website  watertownhistory.org

    ebook  History of Watertown, Wisconsin

 

Watertown Lions Club

 

1930       FOUNDING OF

 

1950

06 06       LIONS CLUB 20th ANNIVERSARY

   

The Watertown Lions Club commemorated the 20th anniversary of the founding of the club.

 

Dr. Clarence Bergmann, secretary; Paul Junghans, Fort Atkinson, councilor for Lions International; William Borchardt and Elmer Schmidt, Clarence Sturm, a director of Lions International, Leonard Kramp, Edward F. Albrecht, E. Buelow, treasurer; and Clifford Warren, president.

 

1957

05 31       OFFICERS ELECTED

At Monday night’s meeting of the Lions Club which was held at the Green Bowl, the following were elected to office:  President, Paul Negus; first vice president, Erving Miller; second vice president, Gary W. Ponath; third vice president, Harold Mantey; secretary, Glenn Rieder; treasurer, Charles Abel; lion tamer, Webb Mullen; tail twister, Art Christenson. Members of board of directors for two years, Leonard Kramp, Phil Bossert.  Members of board of directors for one year, Edgar Buelow, Father W.E. Krueger, William Guyer. William Guyer served as president for the past year.  WDT

 

06 28       OFFICERS INSTALLED

Father William E. Krueger, who recently was appointed Deputy District Governor of Zone 27 A of the Lions Club, performed his first duty of his new office Monday evening by installing the newly elected officers of the Watertown Club at a meeting held at the Green Bowl.  The new officers were presented and their duties explained.  Following are the officers for the coming year: President, Paul Negus; first vice president, Erving Miller; second vice president, Gary W. Ponath; third vice president, Harold Mantey; secretary, Glenn Rieder; treasurer, Charles Abel; lion tamer, Webb Mullen; tail twister, Art Christenson.  Members of board of directors for two years, Leonard Kramp, Phil Bossert.  Members of board of directors for one year, Edgar Buelow, Father W. E. Krueger, William Guyer.   WDT

 

1958

06 14       OFFICERS INSTALLED

At Monday night's meeting of the Lions Club, which was held at the Green Bowl, the newly elected officers of the club were installed.  Father William E. Krueger, who is deputy district governor of 27 A, was the installing officer.  Following are the officers of the club who will perform their duties for the ensuing year:  President Erving Miller, first vice president, Gary W. Ponath; second vice president, Art Christenson; third vice president, Martin Uttech; secretary, Glenn Rieder; treasurer, Charles Abel; Lion tamer, Al Linde; tail twister, Cr. C. L. Bergmann.  Directors are Gene Rooney, Len Kramp, Father W. E. Krueger and Paul Negus.   WDT

 

1959

05 28       OFFICERS INSTALLED

Gary W. Ponath was elected president of the Watertown Lions Club at its meeting Monday evening at the Legion Green Bowl.  Other officers elected were: Arthur Christensen, first vice president; Martin Uttech, second vice president; Gene Rooney, third vice president; Glenn Rieder, secretary; Charles Abel, treasurer; David Parish, tail twister; Al Linde, Lion tamer; Vince Beschta, director, two years; Wes Thorsen, director, one year, and Leonard Kramp, director, one year, to replace Gene Rooney.

 

1961

05 18       OFFICERS INSTALLED

At Monday evening’s meeting of the Lions Club held at the Legion Green Bowl, the nominating committee’s slate of officers for the ensuing years was accepted. President is Eugene Rooney. Other officers are: First vice-president, Vince Beschta; second vice-president, William Neis; third vice-president, Dave Parish; secretary, Clarence Albrecht; treasurer, Martin Uttech; Lion tamer, Robert Rausch; tail twister, Donald Schmutzler; immediate past president, Arthur Christensen, and chaplain, Father William E. Krueger. Directors are Gary Ponath and Robert Steinbach (two years) and Leonard Kramp and Robert Hargraves, one year.   WDT

 

1969

10 08       DONATION TO HOSPITAL

A couple of men looking at a book

Description automatically generated with low confidence 

The Watertown Lions Club presented a check for $1,000 to the Watertown Memorial Hospital Association.  Robert Wills, president of the association, accepts the check from Dave Klein, treasurer of the local Lions Club.

 

12 02       KLEIN GETS THE BIRD

  

David Klein, treasurer of the Watertown Lions Club, is pictured with the 25 pound live white turkey he received as the highest bidder in the auction held at the Lions Club at the Legion Green Bowl.  William Hossman made arrangements for the event.

