MONROE - He has climbed Kilimanjaro, sailed throughout the world, skied in Australia and carried a torch for the Olympics - but Monroe's David Babler isn't taking much of the credit. He says his life has been rich because of the people in it who have guided him and supported him along the way. From the time he was young, he feels that many in Monroe have helped him become the businessman and adventurer he is today.

The photos in Babler's office tell a story of his life - his grandparents in front of Borden's Chocolate Shoppe on the north side of the Square that they owned and operated even before he was born; the Last Man's Club, full of World War II veterans, including Babler's father, who became pillars in the Monroe community; his original Monroe Jaycees group, many of whom are now gone. They are all photographs that he cherishes and displays with pride.

Babler fell into his parents' footsteps swiftly, carrying on the strong sense of community involvement and helping several Monroe facilities find a way to thrive.

"I've had a full life," he said. "I'm the luckiest person I know. I've had challenges but it's been interesting, satisfying and exciting, and I keep looking for new adventures all the time."

Babler grew up in Monroe and was raised on 9th Street. His father joined the service the day he was born, but he was surrounded by family and both sets of grandparents were nearby along with close neighbors. He said it was a time when he had a lot of freedom and people didn't worry as much.

"The downtown Square was the center of my life as a kid," he said with a smile.

He said he enjoyed school because of the wonderful teachers he had.

"I had a lot of people looking out for me in my life," he said.

He came from a musical family and loved to sing. The 1960 Monroe High School graduate said science and engineering were very much encouraged during that time, and Babler decided to attend Ripon College with the intention of becoming an engineer. But it didn't take long before being exposed to all types of people and cultures intrigued Babler, and the eye-opening experience changed his path.

In his dorm was the director of the vocal music department and he offered Babler free voice lessons if he'd join. That experience led him to the arts, and soon he had earned a scholarship to study art architecture at Oxford.

The professor of the art history department there taught about the creative process and problem-solving, lessons which Babler said he still uses in his business today.

Once he graduated, he joined the Army because he was part of the ROTC program at Ripon. It was the Vietnam era, and he was assigned to the Medical Service Corps as a supply officer. He was a captain and felt he had a good job. Although he wasn't fighting on the front lines or dodging bullets, he said the job was intense, as they fought for proper equipment and worked long hours and through weekends.

When he got out of the Army, he decompressed for a few months. But in December, Babler decided to go into business and attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He had money from the GI Bill to help, and he worked directly with the college dean to help research the reorganization of the City of Milwaukee. He earned his MBA in marketing and organizational science there in 1969.

He never planned to come back to Monroe - he always wanted to travel and see the world, hoping for a possible career in international marketing.

But the economy was poor at that time, and Babler took a job in public relations. When a Peace Corps recruiter came to the college, Babler saw the opportunity and soon was headed for Costa Rica. There, he managed to get three credit unions to merge. He also learned Spanish.

When he was finished in the Peace Corps, Babler rode home from Costa Rica on his motorcycle. When he got back to Wisconsin, he interviewed for a few jobs to work overseas, but before he made any commitments, his father died of a heart attack.

His father was running a successful business in insurance and investments, estate planning and financial services in Monroe, and Babler decided to stay and take over. His father's secretary then, Gloria, along with a great staff, made that possible, he said. The business is still strong and Babler is proud it's qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table for more than 40 years, a testament to his dedication.

"It's been a wonderful career," he said.

Babler said one of the biggest reasons the business thrives is because he follows the golden rule - following his father's lead and core principal of business.

Also in those footsteps came community involvement. Babler has earned the Outstanding Jaycee Award, has served on the Monroe Clinic and Hospital Board and was a charter member of the Monroe Clinic and Hospital Foundation Board. He and his wife Janeen have been a big part of keeping Turner Hall active. He served on the St. John's Church Council and still serves on the finance committee. He is a past president and charter member of the Education Foundation, and he was a big part of the YMCA board while paying down its debt.

"It might be work, but it gives back," he said. "I've been given every opportunity in the world."

Babler said meeting Janeen in many ways saved him: She was very active, running marathons at the time, and it inspired Babler.

He spent years training hard and always doing something, starting with a group bike ride to his family's cottage about 80 miles north of Green Bay. He took on the challenge with friends and family for 20 years. At one point he biked around Lake Michigan in 10 days.

He has cross country skied and raced all over the world. He did the American Birkebeiner cross country ski race and is an original member of the Madison Nordic Group that's responsible for several of today's Madison trails.

One year, while competing in the Great American Ski Chase, he skied in Italy and Austria and with Swiss friends at the World Masters but got injured.

"Cross country skiing is like you've died and gone to heaven," he said. But he broke his ankle in 1995 and spent 10 months recovering. Although he still enjoyed the sport, he never got back to racing full speed.

That was another turning point for Babler, and soon he found himself dreaming of sailboats - something that had always been in the back of his mind. He started sailing by taking courses from the U.S. Sailing Association. The day he bought his sailboat was one of the happiest days of his life, he said. He sailed part time for about eight years.

"I vowed that boat wasn't going to sit in a marina somewhere," he said. "I was going to sail it."

During his sailing courses, he met several people and over time he met several from Monroe who sailed as well. He ventured down the East Coast and did the Korean 1500, a regatta with 50 boats, in 1998. Participants were on their way to the Virgin Islands and had people helping them with the bad weather. It was Hurricane Mitch, but Babler was prepared and knew exactly how hurricanes worked. Although others were leaving their boats, Babler was able to guide his craft and passengers safely to land.

Being in a hurricane didn't scare Babler away from sailing. He would sail anywhere and everywhere, often leaving his boat and meeting people. The Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, Bermuda, Bahamas, a regatta in Cuba and the Florida Keys are just a few of the places he's sailed.

When he felt he had sailed everywhere he wanted, he ended up selling his boat. Although it wasn't a happy day, he said he felt he couldn't keep leaving his business for long stretches of time.

Hiking was the next avenue for Babler. He hiked all over Colorado and in 2002, he hiked Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. It took about eight days for him to get to the summit, and the hike wasn't easy. They went through a blizzard that January, setting up tents with their guides. Although he was conditioned and ready, he admits he could hardly see at times through all of the snow.

"I don't think I'll ever do that height again," he said with a laugh.

Babler is still hiking, biking, skiing, kayaking, birding and lots of other things on a milder scale, but most recently, he's taken an interest in archaeology and anthropology. He began attending conferences at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Texas for weeklong studies of how to translate the glyphs, and he ventured to Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico visiting sites.

He has enjoyed heading to South America, hiking on Inca trails and seeing all kinds of ancient civilizations. This past year he was in Ecuador for 10 days at the Galapagos Islands. He feels this interest also began from Ripon College, taking him back to his artistic roots.

Throughout all of his adventures, Babler said Janeen has been extremely supportive. Although they have shared several wonderful trips together, including a boat cruise to Russia recently and dinner on the Eiffel Tower in Paris overlooking the city at dusk that was extra special, they have also traveled separately. He said they've both enjoyed life to the fullest.

"There's too many things to do in life," he said.

Babler also loves reading, visiting their children and grandchildren, and he still loves to sing. He has sung at several funerals and weddings, sings with the Beloit College Masterworks Chorus and belongs to his church choir.

When Babler thinks back on his life, it brings tears to his eyes when he realizes just how blessed he has been.

His father would certainly be proud that his son stayed in Monroe and kept up with the family business, being a big part of the community all the while leading a life full of adventure.