Garbers Named Grand Marshals Of Manchester FunFest Parade
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
NORTH MANCHESTER - Manchester College alumni, active community members and nearly 40-year residents of North Manchester, Jim and Anne Garber will participate in yet another community event for North Manchester this weekend.
The Garbers were recently selected as grand marshals for North Manchester's FunFest parade, "Going the Distance."
They said they weren't really sure why they were chosen as grand marshals for the parade, but they were very honored.
"Chris Maslowski and Karen Volk, co-chairs for the parade, called us," Jim said, "but we have no idea what was all processed (as to the decision made)."
"It's an honor," Anne said.
"We're flattered," Jim added.
"We've raised our family here," Anne said of the community, "and I think it offers so much."
"We've lived here almost 40 years," Jim added, "and we've loved it. The schools are good and the opportunities in the town are good."
Jim grew up in Elkhart and Anne grew up in Grant County. "She was a country girl," Jim said of his wife.
The Garbers said they've really appreciated "the broad involvement of the community and causes that enhance the community."
"It's been a life of a lot of friends that work together," Jim said. "We've been happy to be involved with these people in the community."
The Garbers also said volunteerism is very important in the community.
"It's really important to the community that people give time," Jim said, "and to the extent that that's recognized ... that's positive."
Jim and Anne said part of being the grand marshals this year includes recognizing the importance of volunteerism not only from them, but from others in the community. They said they are looking forward to seeing members of the community during their reign through town as grand marshals.
"It's a contact with those people who have supported the town - who have volunteered," Anne said.
The parade is Saturday at 6 p.m. It begins at Manchester High School, travels down Mill Street to Main Street then to Market Street and back to the high school.
Jim retired 10 years ago as director of planned giving in the development office at Manchester College. Before that, he worked at the college as director of development from 1962 to 1983. From 1983 to 1986 he was the executive for human resources for the Church of the Brethren. He then was the director of planned giving for before to his retirement.
Although retired, Jim is still very active in the North Manchester community. He is chairman of the planning committee for the Town Life Center, which, he said, takes most of his time; president of the North Manchester Public Library Board; vice chairman of the Timbercrest board; past president of the Manchester Shepherd's Center, "an older adult program in town"; and "I mow the lawn quite a bit," Jim said as he laughed.
"And we go to ball games and watch our grandsons," Anne added.
Both Jim and Anne are 1950 graduates of Manchester College. Jim earned his master's degree in business administration, and Anne earned hers in education, both from Indiana University.
Anne taught second grade at Thomas Marshall School in North Manchester for 17 years and one year at Maple Park in North Manchester. She then retired in 1983.
But her retirement hasn't slowed her down, either. She has been on the Manchester Community Childcare board for 11 years now and also has participated in several community organizations such as the Manchester Church of the Brethren and Manchester Community Schools. Anne is involved with women's fellowship at the church "where we make blankets for babies" in need. She also does some tutoring in the community schools.
"I'm interested in lots of things but that'll do it," Anne said as she tried to be modest about her activities.
The Garbers were more than happy to be interviewed. After all they've had three interviews from area newspapers to practice. They said they've had several people bring them cut-outs of the articles. "We have oodles of them," Anne laughed.
Despite all the attention they're getting lately and all the activities they're involved in, Jim said they're "pretty modest" about the whole thing.
The Garbers have four children, two of whom live in North Manchester, and four grandchildren.
In their free time they said they enjoy, probably most of all, watching their grandchildren play baseball. [[In-content Ad]]
NORTH MANCHESTER - Manchester College alumni, active community members and nearly 40-year residents of North Manchester, Jim and Anne Garber will participate in yet another community event for North Manchester this weekend.
The Garbers were recently selected as grand marshals for North Manchester's FunFest parade, "Going the Distance."
They said they weren't really sure why they were chosen as grand marshals for the parade, but they were very honored.
"Chris Maslowski and Karen Volk, co-chairs for the parade, called us," Jim said, "but we have no idea what was all processed (as to the decision made)."
"It's an honor," Anne said.
"We're flattered," Jim added.
"We've raised our family here," Anne said of the community, "and I think it offers so much."
"We've lived here almost 40 years," Jim added, "and we've loved it. The schools are good and the opportunities in the town are good."
Jim grew up in Elkhart and Anne grew up in Grant County. "She was a country girl," Jim said of his wife.
The Garbers said they've really appreciated "the broad involvement of the community and causes that enhance the community."
"It's been a life of a lot of friends that work together," Jim said. "We've been happy to be involved with these people in the community."
The Garbers also said volunteerism is very important in the community.
"It's really important to the community that people give time," Jim said, "and to the extent that that's recognized ... that's positive."
Jim and Anne said part of being the grand marshals this year includes recognizing the importance of volunteerism not only from them, but from others in the community. They said they are looking forward to seeing members of the community during their reign through town as grand marshals.
"It's a contact with those people who have supported the town - who have volunteered," Anne said.
The parade is Saturday at 6 p.m. It begins at Manchester High School, travels down Mill Street to Main Street then to Market Street and back to the high school.
Jim retired 10 years ago as director of planned giving in the development office at Manchester College. Before that, he worked at the college as director of development from 1962 to 1983. From 1983 to 1986 he was the executive for human resources for the Church of the Brethren. He then was the director of planned giving for before to his retirement.
Although retired, Jim is still very active in the North Manchester community. He is chairman of the planning committee for the Town Life Center, which, he said, takes most of his time; president of the North Manchester Public Library Board; vice chairman of the Timbercrest board; past president of the Manchester Shepherd's Center, "an older adult program in town"; and "I mow the lawn quite a bit," Jim said as he laughed.
"And we go to ball games and watch our grandsons," Anne added.
Both Jim and Anne are 1950 graduates of Manchester College. Jim earned his master's degree in business administration, and Anne earned hers in education, both from Indiana University.
Anne taught second grade at Thomas Marshall School in North Manchester for 17 years and one year at Maple Park in North Manchester. She then retired in 1983.
But her retirement hasn't slowed her down, either. She has been on the Manchester Community Childcare board for 11 years now and also has participated in several community organizations such as the Manchester Church of the Brethren and Manchester Community Schools. Anne is involved with women's fellowship at the church "where we make blankets for babies" in need. She also does some tutoring in the community schools.
"I'm interested in lots of things but that'll do it," Anne said as she tried to be modest about her activities.
The Garbers were more than happy to be interviewed. After all they've had three interviews from area newspapers to practice. They said they've had several people bring them cut-outs of the articles. "We have oodles of them," Anne laughed.
Despite all the attention they're getting lately and all the activities they're involved in, Jim said they're "pretty modest" about the whole thing.
The Garbers have four children, two of whom live in North Manchester, and four grandchildren.
In their free time they said they enjoy, probably most of all, watching their grandchildren play baseball. [[In-content Ad]]