Easley wins Trucker award for school honors

Retired teacher keeps busy checking eyes, building sets
By: 
Grace Kirchner
Correspondent

CLINTONVILLE — Lowell Easley has received a Trucker Recognition Award from the Clintonville School District for making a difference in the local schools.

Superintendent Dr. David Dyb said that the award was presented because of his work with the Clintonville Lions, including helping with vision screenings at the schools. His set-building skills, especially with school plays, were also a factor, he said.

Clintonville School Board president Ben Huber agreed, noting that, “He is a retired teacher that is busier now than when he was teaching.”

Easley retired from the district at age 57 and said at the time he would not be back in school. But after about six months, he already missed being before the kids. He spent most of his years teaching sixth grade but he came back to substitute for 10 years in elementary and high school. He taught English, spelling, reading and science.

Easley attended Northern Michigan University and earned his undergraduate in elementary education, being certified for kindergarten through eighth grade.

He found there was a teaching job opening in Clintonville, and another in Antigo. When he interviewed with then-principal Reed Newton in Clintonville, he was offered the job. Easley accepted, and he said he has never regretted it, spending his entire teaching career in Clintonville.

Easley later earned his master’s degree in administration and library science at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Easley and his wife, Penny, adopted their daughter, Erin, and they have three grandchildren.

“It was my granddaughter Makayla that got me involved in set building,” Easley said. “She was in fourth grade when Mary Beth Kuester got her involved in the Mielke theater in Shawano. She worked with Brandon Byng (now the artistic director for Clintonville’s Phoenix Players). I got involved in the set building. I got my carpenter skills by watching others and by doing. I like to work with wood. I have a workshop in my basement.”

When Makayla became involved in the productions at Clintonville High School, Easley again became involved in set building. He spent over 200 hours building sets for the recent production of “Mamma Mia.”

Easley said it had a highly involved, elaborate internal structure that took a lot of planning. He has 16 pages of the design.

Easley is currently kept busy working with the plans for the University of Wisconsin Singers that are returning to Clintonville High School on Feb. 14.

“I am so proud to have the people in this area have an opportunity to hear talent of this quality in Clintonville. It is a fundraiser with a portion of the funds going to the Lions Club and a portion to the high school music department,” he said.

Easley has helped with constructing 59 wheelchair ramps that the Lions have installed in Clintonville. He said he recalls constructing a ramp for a lady when it was 20 degrees below zero.

Easley is also involved in the Lions’ rose sale.

Don’t look for Easley to slow down any time soon. He said volunteering and being involved in the school district and the community is good for retired citizens. It helps to give them a social life that they might not have otherwise.

The Trucker Recognition Award was established to recognize someone with a school-community connection who has made a positive impact. Anyone may submit a name for recognition.

To submit a name for the award, contact Dyb at 715-823-7215, ext. 2604.