I was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa where I developed an early interest in American Indian history and culture. I earned an undergraduate degree at the University of Montana (Missoula) and then attended graduate school in Cooperstown, NY where I studied history museum administration.
In the late 1970’s I worked for the Wisconsin Historical Society at their open-air museum near Milwaukee, Old World Wisconsin. After another brief stint in Montana I returned to Wisconsin in the early 1980’s, eventually moving to Prairie du Chien, a city of some 8,000 souls on the banks of the Mississippi River in the southwestern corner of the state. For 30 years I worked as Site Director for Villa Louis – a historic site owned and operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society. My major work there was directing restoration of the Victorian estate that gives its name to the site.
I retired in 2013 and today work as a seasonal park ranger for the National Park Service at Effigy Mounds National Monument.
I have always loved history and historic buildings and currently live in a 100 year-old arts and crafts house. I am an active hobbyist in War of 1812 and early 19thcentury Fur Trade re-enactment. I also love to camp, hike, garden and antique and boat on the Mississippi.
I am active in my Lutheran Church and have been involved in numerous local and regional organizations including Rotary. I have gone on three Rotary-based mission trips to Guatemala and Peru. This will be my first trip to Asia although I have traveled in the UK, Ireland and Europe.
I have never been married and have a small family - today consisting of one brother and three adult nephews and nieces. Oh yeah, and one grumpy old cat.
No comments:
Post a Comment