For Jeannie Blumer, helping people is second nature. Her strong work ethic from the family farm has instilled in her a sense of giving, and much of her life has been spent helping people and dedicating herself to causes she strongly believes in.
She grew up outside of Lancaster on a farm with horses, beef cows, pigs and chickens. Blumer loved having horses, which were a big part of her childhood. She was raised with five sisters and two brothers.
Blumer attended a country school, a place where she loved learning, until sixth grade.
"Looking back, our farm wasn't overly wealthy," she said. "We weren't poor, but we were closer to poor than rich. I didn't even recognize that. We were rich in our work ethic and our belief that education would increase your opportunities in life."
She enjoyed her siblings and often worked alongside her closest brother, Pete. The two would fish together along the Grant River near their home, and Blumer has wonderful memories of riding together to school. Sadly, Pete died at age 24 of a brain tumor, and she thinks of their time together often.
"It's something I've never really gotten over," she said.
At Lancaster High School, Blumer found herself involved in band, going to state several times with her clarinet. Despite the passing of Title 9, allowing girls to play sports during the spring of her senior year, there was still much controversy surrounding it.
After her graduation in 1972, Blumer said she went on to school without question.
"My parents decided all of us would graduate from college, I guess because they didn't," she said.
She attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville where she earned her degree in physical education and health. Despite not having great opportunities to compete in high school, Blumer says she enjoyed sports and they came easily for her.
After graduating, her goal was to teach, but opportunities were slim at the time. Blumer was married and divorced, with her daughter, Jenny, to support. She applied for an opening she saw at the Green County Human Services Department in Monroe for energy assistance.
It seemed the perfect fit, and Blumer would stay for more than 30 years. She loved being able to help people.
"I was so interested in working with people," Blumer said. "I had no intentions of staying - I thought I would teach someday. But I got to the point that I enjoyed so much what I was doing that I stopped looking."
By June 1981, she became a full-time employee, and in January of 2000, Blumer worked her way up to become a supervisor in Human Services. Through the years, she found the job rewarding.
"I liked interacting with people and the public assistance programs," she said. "I knew what it was like to be a single parent, so I brought that perspective, and I also knew the challenges of farming families."
When she retired in 2013, Blumer says it was time for her to leave the job she loved for more than three decades. But that didn't stop her from continuing to help and be involved.
Blumer said she's a big believer in being active in the community. Her father was on the school board and she followed in his footsteps, serving on the Albany Board of Education for six years.
She also chaired the Albany Housing Authority for a time. She was glad to make sure seniors and those with disabilities were taken care of and their rights were protected.
"I learned a lot," she said. "I've enjoyed being on all of the boards. I think we need more people to step up to the plate."
She served with the Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program for eight years, got off and is now back. She has been the chairperson for the past five years.
She says she enjoys the programs and helping people get out of poverty. She's very proud of the formation of the Darlington Medical Center, offering dental care for individuals who can't find a dentist. While in her job, she often sent kids to the emergency room because they didn't have dental care.
"The formation of that facility was so important to me," she said. "I'm proud of that, for the kids to get those services."
In 2009, Blumer, along with Pastor Mary Gafner, formed the Green Cares Food Pantry outside of Monticello and was part of SWCAP's food pantries. The volunteer-run organization serves hundreds of people and families each month. It's open three times a week and is now the largest pantry in the SWCAP.
"The food pantry work was so new to me in 2009," she said. "None of us knew - we just went for it."
In June, Blumer was nominated and received an award from Volunteer Wisconsin as a Volunteer Rock Star for her dedication to the food pantry. In the eight years since the food pantry has been open, she's given more than 12,000 hours of her time. She loves the discreet location and support it receives from both the community and volunteers.
"I got involved because, as a supervisor in Human Services, I really saw the need for it," she said.
Blumer has taken the pantry under her wing and does all of the ordering, grant-writing and unloading trucks. She keeps the pantry funded and stocked with food by helping coordinate donations from grocery stores and organizing food drives with schools and other organizations in Green County. She serves on the Second Harvest Network Advisory Council, working with them to increase food going into the community. There is no paid staff.
"I thought I'd seen and heard it all before getting into this, but this issue is bigger than people realize," she said. "Especially with our seniors. When I see that, it causes me to work even harder."
Blumer doesn't really count her weekly hours at the food pantry but said she is sometimes there five days. She loves spending time with her grandchildren, often taking them to help her, and hopes to instill volunteerism in them to continue spreading the love.
Eventually, she said she'll pass her duties along and each year tries to do a little less. Although letting go might be hard, she feels other dedicated volunteers will make sure it's left in good hands one day.
Making friendships among food pantry volunteers and those who use the pantry has also been a big part of her life. She often helps individuals who might need some assistance obtaining public benefits.
She says she wants them to know people care about them.
"If they ask me for help, I'm not going to say no," she said.
She and her husband, Karl, who is also very active in the community, have been married 33 years. Blumer said she's looking forward to traveling together more in the future.
"I have always felt the need to give back," she said. "I've been blessed with a wonderful husband, daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren that I'm so proud of."
She enjoys gardening, canning and taking care of flowers and plants. She says after working for so many years, she loves to be at home, enjoying time outside and watching the river, finding peace in the smallest of things. She loves to watch her grandchildren, Aspen and Alex, play sports and take them fishing whenever she can.
