MONROE - Reid Stangel is finally getting to take time to enjoy life after working in a non-profit for so many years. He's happy today that not far from his home, he can almost literally see the success that's come to the Green County Family YMCA. With strong community forces, the Y nurtured the lives of the young, old and everyone in-between as well as paid huge debts and brought big changes during the years Stangel served at the helm.

Stangel was born in Two Rivers and grew up with a family in the grocery store business. His father had five brothers and they owned five Stangel Super Valu stores. He began helping at age 15 and made 95 cents an hour. He stocked shelves, helped with carryouts and anything else that needed to be done.

In high school, Stangel said, he was an involved student, especially in sports. He played football, basketball and ran track, earning eight letters and the Athlete of the Year award in 1969 just before he graduated from Washington High School.

He didn't have a specific plan after graduation but said he was strongly encouraged to go to school, so he followed in his older brother's footsteps and attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

His major was education but after teaching middle school math and physical education for two years, Stangel said, it wasn't the job for him.

"I didn't really like teaching," he admitted. "I wasn't flexible enough at that time to understand the kids weren't as interested in learning as I was in teaching them."

During a part-time summer job, Stangel worked in the same office building of the local YMCA and learned of a position. In 1977, he was hired as the Youth Director, a common entry-level position.

He would spend nine years at the YMCA in Stevens Point, working his way up to its executive director.

"That was a great job," he said. "It was a very difficult decision for us to come here."

Stangel had met someone at a conference who asked him to apply for the job here and when they offered him the position, he reluctantly took it. In 1986 he became the executive director of the YMCA in Monroe.

At that time, Monroe was the smallest community in the state to start a YMCA.

"It was pretty nerve-wracking," he said.

The Y was facing big challenges. There wasn't even landscaping yet - and the facility was far from being paid for.

"Monday was my first day, and that Friday I had an $800,000 bond due," he said. "The next week, I went to the bank to borrow money so I could make payroll."

The pool and the gym - and a big hill - were pretty much all the Y had to offer at that time, Stangel recalled. But in the early 1990s, Monroe native and former Seattle Seahawks owner Ken Behring offered to pay a third of the still-lurking $330,000 debt. A group raised the rest of the money to pay off the building and burn the mortgage.

"With the help of the community and many interested people, we started a capital campaign in 1996 to put on our first addition," he said.

Bo Ryan, former University of Wisconsin basketball coach and a friend of the Stangel family, came as the guest speaker.

"We were really fortunate to raise that much money," he said "A little over a million dollars - those are significant accomplishments."

Another addition, which required another $600,000, happened under Stangel's leadership in 2006.

The day-to-day upkeep of the building was also a huge undertaking and very costly. The athletic field was also finished and land surrounding the Y was purchased as well.

Through it all, one of Stangel's priorities was running an early-morning exercise class, something he still does three days a week. "It's part of my nature to lead those classes," he said.

The changes at the Y that Stangel oversaw weren't only structural. He spent time mentoring coaches that still coach today, and he remembers bringing in the soccer program and starting Blaze tackle football alongside Curt Elmer.

"As a YMCA employee, I hope I made kids' lives better," Stangel said. "And I hope that participating in athletics taught them more than just sports."

He is also proud the Y started the Golden Gators swim team and are able to offer rehab for seniors and teach thousands of children to swim. He was always happy that the Y always felt like a safe place for children in Monroe, and a place many felt comfortable coming to if they had a problem.

Stangel's children most likely also benefited from the programs at the YMCA. His three sons have experienced mounds of success in sports and all went on to play in college. Stangel is happy that he almost always had a front-row seat to their accomplishments, despite his long hours and often 24/7 availability to the Y.

"You do it or it doesn't get done," he said. "But we had a great board of directors and great people involved. Those kinds of people are who made it work. There were so many great people."

Stangel had been a part of raising more than $3.5 million for Monroe's YMCA over several years, but in 2009 when his wife, Cheryl, decided to retire, they decided it was something they wanted to do together.

"Constantly asking for money wears on you," he said. "It was tough (to retire), but it was time. You get tired of asking for volunteers and raising money."

He said he misses the people, the employees and the members but working in a non-profit for so many years had its share of challenges.

"We had so many great volunteers and great donors but there are times you say "how can I ask that person again?'" he remembered.

Looking back, the commitment was well worth it. He sees the success the Y is experiencing today and feels he was a part of it.

"It's amazing there's a YMCA there; it's amazing it's survived," he said. "I felt sometimes I was hanging on by my fingernails."

Once retired, Stangel and his wife headed for Alaska and have taken several trips since then, finally finding time after their children were grown and work obligations lessened. Stangel also enjoys a golf group on Monday mornings and is in his sixth season participating on a senior softball team.

Stangel also enjoys biking and has for more than 40 years, enjoying trails all over the surrounding area. He also puts his free time into maintaining his classic 1971 red Buick Skylark convertible.

Clock-making is also something Stangel has done for several years, building seven clocks for his home and family members. He said he enjoys the relaxation of being crafty and hearing the chimes.

"I guess if I'm not doing something productive, I'm wasting valuable time," he said. "We only have so much."

Stangel has been a part of the Monroe Kiwanis for more than 20 years and served twice as president. He was named Educator of the Year by the Optimist group and he is a member of St. Clare of Assisi, serving as an elector and spending several years on the church council.

He is currently in his third term as Monroe's 8th Ward alderman, is a past president and is currently the chairman of the finance and taxation committee.

His three children, Brad, Bryan and Brett, live relatively close by and the couple enjoys spending time with them and their three grandchildren.