John Waelti earned his Ph.D. at a top-ranked university and built a career through extensive travel. Now retired, he stays busy with some excitement here in Monroe, where he enjoys doing the things he loves - entertaining, playing his accordion, traveling and writing.
Waelti was born just a mile north of town, at a farm his grandfather had purchased in 1901 - at the home his brother resides in today. Like many of that era, he was the grandson of Swiss immigrants and says he took on typical farm duties - chores, making hay, tending to the livestock and helping his father, who would haul the milk to cheese factories.
He was slated to attend country school, but because the family lived so close to town, he was sent to city school and graduated from Monroe High School in 1954.
Waelti stayed on the farm for about a year before he joined the Marines. Once he got through boot camp and infantry training, he felt he was ready to face the world.
"I thought 'If I can do this, I can do anything,'" Waelti says of completing boot camp.
He felt it was a good time to be in the service, since it was peacetime, and Waelti spent three years with the Marine Corps. He says the experience gave him the incentive he needed to attend college.
At age 21, Waelti attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agriculture and as part of his studies, took his first economics class.
The class intrigued him, and he quickly changed his major to Ag Economics. Once he finished, he attended graduate school at Arizona for his master's degree. He then attended University of California at Berkeley for his Ph.D. and in his last year, he became a legislative intern in the California legislature, and spent a year in Sacramento.
He landed his first professional job at the University of Minnesota as a professor of Ag Economics - Waelti had always admired his professors and wanted to teach.
A good teacher, in Waelti's eyes, makes the subject interesting and relevant. He enjoyed his co-workers and the academic world of original thinkers.
"You don't get rich in academia but it's a good life," he says.
He loved setting his own pace and felt fortunate to be teaching at such a great time - calling it a "tougher but simpler" life.
Waelti was given the opportunity in 1986 to become a professor of foreign assignment and spent two years teaching in Africa. The experience was unforgettable.
After 23 years in Minnesota, Waelti landed a new job as a department head for Ag Economics at New Mexico State. The department head was a tough job but an interesting experience, Waelti said.
Just as he was getting ready to retire, an opportunity came up in the Middle East at Sultan Qaboos University, in a small country near Saudi Arabia. It was just a few weeks before 9/11, and he says he felt safe there. He was there on a two-year contract but renewed it and stayed four years.
Although he had never planned to come back to Monroe, Waelti retired here in 2005 after his mother and his wife faced health problems. He says before he knew it, he was on boards and committees - living the local life and getting involved with politics.
Being back in Monroe made him realize how much his accordion meant to him. He was 5 years old when he got his first accordion lesson. Waelti says he's proud of his Swiss heritage and loves the sound of the accordion.
"I didn't realize what a gift they were giving me," he says.
His interest in the accordion piqued again over the years for short times, but until he came back to Monroe, it was always short-lived. But once he heard Henry Blumer play, Waelti says he was inspired to get back into the instrument he once loved.
He headed down to Turner Hall and took his accordion with him. There he met Bobbi Edler, who invited him to play with her. It wasn't long before the two began entertaining together regularly.
"It was one of the best things that ever happened to me," he said of meeting Edler, noting that he truly enjoys entertaining. He and Edler perform together at least a few times a month.
Once he moved back to the area, his son also set him up with an agency in Madison where he takes jobs playing extras in movies and spots in popular commercials. He's been in several TV commercials and print advertisements.
"It was something I never would have expected, but it's fun," Waelti said.
Although Waelti has spent time on several committees and boards in Monroe, he has narrowed his involvement. That, along with performing and writing a column for The Monroe Times since 2006, leaves him no trouble filling his time.
Travel is also a favorite pastime. Although he hates to fly, Waelti still has his home in New Mexico and travels fairly regularly.
He took a trip to Switzerland in 2013 and will be heading back soon with a group.
Waelti admits he spent much of his life focused on his career, and refers to himself as a "zero" in high school. He credits the Marines for giving him the confidence to see success in life. He didn't intend for everything that's happened - but has taken his experiences and opportunities in stride.
"You've got to keep life from getting boring," he says.
