By Terry and Kay Appenfeldt
How do you define an American patriot? A “patriot” is an individual who strongly identifies with his nation, country, or government. Don Laabs served his country in the Korean era in the US Army from 1956-58 and the US Army Reserves from 1956 to 1963. He was appointed by the United Nations to be an observer at the Pan Mun Jon peace talks.
Stateside, Don served on the committee that formed AMVETS, Post 33, in Beaver Dam in 2006. As an active member he served as Chaplain and Historian of the group. Don in conjunction with Joe Cantafio and several Exchange Club members created the American Hero Music Festival in 2009 to honor all our American heroes (firefighters, police, EMS, active military, veterans, Gold Star families, and POW/MIAs). Don helped charter the Exchange Club of Beaver Dam in 1976, the largest strictly American service organization which has as one of its pillars—Americanism. Don served as the Promotions Chair securing all the talent for the American Hero event in 2014 and served as the co-Chair of the American Hero parade for three years. In addition, Don served as a poll worker and assisted people to vote for many years.
Recently, Don donated a “Statue of the Fallen Hero” to the Beaver Dam Senior Center. To honor Don, Orville Sette, John Schmid, and Terry Appenfeldt from the Senior Center Woodshop build the wooden stand to support the statue. The stand includes medallions from all the branches of the United States military. In addition, Don and Jan donated a memorial wall for the military in the Watermark facility. His garden at his home is artfully crafted and contains multiple memorials to military service. His talent in gardening was recognized as he served on the Secret Garden Tour Committee for Beaver Dam Area Arts Association.
Don instituted placing a “Historic Wall” at the Beaver Dam Middle School, Beaver Dam High School, and Horicon High School that displays 30 American documents such as the Bill of Rights, Constitution, and Declaration of Independence to help students and teachers with history lessons.
As a community leader, Don, his family, and his Bay Marina employees came up with the idea that started the Beaverland Must-Skis Show team in 1993. They named the team and provided boats from their business that first year, talked to skier friends and urged them to join, and have provided a showcase for skiing talent for 21 years. Don stated, “The team is my greatest accomplishment, and I am proud that they placed 3rd in the state and 6th in the nation last year.” Don has served on the Lake Days Planning Committee since its inception in 1991. Don, his family, and his employees at Bay Marina came up with the idea to initiate that community festival to celebrate Beaver Dam Lake which started as a one-day event and has expanded to four days. The Lake Days celebration has provided a family-oriented community event for 23 years.
Don offered the Bay Marina in 1995 as the meeting place for a large group of people concerned about Beaver Dam Lake. He with other members of the group helped form the Beaver Dam Lake Improvement Association. He was appointed by the Mayor to serve on the Beaver Dam Lake Development Corporation serving as Secretary from 2008-2014.
Don and Jan served on the committee hoping to build an indoor ice arena for the community in the 1970s. They with nine other couples signed bank documents that guaranteed that the Family Center would be built. In the 1970s, Don volunteered for three years on the first Board of Directors to determine how to help abused women and children. Ultimately his services with others on the Board established PAVE (People Against a Violent Environment). Don helped to secure the location on North Center Street through his part-time profession in real estate which has provided a safe haven for those that seek shelter from abuse. Don and friends built an organization for special needs youngsters and adults to work at the Dodge County Sheltered Workshop in 1968. That ultimately turned into Green Valley Enterprises. Don has spent 46 hears helping special needs folks starting with taking patients to the Oshkosh Deaf School. Multiple special needs children and adults have participated in boat tours of Beaver Dam Lake provided by Don on his personal pontoon boat for at least a dozen years.
He served as a Social Studies teacher at Beaver Middle School for 27 years and Beaver Dam High School for three years. He and his wife, Jan, have been co-partners in marriage and in community leadership. They have been married for 55 years and have two children, Dan and wife Kathy, Dawn and husband Joe, and grandson Joshua.
It has been our honor to work with Don on the American Hero parade and with the Exchange Club. We admire his ability to interest people in any event in which he participates displaying his appreciation for our help by shaking your hand and always saying thank you. It is gratifying to know Don, and he is quite a role model—“a person who truly cares and enjoys meeting and helping others.”
How do you define a patriot—Don Laabs. How do you define a community leader—Don Laabs. His legacy is defined by that which he accomplishes and that which he loves—Patriotism and Love for His Community and Family.
