Granton’s Honored Citizens, Norman (Casey) and Carol Jean (CJ) Wesenberg,

 will lead the

61^th Granton Fall Festival Parade

 Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011.

 (Contributed Photo)

The Granton Rotary Club is pleased to announce Norman (Casey) and Carol Jean Wesenberg as the 2011 Granton Fall Festival Honored Citizens. Their nomination was submitted by their daughter, Lynn Clark.

Norman, AKA Casey, and Carol Jean (CJ) both attended and graduated from Granton High School and began dating after graduation.  They were married Aug. 22, 1959, recently celebrating 52 years of marriage. They have one daughter, Lynn (Steve) Clark, and two grandchildren, Justin Clark of Texas and Kristi Clark of Minnesota.  They are also blessed to have one great-grandchild, Caleb.

Casey and C. J. live a mile away from where Casey grew up.  Both are enjoying their retirement but keep very busy with volunteering, traveling, township/county committees and spending time with their family.

Carol Jean was born and raised on a farm southwest of Granton. She helped with farm work until she graduated in 1954. C. J. then worked at McLellan’s Dime Store in Marshfield. C. J. attended two years at Wood County Teachers College (referred to as Normal College) and began her teaching career in 1956.  She taught for three more years at Balsam School, which was a rural school east of Stratford. There, she taught all eight grades, giving her experience in many areas.  Carol Jean earned her lifetime teacher’s license by attending night school and summer classes at Stevens Point and Eau Claire – all while teaching!  C. J. retired from teaching in 2003 after having taught at Granton Schools for 44 years.

Casey attended Mayflower School for eight grades and then graduated from Granton High School in 1952.  He joined the Army in 1954 and remained in the Army until 1956. Casey had had various jobs throughout his years such as working at O. W. Trindal Feed Mill in Granton, Lynn Dairy and dairy farming. Casey received his nickname when Carol Jean’s cousin asking to coach the Granton team in the Yellow River League. Casey managed that team through three seasons of zero wins – hence the nickname “Casey” from the popular poem “Casey at the Bat” by Earnest Lawrence Thayer.  Casey also umpped games at Granton Baseball Park for many years. Casey currently drives taxi once a week for Abby Vans in Neillsville. Casey has been the Lynn Township assessor for seven years and was on the Lynn Town Board for eight years.  Currently, he is on the Clark County Board of Supervisors and other county committees. Casey and Carol Jean recalled their “dating days” with smiles.  They remember spending their evenings at the community center in town, where the Sportsman’s Club is currently located.  C. J. remembers that building had 20-plus steps, while Casey recalls playing basketball there, and the hoops were so very close to the mezzanine above the court.  They both stated that was the spot to hang out in those days!

Casey, with a snicker, recalls a time when he and C. J. had just returned home from a date.  It had snowed, and Carol Jean didn’t have boots on at the time. So Casey offered to carry her to the house of which she greatly appreciated.  However, as they neared the house Casey dropped her in the snow bank. C. J. states, “I was wetter then, than if I had walked through all of that snow!"

The Wesenbergs have a busy life!  They have hosted two foreign exchange students, one from Germany and one from Taiwan.  They also host Korean children for four to eight weeks during the school year.  This opportunity came to them from a neighboring friend at church.  They enjoy hosting the students and have learned a great deal about their cultures. Last spring, Casey and C. J. went to Germany to visit the family of Josy, their foreign exchange student. C. J. said that next year, the German family will come to visit them.

Traveling is a big part of their life as well, having only seven more states left to visit.  As stated above, they have visited Germany as well as Alaska.  While in Alaska, they visited the northern part of the United States, Barrow AK.

Volunteering is no stranger to the Wesenbergs either.  Carol Jean has taught both Sunday school and Bible school at church as well as having served on committees.  C. J. also volunteered many hours at school by mowing the lawn and currently volunteers at the Granton Community Child Care Center. C. J. also helped publish the “Granton Community Memories” history book (1856-1976). Casey, along with their daughter, Lynn, both made contributions of pictures and poems to that book. Casey was the Sunday school superintendent for five years and was the treasurer for one year at the Methodist Church in Granton.

Lynn states her parents “are always willing to help others and ask little in return.  Their reward is to know they were able to help someone."

As Granton’s 2011 Honored Citizens, Casey and C. J. Wesenberg will lead the 61^st Granton Fall Festival parade Sunday, Sept. 11. This is a very deserving honor for two outstanding community members.

Norman and Carol Jean Wesenberg in the 2011 Granton Fall Festival Parade.