, getting workers to help and many hours of hands on work on this project. Bonnie and Jerry also assist with many council activities together. This past December, as they have for over 20 years, they hosted the council’s annual Tom & Jerry Party and Casino Night. Bonnie and Jerry also helped with the council’s Brat Stand Fundraiser at Gordy’s on Birch St in Eau Claire. They also assisted in this year’s Columbus Day Dinner by handling all the decorations for the hall. Jerry and Bonnie Olson are very involved with their Parish, their Council and their Community and for these reasons they have been selected as of January 2014 Family of the Month.