"We believe in the golden rule," she said. "If you don't remember anything more - remember that - and live your life by that."
She grew up outside of Lancaster on a farm with horses, beef cows, pigs and chickens. Blumer loved having horses, which were a big part of her childhood. She was raised with five sisters and two brothers.
Blumer attended a country school, a place where she loved learning, until sixth grade.
"Looking back, our farm wasn't overly wealthy," she said. "We weren't poor, but we were closer to poor than rich. I didn't even recognize that. We were rich in our work ethic and our belief that education would increase your opportunities in life."
She enjoyed her siblings and often worked alongside her closest brother, Pete. The two would fish together along the Grant River near their home, and Blumer has wonderful memories of riding together to school. Sadly, Pete died at age 24 of a brain tumor, and she thinks of their time together often.
"It's something I've never really gotten over," she said.
At Lancaster High School, Blumer found herself involved in band, going to state several times with her clarinet. Despite the passing of Title 9, allowing girls to play sports during the spring of her senior year, there was still much controversy surrounding it.
After her graduation in 1972, Blumer said she went on to school without question.
"My parents decided all of us would graduate from college, I guess because they didn't," she said.
She attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville where she earned her degree in physical education and health. Despite not having great opportunities to compete in high school, Blumer says she enjoyed sports and they came easily for her.
After graduating, her goal was to teach, but opportunities were slim at the time. Blumer was married and divorced, with her daughter, Jenny, to support. She applied for an opening she saw at the Green County Human Services Department in Monroe for energy assistance.
It seemed the perfect fit, and Blumer would stay for more than 30 years. She loved being able to help people.
"I was so interested in working with people," Blumer said. "I had no intentions of staying - I thought I would teach someday. But I got to the point that I enjoyed so much what I was doing that I stopped looking."
By June 1981, she became a full-time employee, and in January of 2000, Blumer worked her way up to become a supervisor in Human Services. Through the years, she found the job rewarding.
"I liked interacting with people and the public assistance programs," she said. "I knew what it was like to be a single parent, so I brought that perspective, and I also knew the challenges of farming families."
When she retired in 2013, Blumer says it was time for her to leave the job she loved for more than three decades. But that didn't stop her from continuing to help and be involved.
Blumer said she's a big believer in being active in the community. Her father was on the school board and she followed in his footsteps, serving on the Albany Board of Education for six years.
She also chaired the Albany Housing Authority for a time. She was glad to make sure seniors and those with disabilities were taken care of and their rights were protected.
"I learned a lot," she said. "I've enjoyed being on all of the boards. I think we need more people to step up to the plate."
She served with the Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program for eight years, got off and is now back. She has been the chairperson for the past five years.
She says she enjoys the programs and helping people get out of poverty. She's very proud of the formation of the Darlington Medical Center, offering dental care for individuals who can't find a dentist. While in her job, she often sent kids to the emergency room because they didn't have dental care.
"The formation of that facility was so important to me," she said. "I'm proud of that, for the kids to get those services."
In 2009, Blumer, along with Pastor Mary Gafner, formed the Green Cares Food Pantry outside of Monticello and was part of SWCAP's food pantries. The volunteer-run organization serves hundreds of people and families each month. It's open three times a week and is now the largest pantry in the SWCAP.
"The food pantry work was so new to me in 2009," she said. "None of us knew - we just went for it."
In June, Blumer was nominated and received an award from Volunteer Wisconsin as a Volunteer Rock Star for her dedication to the food pantry. In the eight years since the food pantry has been open, she's given more than 12,000 hours of her time. She loves the discreet location and support it receives from both the community and volunteers.
"I got involved because, as a supervisor in Human Services, I really saw the need for it," she said.
Blumer has taken the pantry under her wing and does all of the ordering, grant-writing and unloading trucks. She keeps the pantry funded and stocked with food by helping coordinate donations from grocery stores and organizing food drives with schools and other organizations in Green County. She serves on the Second Harvest Network Advisory Council, working with them to increase food going into the community. There is no paid staff.
"I thought I'd seen and heard it all before getting into this, but this issue is bigger than people realize," she said. "Especially with our seniors. When I see that, it causes me to work even harder."
Blumer doesn't really count her weekly hours at the food pantry but said she is sometimes there five days. She loves spending time with her grandchildren, often taking them to help her, and hopes to instill volunteerism in them to continue spreading the love.
Eventually, she said she'll pass her duties along and each year tries to do a little less. Although letting go might be hard, she feels other dedicated volunteers will make sure it's left in good hands one day.
Making friendships among food pantry volunteers and those who use the pantry has also been a big part of her life. She often helps individuals who might need some assistance obtaining public benefits.
She says she wants them to know people care about them.
"If they ask me for help, I'm not going to say no," she said.
She and her husband, Karl, who is also very active in the community, have been married 33 years. Blumer said she's looking forward to traveling together more in the future.
"I have always felt the need to give back," she said. "I've been blessed with a wonderful husband, daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren that I'm so proud of."
She enjoys gardening, canning and taking care of flowers and plants. She says after working for so many years, she loves to be at home, enjoying time outside and watching the river, finding peace in the smallest of things. She loves to watch her grandchildren, Aspen and Alex, play sports and take them fishing whenever she can.
"We believe in the golden rule," she said. "If you don't remember anything more - remember that - and live your life by that."