Jean Kruse, 2023 Governor’s Volunteer Award recipient, pictured on April 20 alongside members of her family during the Traer Historical Museum’s annual meeting. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

TRAER – Jean Kruse was honored at the Traer Historical Museum annual meeting held on April 20 as a 2023 Governor’s Volunteer Award winner for her many hours spent at the museum, but also for her work in the community over the years.

The Governor’s Volunteer Award (GVA) program provides a way to honor the dedicated people who volunteer their time and talent to help an agency or organization deliver on its mission. Jean will be recognized at a banquet later this summer.

Jean has been a longtime volunteer in the Traer community in various capacities, but when the Traer Sesquicentennial 150th committee suggested a fashion show of some kind, Jean stepped up to spearhead the organization of the event highlighting clothing worn by women in our community dating back to the 1880s. Jean and her committee went through clothing owned by the Traer Historical Museum and selected interesting pieces to use in the fashion show. She conducted research on the individual women who wore the clothing, while also recruiting members of the Traer community to model the clothing.

Jean has also been involved in many other areas of our community as well. She is a Lifetime member of Friends of the Library, and she has served as a member of the Traer Public Library Board of Trustees since February 2003.

From 2000-2004 she was actively involved in raising funds for a library addition. She was instrumental in planning and promoting many fundraisers, including concerts, mystery dinners, and a tea with First Lady Christie Vilsack. Jean often gives tours of the library to alumni who come back to Traer for class reunions.

Jean is an active Traer Methodist Church member and choir director and has served on the Traer Chamber of Commerce. She’s a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She has served as a chaperone for Miss Tama County and also for Miss Iowa, and she’s been a judge for the Miss Tama County pageant. Jean and her husband have taken in children who were experiencing problems at school.

Jean is a longtime member of PEO and has held several offices in the past, including secretary and vice president. She chaired the committee for the local chapter’s Centennial Celebration. She often acts as an “auctioneer” for our local chapter’s fundraising auctions, and she has helped with or given many programs over the years.

Jean’s dedicated hours of service and commitment to her community can be best summed up in the following quote (author unknown): “…when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in.”

Coordinated by Volunteer Iowa, the Governor’s Volunteer Award program – now in its 39th year – allows Iowa nonprofits, charitable organizations, and government entities to honor their volunteers with a prestigious, state-level award.