"I've done a lot of things and yet sometimes I feel I haven't done much. I have more to do - I just don't know what yet."
Waelti was born just a mile north of town, at a farm his grandfather had purchased in 1901 - at the home his brother resides in today. Like many of that era, he was the grandson of Swiss immigrants and says he took on typical farm duties - chores, making hay, tending to the livestock and helping his father, who would haul the milk to cheese factories.
He was slated to attend country school, but because the family lived so close to town, he was sent to city school and graduated from Monroe High School in 1954.
Waelti stayed on the farm for about a year before he joined the Marines. Once he got through boot camp and infantry training, he felt he was ready to face the world.
"I thought 'If I can do this, I can do anything,'" Waelti says of completing boot camp.
He felt it was a good time to be in the service, since it was peacetime, and Waelti spent three years with the Marine Corps. He says the experience gave him the incentive he needed to attend college.
At age 21, Waelti attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agriculture and as part of his studies, took his first economics class.
The class intrigued him, and he quickly changed his major to Ag Economics. Once he finished, he attended graduate school at Arizona for his master's degree. He then attended University of California at Berkeley for his Ph.D. and in his last year, he became a legislative intern in the California legislature, and spent a year in Sacramento.
He landed his first professional job at the University of Minnesota as a professor of Ag Economics - Waelti had always admired his professors and wanted to teach.
A good teacher, in Waelti's eyes, makes the subject interesting and relevant. He enjoyed his co-workers and the academic world of original thinkers.
"You don't get rich in academia but it's a good life," he says.
He loved setting his own pace and felt fortunate to be teaching at such a great time - calling it a "tougher but simpler" life.
Waelti was given the opportunity in 1986 to become a professor of foreign assignment and spent two years teaching in Africa. The experience was unforgettable.
After 23 years in Minnesota, Waelti landed a new job as a department head for Ag Economics at New Mexico State. The department head was a tough job but an interesting experience, Waelti said.
Just as he was getting ready to retire, an opportunity came up in the Middle East at Sultan Qaboos University, in a small country near Saudi Arabia. It was just a few weeks before 9/11, and he says he felt safe there. He was there on a two-year contract but renewed it and stayed four years.
Although he had never planned to come back to Monroe, Waelti retired here in 2005 after his mother and his wife faced health problems. He says before he knew it, he was on boards and committees - living the local life and getting involved with politics.
Being back in Monroe made him realize how much his accordion meant to him. He was 5 years old when he got his first accordion lesson. Waelti says he's proud of his Swiss heritage and loves the sound of the accordion.
"I didn't realize what a gift they were giving me," he says.
His interest in the accordion piqued again over the years for short times, but until he came back to Monroe, it was always short-lived. But once he heard Henry Blumer play, Waelti says he was inspired to get back into the instrument he once loved.
He headed down to Turner Hall and took his accordion with him. There he met Bobbi Edler, who invited him to play with her. It wasn't long before the two began entertaining together regularly.
"It was one of the best things that ever happened to me," he said of meeting Edler, noting that he truly enjoys entertaining. He and Edler perform together at least a few times a month.
Once he moved back to the area, his son also set him up with an agency in Madison where he takes jobs playing extras in movies and spots in popular commercials. He's been in several TV commercials and print advertisements.
"It was something I never would have expected, but it's fun," Waelti said.
Although Waelti has spent time on several committees and boards in Monroe, he has narrowed his involvement. That, along with performing and writing a column for The Monroe Times since 2006, leaves him no trouble filling his time.
Travel is also a favorite pastime. Although he hates to fly, Waelti still has his home in New Mexico and travels fairly regularly.
He took a trip to Switzerland in 2013 and will be heading back soon with a group.
Waelti admits he spent much of his life focused on his career, and refers to himself as a "zero" in high school. He credits the Marines for giving him the confidence to see success in life. He didn't intend for everything that's happened - but has taken his experiences and opportunities in stride.
"You've got to keep life from getting boring," he says.
"I've done a lot of things and yet sometimes I feel I haven't done much. I have more to do - I just don't know what yet."