2022 Stars Over 70

Thank you to Belle Plaine High School's Creative Writing Class for the Stars' bios that appeared in the Star Press Union.
Don Anderson

Don Anderson dedicated over 50 years of his life to teaching Belle Plaine students. He taught math, he coached, and, for fun, he announced sports in Belle Plaine. By the time he decided to retire, his classes were legendary for his innovative teaching methods. Over time, DA’s classes became a mix of traditional (chalkboard and notes even in this technology-driven age) and contemporary (he was the first teacher in the district to upload student lessons to his own website).

 DA’s commitment was such that when he was teaching, he always arrived at school around an hour early in the morning so he could be prepared for the lessons he would teach that day, lessons that would help his students be successful in their future lives, in whatever work they undertake, but also in decision making, as well as in using patience and perseverance, in their everyday lives.  

In fact, his commitment to his students, to the school, and to education is so great that he went 34 years without taking a sick day, and even in retirement, he refuses to stay out of the classroom and is a steadfast sub for the BP Schools.
In 2020, he was awarded the Robert Ray educator of character award, an honor conferred on individuals who consistently demonstrate good character as a visible role model.  Additionally, his contributions to BP education were considered so great, the Center for Learning, in Belle Plaine's Junior/Senior High School building, was named for him.
Rima Johnson

Arriving in Belle Plaine in the late 1960s, Rima Khachatourian Johnson moved from a city with millions of people to a town that had a population of less than 3000. The size of the city, the language, the food, and many other aspects of life were very different, and yet Rima quickly became a beloved Belle Plaine citizen.

She spent three decades teaching Belle Plaine first grade students, giving them the firm grounding in learning and in the skills that they would need throughout their school years and eventually in their working years.
Rima also worked to help older students during her teaching time. She established Belle Plaine’s PRIDE program to help area students and parents with substance abuse education. And of course, she served twenty years on the school foundation board, including time spent as president. 
To this day, she continues to impact Belle Plaine Schools and students as a member of the Board of Education and as a model of what investing in lifelong learning and giving to the community looks like.

Rima has spent her retirement time, not resting on her laurels, but serving and teaching others of all ages, from elementary-age children to senior citizens. To name a few of her many activities, She read regularly to first graders at Longfellow Elementary. She continues to serve on the school board and the community library foundation board. She has been active in both Athena, where she is also a past president, and PEO. She’s volunteered for Meals on Wheels. Over the years, she’s given her expertise to several organizations, including the Catherine McCAuley Center in Cedar Rapids, to teach English to non-native speakers. She’s trained in hospice care and bereavement outreach and volunteered regularly at Mercy Hospital.

Rima’s life is a great example of how one individual can affect many lives through giving back to the community.
Marvin Kucera

Marvin Kucera has always been committed to making the world a better place to live and has spent his life giving back to his community, whether it be in Tama County or Belle Plaine, and the people in it.

First and foremost, his status as a Tama and Benton County Master Gardener for more than 25 years, his years on the Beautification Committee, and his service on the City Tree Board have allowed him to help the community, as well as mentor others about gardening, growing flowers and vegetables, and making brighter and better places through caring for the environment.

But Marvin’s service to the community has not just been in the area of beautification. For several years, he coordinated monthly Sunday afternoon programs at the Belle Plaine Area Museum, working with our mom to offer educational and interesting, often fascinating programs that helped the museum by raising their profile and number of patrons as well as bringing lifelong learning opportunities to area citizens.    
Additionally, for many years, he has been very active in the Belle Plaine Methodist Church. For 60 years, he’s been a part of the Masonic Lodge, another organization that provides scholarships and lifelong learning opportunities, and he has served in the past as the local Hope Lodge’s Master. He served as a horticulture judge for 4-H at Benton County Fair, and has shown vegetables at the Iowa State Fair for 15 years. And as one of the few, if not the only, person in Belle Plaine qualified to do so, he has given lessons in speaking the Czech language. Clearly, Marvin demonstrates how to be a lifelong learner. 

Dennis Schwab

Dennis Schwab has demonstrated his commitment to helping Belle Plaine through his more than 5 decades of working at, managing, and then owning Country Foods. When he started out in the business, his store was not the only grocery store in town, but as years passed, his became the go-to place for groceries and services. Dennis clearly recognized that as a small town, in order to thrive, Belle Plaine needed that resource. He worked tirelessly to keep the store accessible and he expanded over the years to include services like video, dry-cleaning pickup, and Belle Plaine’s only Deli. He offered delivery of groceries for seniors, and recently, during the pandemic, delivery and curbside pickup was offered to everyone.
His is truly a success story as a businessman—few are able to keep a small business going for so long in any environment but especially in a small town; and his is a success story as an employer who created a work environment of kindness and respect and offered mentoring that resulted in the continued admiration and loyalty of his employees. In 1994, he was named Grocer of the Year by the Iowa Grocery Industry Association and served as a board member from 1996 to 2000. He received honors from Progressive Grocers Magazine, Belle Plaine FFA, Iowa Valley FFA, Benton County Pork Producers, and the National Guard.

Further, Dennis often worked with nonprofits in town, and while it probably wasn’t always easy for him, he offered support and often donated to their causes. Four days in 2009, he was honored to turn over the exterior of his building and parking lot to the Walldogs for the creation of four historical murals now displayed on Main Street.
 
Not surprisingly, his other service includes 40 years in the Lion’s Club, an organization dedicated to serving their community and world. He also served on the Belle Plaine Board of Education.  And he has been active in the Lutheran Church throughout his life.
 
Without doubt, Denny's work and accomplishments demonstrate his commitment to serving the community and helping others.