 

12 11       LIONS PACKAGE COLLECTED EYE GLASSES

A picture containing text, person, indoor

Description automatically generated 

Fred Pagel, left, and Jerry Mallach prepare packages of old eye glasses for shipment to the Wisconsin Lions eye glass center at Wausau.  The local Lions Club had placed containers like the filled one held by Mallach in various stores in the city.

 

1970

05 11       WATERTOWN LIONS CLUB 40TH ANNIVERSARY

 

The Lions Club celebrated its 40th anniversary at the Legion Green Bowl.  Guest of honor was Leonard Kramp, the only charter member, who is still an active member of the club.

 

05 12       LION OF THE YEAR

A picture containing text, person, person

Description automatically generated  

Thomas Sheehan, 1001 Mary Street, was presented the Bruce Schlueter award as the Lion of the Year at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Watertown Lions Club Saturday evening at the Green Bowl. The award was presented by Wayne Staude.

 

10 22       DONATE RAINCOATS

A group of people in white coats

Description automatically generated  

The Watertown Lions Club has donated raincoats for the safety patrols at the various schools in the city.  Tim Kennedy (left) Lincoln School, and Gary Zwieg, St. Mark's School, look at one of the coats with Gerald Mallach, president of the local Lions Club.

 

12 09       "HAPPY DAYS CHIEF"

The Lions Club honored Al Linde, who retired Dec. 1 as the chief of the Watertown Fire Department. 

 

Gerald Mallach and Jerome Brunelle, secretary of the Police and Fire Commission at the time Linde was hired as fire chief.

 

1987

05 18       WISCONSIN LIONS FOUNDATION

Jerry Rabbach, a member of the Watertown Lions Club, was named president of the Wisconsin Lions Foundation at the annual state Lions convention held last weekend in Stevens Point.  Rabbach has been a director of the foundation.  Les Huber of the Watertown club was elected zone chairman of the local District 27A2.  Carl Schuett of Ixonia Lions Club was elected governor of the local district.  A report on the convention was given by Del Hintzman at Monday night’s meeting of the local club held at the Watertown Country Club.    WDT

 

1989

01 21       MELVIN WAGNER HONORED

Melvin Wagner of the Watertown Lions Club was honored at Monday night’s meeting of the club for receiving the 100 Percent President’s Award for 1987-88 by the International Association of Lions Clubs.  He was given the award for his leadership throughout his term as president of the club.  In another award presentation, Dr. Harold E. Magnan Jr., secretary of the club, was honored for receiving the 100 Percent Secretaries Award from District 27A2 which includes Watertown. He was given the award for his excellent record keeping during the years he has served as the club’s secretary.   WDT

 

10 21       PERFECT ATTENDANCE AWARDS

The Watertown Lions Club honored members with perfect attendance awards Monday night at the Watertown Country Club.  Special honors were given to Gary Ponath for 36 years and Harold Niedfeldt for 28 years.  Del Hintzmann was honored for 19 years and Jerry Rabbach for 14 years.  Other awards were given to Wilmer Altreuter, 13 years; Merle Zastrow, Dr. Harold Magnan and Ron Larson, 12 years; William Schultz, 11 years; Mel Wagner and A1 Anderson, 10 years; Steve Raue and Rich Nienow, nine years; Les Huber, William Brown and Charles Bruce, eight years; Charles Nienow, seven years; Mike Oleson, six years; George Rather, five years; John Wanke, Charles Robert, Pete Miller, James Kukla, George Hintz and Russ Bentheimer, four years; Dale Ninmann and William Neis, three years; Tom Wooley and Richard Johns, two years; and Paul Smebak, Ulrich Schneider, Floyd Clemans, Mike Chandler and George Kuckkan, one year.   WDT

 

1990

05 09       OFFICERS ELECTED

New officers were elected at the Watertown Lions Club meeting Monday night at the Watertown Country Club. New members were also installed. Elected as president for the upcoming year is Chuck Roberts with Merle Zastrow as first vice president. Third vice president is Michael Chandler, Dr. Harold Magnan was re-elected secretary. Current President Michael Olesen will serve as past president. John Wanke was elected tail twister and Ray Vick was named as Lion tamer. Jerry Alfheim and George Kuckkan were elected as members of the board. Dale Hintzmann was elected as a voting member to the new board position of membership chairman. Les Huber and Gary Bergman were elected to news position on the membership committee.   WDT              (names not indexed)

 

1991

06 07       AWARDS

Robert Steinhorst was named Lion of the Year at the Watertown Lions Club annual awards night held at the Watertown Country Club Monday.  George Raether was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award.  Merle Zastrow was installed as president of the club.  He was handed the gavel by Chuck Roberts, who has served as president for the past year.

