Drexlers

win Good

Neighbor

Award

Always willing

to help others

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- A New Ulm couple known for their kindness to humanity received the 2004 National Night Out Good Neighbor Award Monday at the New Ulm Civic Center.

Joyce and Marvin Drexler were called good-hearted people, always willing to help others, caring for young children in their home for many years, according to Elva and Ken Clyne of New Ulm who nominated them for the award.

"She treated those children like they were her own grandchildren, taking a personal interest in them," said the Clynes.

After Marvin retired from Kraft after 35 years, he became involved in his wife's day care work. He was known for the almost daily kids parades he led around the neighborhood.

"Children were fortunate to have such love and attention," the Clynes said.

The couple is retired from day care work now, but they keep busy helping at St. Paul's School and in church activities. Joyce, who was ill and could not attend Monday's celebration, is a Red Hat Society member and does volunteer work with that group.

Marvin is an avid gardener. The couple enjoys canning and freezing vegetables and sharing them with family and friends.

They do volunteer work with the American Legion, helping prepare food served in the club rooms and work at the food stand at Legion baseball games at Johnson Park.

They are always ready to help when a friend or family member is ill or a loved one dies.

New Ulm Police Chief Erv Weinkauf thanked New Ulm new car dealers for donating $4,000 that was used to purchase stun guns for the police department. He said tasers often act an an important deterrent for officers.

Weinkauf thanked everybody for their hard work at the event, which was moved from German Park to the New Ulm Civic Center due to hot and humid weather that included a severe thunderstorm watch.

Weinkauf praised the NNO crime prevention program.

"We have a great law enforcement department, but we still need your eyes and ears," Weinkauf said. "It's important for people to report anything suspicious to us. Things like an unusual amount of traffic in a neighborhood."

The New Ulm NNO award was previously awarded to Patty Rodewald in 1999, Sarah Rohde and Mary Lambrecht in 2000, John and Alyce Konz in 2001, Marilyn and Dick Hudson in 2002 and Bev Belin in 2003.

National Night Out is a nationwide campaign to boost police and community ties. Residents are encouraged to schedule outdoor neighborhood gatherings.

Neighborhood picnics will be held this evening across the country. For more information, call your local law enforcement agency.

(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).