Who inspires you in your community? Along with those I mentioned above, I have to add my wife. I just can't believe how much stuff she gets on her plate and she’s always cheerful to accept more. You've mentioned some Hills Bank employees a few times. How do you see Hills Bank in our community? Oh, Hills (Bank) is a very strong advocate. You know the bank has always got your back. They support the food pantry, the community center, music in the park in the summer, the capital campaign for a new fence and road out to the cemetery. Anything that’s going on – the bank rarely says no to helping out.
What's your favorite part of Friends Club?
you can't do it by yourself. There's always great people that want to help, especially in a small town like Hills. How has volunteering enriched your life? It’s mainly the people I've met and worked with who have been great role models. (Former Hills Bank President) John Hughes and then Dwight (Seegmiller), and Ron Stutsman who helped keep people calm and jumped in to help get things done after disasters like the straight-line winds and the flood. Helping people and serving people, I think that comes from my parents. Because of World War II, my mom never got to teach – but she got teaching degrees and worked at the library, and I could see how much joy and fun that brought her. My dad barely graduated from high school, he was a little rough around the edges, and I was sometimes a little embarrassed by him. But to see him interacting with people on the local Recreation Committee and bringing really good ideas – that impressed me.
My favorite part is reading the booklet every quarter, seeing all the things that are going on, and wishing my wife and I weren’t so busy! I look at the day trips and the big trips, and the activities like playing bingo and going to Hancher and the walking group. It’s nice to see that Hills Bank has activities for members to get together and meet people from different parts of the area. I’ve put little “stickies” by the activities I like, and I’m hoping someday we can start taking advantage of the neat stuff you can do in Friends Club – because a lot of banks don’t have that.
17 Thank you, Mike, for your commitment to the Hills community and for fostering growth here in Southeast Iowa. A $250 donation has been made to Hills St. Joseph Food Pantry to show our support for the work you do in our community. 1st Quarter 2025
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs