Blaine Koch volunteers with the Wittenberg Lions Club.
He was born and raised in Iowa, graduating from Davenport West High School. Koch earned a degree in meteorology from Northern Illinois University. Beginning in 1976, after various jobs, he worked as a counselor at Homme Home for Boys in Wittenberg for four years. Then Koch was a stay-at-home dad to his two children for four years. He went back to school and earned an education degree to teach math. Koch taught at Manawa High School, retiring five years ago.
He and his wife of 37 years, Pam, live on 40 acres in the town of Birnamwood. They have two granddaughters. The couple likes to travel, garden and raise chickens for eggs.
Koch makes three-dimensional wood puzzles that he gives away or sells. He is a licensed pilot.
Q How long have you been a Lion and how did you get started with the Wittenberg Lions Club?
A “I would say 25 years. I was really looking for a volunteer thing to do. I was working at Homme Home for Boys and a friend who worked there mentioned the Lions Club to me. I had done some volunteer earlier when I drove a taxi for the elderly to go shopping after I saw an ad in the paper in Illinois. I had weekends free. The taxi had four rows of seats. It was fun.”
Q What do you do with the Lions?
A “Right now I’m the secretary. I also help move and maintain the cheese curd stand. We sell them through the summer and at special occasions. Our big moneymaker is the Iola Car Show, where we are there for four days. We have a Lions Christmas party. We invite widows and widowers for a meal. We have a pancake breakfast in spring, usually Palm Sunday. That money is for scholarships for kids at Witt-Birn High School. We gave money to upgrade the skating rink. We helped pay for skate sharpening and improvements to the grounds.”
Q Why do you volunteer?
A “I’ve been a teacher and working at Homme Home for Boys and I know how rough it can be for some people. I feel I’ve been blessed in life. The Lions are losing members and it’s tough to get young people to join. It’s not really an obligation. I wish more people would try volunteering. I think they would be surprised how much fun it is and how good it makes you feel.”
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