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Thursday, September 27, 2007
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She lends herself to helping Karen Owen named Citizen of the Year Senior Reporter Known as a dedicated, unsung volunteer and leader who blazed trails, Karen Owen was named Brainerd Citizen of the Year for 2007.
"It was pretty much of a shock," Owen said Wednesday from her Mid-America Mortgage Corp. office in Baxter. "I had no idea . So it was pretty overwhelming and appreciated."
Owen was expecting to hear who cooked up the best batches of chili as she went up to the platform at the Westgate Mall. After all, it was the 17th annual Crow Wing County United Way's Chili Cook-Off. Then she spotted her son across the hall who should have been at his job in Onamia. Her parents were there, too.
"And I thought 'Oh my goodness what is going on,'" she said. "It just kind of hit me then so I started getting teary-eyed."
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"There cannot be only 24 hours in a Karen Owen day." That's what Jeff Olson, Confidence Learning Center executive director, said in his nominating letter for the Brainerd Citizen of the Year for 2007. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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The announcement that she was joining a select group came next.
"It's quite an honor and I really feel privileged to have received it," Owen said of the award.
If all the letters nominating Owen were laid end to end, it would cover a fair amount of real estate. That came as another surprise to Owen.
"Karen is a quiet, unassuming person with one of the biggest and most compassionate hearts in our Brainerd lakes community," wrote Jeff Olson, Confidence Learning Center executive director, in his nomination letter. "Her commitment of time spent volunteering not only to Confidence Learning Center but to our community is unsurpassed. There cannot be only 24 hours in a Karen Owen day!"
A Brainerd native, Owen is known in the community for her work as a mortgage lender. She got into banking while in San Diego where her husband was stationed for his military service. Moving back to Brainerd, Owen got a job at Citizens State Bank starting a career that would take her to a variety of mortgage groups. As a trailblazer in a male-dominated field, Owen said she was the first woman to work as a loan officer in Brainerd. Owen said she was lucky to have male peers willing to treat her as an equal and give her an opportunity.
In 1986, Owen was the first woman to join the Brainerd Noon Sertoma Club and felt welcomed there. During her years of service, she became president and board chairman among other leadership roles. David Clausen, of Brainerd Noon Sertoma Club, also nominated Owen and said her dedication is witnessed as she rarely misses a weekly meeting.
"We, as an organization, couldn't be more proud and appreciative of her contributions," Clausen wrote.
Award winners
Past award recipients are:
Elmer Johnson, 1974; Marvin Campbell, 1975; George Bedard, 1976; Mildred Michaels, 1977; Herb Kessler, 1978, Lucille Shaw, 1979; Walter Doran, 1980; Ray Bang, 1981; Jack Echternacht, 1982; Pete Humphrey, 1983; Ray Madison, 1984; Birney Wilkens, 1985; Jack Ruttger, 1986; Bob Gross, 1987; Marv Nutting, 1988; Sara Dunlap, 1989; Tom Isle, 1990; Dick Endres, 1991; Bill Van Essen, 1992; Hanspeter Borgwarth, 1993; Jon Haapajoki, 1994; Arnie Johnson, 1995; Sister Vivian Arts, 1996; Warren Williams, 1997; Ruth Gmeinder, 1998; Kevin Thesing, 1999; Terry McCollough, 2000; Bonnie Cumberland, 2001; Paul Bloom, 2002; Reed Campbell, 2003; Steve Esser, 2004; and Dutch and Irma Cragun, 2005; Tom Kotula, 2006.
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Owen volunteers with the American Cancer's Society's Relay for Life in Crow Wing County. Owen stepped in at the last minute in 2004 to implement the relay event. Owen served as chairwoman for the event for the past two years. She is credited with energizing volunteers and focusing them on the mission. The American Cancer Society reported Owen was integral in increasing participation to more than 650 people for the largest relay in the county. During a three-year period, she was part of raising more than $382,000.
Owen serves on the Kinship Partners Board, recently becoming a mentor as well, and is active with the Mid-Minnesota Builders Association serving on the board and as president. She volunteers with the Senior Nutrition Site and the Brainerd Amateur Hockey Association, serving as a team manager and on the group's foundation board. She is on the Brainerd Lakes Chamber Board. A Sunday school teacher, Owen also served as Zion Lutheran Church council secretary among other duties.
David Downing, Kinship Partners executive director, described Owen as an unsung hero. Married with three grown children and one grandchild, Owen is often asked where she gets her energy.
An early morning person, Owen says it's just a matter of being organized. Armed with a day planner, Owen said a positive attitude helps. And she knows how much people are needed for events as she's been in the position to seek volunteers herself.
"It's just not hard for me to say yes because too many people don't think they have the time," Owen said. "It doesn't take the time people are afraid of. You do it and you feel good about it and you know you are accomplishing something."
It's when no one volunteers and the same group of dedicated individuals is left to pick up the slack that things get tough, she said.
"Hopefully our attitude will rub off on them and it will just snowball."
Certainly, Owen has already inspired others.
"Karen Owen is one of the most giving individuals I know," Janet Horn wrote in her nomination letter. The two worked together on several projects, including Brainerd High School Grad Blast. "She is the epitome of what all people should aspire to become. Karen is an outstanding choice for Brainerd Citizen of the Year."
RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
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