Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer is now in the U.S. House of Representatives Records, thanks to Second District Congressman Rudy Yakym.
Yakym presented Thallemer today with a copy of a Congressional Record entry Yakym wrote in recognition of Thallemer’s service to Warsaw before Thallemer steps down at the end of the year. The Congressional Record entry was made in the House of Representatives on Thursday, Oct. 12.
In a telephone call today, Thallemer said he was surprised when the copy of the record was presented to him. He was at an event to hear Yakym speak to constituents.
“I was taken aback,” Thallemer said, adding that there’s a lot of good community-minded people in the community so he feels a little awkward when he is singled out. “We get things done in this community because we all care for the community.”
“I’m very thankful. I’m humbled by it. It was a surprise. I always feel funny about it because there are so many people who make this a great community. I do appreciate it. I’m very thankful he did it. He (Yakym) has done a great job in the short amount of time he’s been in Congress with everything that’s been going on,” Thallemer said.
He agreed that this was probably the first time he’s been singled out in the Congressional Record.
“I’m kind of stunned by it,” Thallemer said.
Yakym’s entry states: “Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I am proud to recognize and congratulate Mayor Joseph Thallemer, who is completing his tenure of dedicated service to Warsaw, Indiana, at the end of this year. Currently serving in his third term as mayor, Joe Thallemer has long advocated solutions that make Warsaw a better place to live, work and raise a family and that maintains and builds on Warsaw’s status as the medical device and Orthopedic Capital of the World.
“Prior to becoming mayor, Joe Thallemer also served on the city council and the Warsaw Plan Commission, meaning his record of faithfully serving Warsaw runs nearly three decades deep.
“Beyond City Hall, many Hoosiers know Joe through his optometry practice that he established in Warsaw in 1980. Outside of his medical practice and elected office, Joe has also given back to the community he and his wife Jill call home by serving on the local YMCA board, as well as in church and school activities with Jill and their four children.
“As he prepares to step down as mayor, spend more time with his family, and write the next chapter of his life, I am proud to congratulate Joe Thallemer on a distinguished career and a job well done. The Warsaw community is unquestionably better off thanks to this good man with a servant’s heart. I join Hoosiers throughout Indiana’s Second Congressional District in expressing our gratitude to Mayor Thallemer for his service and in wishing him and his wonderful family nothing but the very best going forward,” the record concludes.