A tireless leader of community

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John Hollmeyer was selected as the parade marshal for the 2009 Corn Festival Parade. (Herald photo by Adam Nekola - anekola@morrisdailyherald.com)

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Following in the long tradition of Grundy County Corn Festival Parade marshals, John Hollmeyer is someone who works in the community and helps others.

Hollmeyer and his wife, Renee, will lead the 2009 Corn Festival Parade on Sunday Sept. 27.

"I was surprised and honored," Hollmeyer said when told he had been chosen. "I was uptown and the mayor (Tom Wise) told me I was chosen parade marshal."

"Now that I am retired, I like to help out and serve where I can," he said. "The (Gardner) American Legion keeps me pretty busy."

Hollmeyer retired in June 2008, after almost 21 years with the Illinois Department of Transportation. He worked in road maintenance, mostly out of the Gardner facility, and he plowed snow.

"I worked one year out of Morris and the rest from Gardner," he said.

Hollmeyer, a veteran of the Vietnam War, has been commander of the Gardner American Legion for 20 years and a member for 29 years. He served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971.

Hollmeyer said a wide variety of organizations use the Gardner American Legion's facilities, including scouts, high school organizations and We Care of Grundy County.

Dwight Township High School used it for the prom, he said.

Mayor Wise has known Hollmeyer for a long time and was impressed with what Hollmeyer does for the community.

"He is pretty busy with the Legion, and they make the building available for a lot of organizations and activities," he said. "The Lions Club holds their breakfasts there."

Mayor Wise thought Hollmeyer was very deserving of the honor. He was pleased to recommend him

A native of Gardner, Hollmeyer also served as a member of the Gardner Volunteer Fire Department.

Active with the St. Lawrence Catholic Church in South Wilmington, this resulted in him and his wife volunteering to help the homeless in Morris. Hollmeyer said he and his wife learned of the PADS shelters in Morris and the need for volunteers.

Last winter, each of seven churches in Morris opened their doors one night a week for people who had no place else to go. They received meals, a lunch to take with them and a warm place to spend the night.

Hollmeyer said he and his wife volunteered at the Peace Lutheran Church in Morris, working the second shift (11 p.m. to 3 a.m.) the third Monday.

"We liked it," he said. "We did not always have a lot of people, but it was good to see them get fed and have a warm place to spend the night. It was well worth it."

Hollmeyer and his wife, Renee, have a daughter, Kristen. She is married to Mike Ashley; they have three children, Lauren, 18; Michael 8; and Easton, 5; and live in South Wilmington.

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