By Chris Spangler
A man who exemplifies the spirit of Rotary daily was honored by the civic organization on Monday.
John McIntyre was presented the Allan S. Haukom Service Above Self Award when the Fort Atkinson Rotary Club held its awards luncheon Monday at the Rock River Park Rotary Pavilion.
Presenter Ardell Wiederhoeft noted that there have been eight recipients in the 17 years since the award was created.
He said McIntyre was chosen due to his extensive list of contributions to the community and club, adding, “Much of what he has done has gone unnoticed because of his quiet humility.”
Growing up on a dairy farm, McIntyre graduated in 1964 from Fort Atkinson High School, where he was the FFA president and a regional champion wrestler.
“The recipient commuted to, and graduated from, the Wisconsin State University at Whitewater in 1969, with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Liberal Arts,” Wiederhoeft said. “He lived at home and worked on the farm and in the family business, McIntyre Floral, wherever he was needed the most.”
He reported that McIntyre was drafted into the U.S. Army and served from 1969-71, including a year in Vietnam as an artillery ballistic meteorologist crewman.
With a rank of Specialist 5, equivalent to that of sergeant, he would send up weather balloons, once every 12 hours, to measure the atmospheric conditions used by the artillery to calculate adjustments for trajectories, given the weather conditions. In 2009, he self-published a book about his military experience titled “The Weather in Vietnam.”
“Upon returning from the Army, he joined the family business, and served as a board member for two of the organizations McIntyre Floral belonged to,” Wiederhoeft said. “His business was a member of the chamber of commerce until 2013, when he sold it and retired.”
McIntyre and his wife, Gayle, met on a blind date in 1973. They have two daughters, Ann and Beth.
His hobbies include sketching, oil painting, downhill skiing, target shooting, motorcycling, amateur radio and writing.
Wiederhoeft listed some of McIntyre’s past activities and community service, including participating in the Big Brothers program and mentoring an at-risk student.
He served as president of the Fort Atkinson Jaycees, Retail Division chairman of the Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, a member of the Fort Atkinson City Council for two terms, past-chairman of the Police and Fire Commission, a member of the Planning Commission and past councilman, secretary and treasurer of Bethany Lutheran Church.
Wiederhoeft said that McIntyre is a 37-year member of the Fort Atkinson Rotary Club and a three-time Paul Harris Fellow. He served as club secretary for the past five and a half years.
A member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 409 Jefferson County, he also is a member of the Tri-County Amateur Radio Club, the Rock River Story Weavers and The Writers Dozen.
He volunteers at Rainbow Hospice Care/Friends in Action, Crown of Life Christian Academy and the Feed Your Soul program at First United Methodist Church. McIntyre also is a volunteer driver of the Jefferson County Veterans Services van, transporting veterans to appointments at the William S. Middleton Veterans Administration Hospital.
Kessenich honored
Also on Monday, Jill Kessenich was named the 2021-22 Honorary Paul Harris Fellow.
Each year since 1985, the Fort Atkinson Rotary Club has made a $1,000 contribution to the Rotary Foundation on behalf of a member whose service to the club and community exemplify the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.”
“While doing research on this recipient, I kept thinking of this person like an onion … not bulbous or pungent, but a person with deep layers,” presenter Carla Haubenschild said of Kessenich. “The more I asked about this person, the more I wanted to know.”
She called Kessenich “artistic, yet business-minded,” “ quiet, yet confident” and “a community leader, a singer, a dancer and a world traveler.”
“In Rotary, this person raises their hand whenever we need them,” Haubenschild said of Kessenich. “We need a technical person for our hybrid Rotary meetings, they raised their hand. We need a new board member, they raised their hand. We need a server for the wind fundraiser, they raised their hand despite the fact that they had a reservation for their anniversary at the Tornado Room in Madison.”
She noted that Kessenich has been active in Rotary International since 2012 and joined the Fort Atkinson club in 2018.
In addition to Rotary, Kessenich has been active with the Fort Atkinson Historic Preservation Commission, United Way of Jefferson and North Walworth County Board of Directors, Rock River Heritage Board of Directors, Fort Atkinson Planning Commission, American Association of University Women and Heart of the City.
“She is the definition of ‘Service Above Self,’” Haubenschild said.
Currently, Kessenich is director of the Fort Atkinson Club. She and her husband, Steve Tessmer, have been married for 21 years.
Contributions to the Rotary Foundation also were recognized during the program.
Jim Nelson noted that of the 39 active Rotary Club members, 70 percent contribute to the Rotary Foundation. Fifteen are sustaining members who give $100 or more a year.
“Fort Atkinson Rotary Club members are credited with donating almost $170,000 to the Rotary Foundation (through the years),” he said.
Members recognized as Contributing Paul Harris Fellows, having given at least $100 to the foundation this past year, include Margaret Bare, Mike Bender, Edwin Bos, Bob Cheek, Carrie Chisholm, Kris Curran, Jim Fitzpatrick, Kim Foelker, Jill Kessenich, John McIntyre, Carrie Shockman, Christine Spangler, Lisa Tuttle Woods and Ardell Wiederhoeft.
Bare and Shockman are first-time Paul Harris Fellows.
Honored as Multiple Paul Harris Fellows for contributing another $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation are Bob Cheek, Jim Fitzpatrick, Mike Bender, Ardell Wiederhoeft and Jim Nelson.
Also Monday, Rotarians recognized for years of service in the local club were Chris Nevermann, Whitney Townsend and Carl Selvick, all five years; Paul Cox, 10; and Bill Camplin, 20 years.
Incoming President Jeff Okazaki presented a plaque to Margaret Bare for serving as club president the past year.
John McIntyre, at left, receives the Allan S. Haukom Service Above Self Award. The presentation was made Monday during the Fort Atkinson Rotary Club’s awards luncheon. The event was held at the Rock River Park Rotary Pavilion. Ardell Wiederhoeft made the presentation.
Jill Kessenich, at right, is named the 2021-22 Honorary Paul Harris Fellow. The recognition was given Monday by the Fort Atkinson Rotary Club. She was presented with the honor by Carla Haubenschild.
Incoming Fort Atkinson Rotary Club President Jeff Okazaki, at right, presents a past-president’s plaque to Margaret Bare for leading the civic organization during 2021-22.
Chris Spangler photos.
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