 

1993

04 16       PONATH AND NIEDFELDT HONORED

Gary Ponath and Harold Niedfeldt were honored by the Watertown Lions Club Monday night at Old Timers Night held at the Watertown Country Club.  Ponath was honored for 38 years of perfect attendance.  Niedfeldt has 31 years of perfect attendance.  Ponath, of 1148 Bayberry Drive, joined Lions in 1953 and has been a member for 40 years.  He is retired from the Watertown Daily Times where he served as display advertising manager for many years.  He was president of Lions in 1959, served as zone chairman in 1961 and received the Bruce Schlueter Award in 1971.  He also served the organization in other capacities.  Niedfeldt served as president in 1965, secretary in 1976 and ‘77, received the Distinguished Service Award in 1978, and Bruce Schlueter Award and Lion of the Year.  While in Lions, he served as zone chairman, director, and in many other capacities.

 

1994

06 03       OFFICERS ELECTED

The Watertown Lions Club held its annual installation and awards banquet earlier this week at the Watertown Country Club.  The following Watertown Lions Club members were installed as officers for the July 2009 through June 2010 Lion year: Nancy Dishneau, president; John Wanke, first vice president; Terry Zastrow, second vice president; Craig Schuler, third vice president; Dolly Laatsch, secretary; Mary Braunschweig, treasurer; Larry Braunschweig, Lion tamer; Dennis Gutzdorf, tail twister; and Ray Vick, immediate past president.  The Wisconsin Lions Foundation Birch-Strum Fellowship was awarded to Braunschweig and the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin Knight of Sight Award was presented to Lion Bill Schultz and his wife, Mary Schultz.

 

2003

05 20       DOLLY LAATSCH

Watertown Lions Club member Dolly Laatsch has received one of the highest awards available from Lions Club International.  She was presented with the International Presidents Leadership Award by past international director Rick Myers of Nebraska at the Wisconsin State Lions Convention recently held in Oconomowoc.  Laatsch is past president of the Watertown Lions Club, received the Presidents Excellence Award for her efforts, and has been active in many Lions activities.  She has served as district hearing chairwoman for 52 clubs and as zone chairwoman for seven clubs.  WDT

 

2006

05 18       AWARDS

The Watertown Lions Club presented awards to several members on Monday night at the Watertown Country Club where members cooked their own steaks for dinner.  New officers were also installed.  Terry Zastrow received two major awards, the Bruce Schlueter Lion of the Year Award and the Birch-Sturm Award.  Sue Jaramillo was recipient of the distinguished service award.  Nancy Dishneau received the Melvin Jones Award and Daryl Arnold was recipient of the Wisconsin Lions Eye Bank Knight of Sight Award which was given to a club member for the first time.   WDT

 

2015

06 03       AWARDS

The Watertown Lions Club presented numerous awards to members at its annual awards dinner on Monday at Turner Hall. Officers for 2015-16 were also installed. Master of ceremonies for the event was Mark Hintzmann, Lions member and past international director.  Top awards were given to Bill Schmidt, Leader Dog Founders Tribute Award; Mary Braunschweig, Distinguished Service Award; Marlene Raether, Birch Sturm Fellowship Award; and Jason Jones, Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. 

 

Other recipients were Ben Hoppenrath, Golf Award; Jane Hintzmann, Top Chef Award; and Edwin Wolf III, Key Award. Perfect attendance awards were given to Larry and Mary Braunschweig, Nancy Dishneau, Louis Hady, Mark and Jayne Hintzmann, Jason Jones, Don and Dolly Laatsch, Jerry Rabbach, Bill Schultz, Ray Vick, Edwin Wolf III and Fred Zastrow.

 

Jason Jones was installed as president. Immediate past president is Ray Vick. Other officers are Louis Hady, first vice president; Edwin Wolf III, second vice president; James Raabe, third vice president; Dolly Laatsch, secretary; Jayne Hintzmann, treasurer; Don Laatsch, lion tamer; and Mark Hintzmann, tail twister. Directors are Don Laatsch and Nancy Dishneau, one year; and Cindy Schuhmacher and John Wanke, two years.

 

Dave Quamme and John Schuhmacher were installed as new members.   WDT             (names not indexed)

 

 

      < PORTFOLIO OF PICS

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents 

History of Watertown, Wisconsin

Index