Outstanding seniors honored

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Caroline Paulsen of Springfield and Morris E. (Morrie) Evans of Comfrey shared the spotlight as Brown County's Outstanding Senior Citizens during Senior Citizens Day at the Brown County Fair Thursday.

Paulsen, 85, and Evans, 83, received engraved plaques as 2001 honorees and joined an elite group of seniors who have been honored over the years at the fair.

They were honored during a two-hour program in the Variety tent north of the grandstand Thursday morning.

The awards are provided by the Brown County Committee on Aging and were presented by Bob Apitz, support services coordinator, Brown County Family Services. Also participating in the award ceremony was Bea Renner of Springfield, president of Brown County Committee on Aging.

In growing up in the Springfield area, Paulsen soon knew her true desire was to become a nurse. She worked in housekeeping for the same family during the Great Depression to earn enough money to become finance nursing school.

She began her nursing career at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Wichita, Kans., and soon joined the U.S. Army's 70th Unit formed by the St. Louis Hospital. She then was stationed for two years in Oran, Africa, until the unit followed the war activity to Italy where she helped care for the sick and dying.

Back home after the war, she worked as a school nurse at Ruthton until she and her children moved back to Springfield. She worked at the Springfield Community Hospital for 23 years before retiring in 1984.

Since then, she has remained an active volunteer in her community, serving as a Bloodmobile Volunteer as well as a volunteer with the Springfield Hospice Program and at St. John Lutheran Home in Springfield.

"Caroline has lived a life of service -- first as an army nurse, then as a school nurse and finally as a nurse at the Springfield Hospital," Apitz said. "Maybe that is what gives her the caring, compassionate heart and soft, kind speaking voice she shares with others now as a retired nurse and caring neighbor in the community."

Evans, who was born in Cambria Township and grew up in Hanska and Lake Crystal, learned early what it took to stay afloat in life.

During the early '30s, from the eighth grade through junior in high school, he worked at a dairy in Lake Crystal, earning 50 cents a week, to help his family while his father regained his health. When his father was able to go back to work delivering groceries for three different stores in Lake Crystal, Evans and his brothers helped him with the deliveries whenever they could.

After meeting and marrying Emeline, his wife of 61 years, Evans left Lake Crystal and moved to Comfrey where they have lived for the past 60 years -- with a two-year break when they lived in Springfield while rebuilding after the tornado.

He served the Comfrey Public School as custodian engineer for 32 years before retiring. For 37 years, he was a volunteer firefighter with the Comfrey Fire Department, holding every position including fire chief.

He also served his church in numerous capacities, served as a scoutmaster, a certified firearms instructor in Brown County and was instrumental in setting up a firearms course for youth. He also served on the Comfrey City Council for nearly 15 years.

In 1996, he and his wife became involved in the re-organization of the senior citizens group in Comfrey. Evans was asked to serve as the group's president and continues in that post at thecurrent time. He has also become involved in coordination of annual flu immunization clinics sponsored by the county, as well as being a representative from Comfrey on the Brown County Committee on Aging.

"It's been said that Morrie has lived a life as a person who gives to the community," Apitz said. "His leadership style involves listening to others and honoring each person's dignity. Ever humble, he attributes his accomplishments to the support of Emeline, his wife of more than 60 years."

Six Brown County sixth-graders read essays they wrote for Older Americans Month in May.

Michael Bornhoft of New Ulm wrote about his grandparents; Rebecca Rengstorf of Nicollet who goes to school in New Ulm told why her great-grandmother was very special to her; Brian Lux of Sleepy Eye and Heather Hamilton of Springfield told why their grandfathers are important to them; Andrew Joyce of Springfield wrote about his grandmother and her "great mashed potatoes," and Emily Johnson of Springfield wrote why a lady who is not related to her is "like my grandmother."