Monticello Homecoming Highlights
THURSDAY
Softball tournament starts, along with a carnival.
FRIDAY
Fish boil served by members of the FFA and FFA Alumni; Casino Night in the Teen Tent; Talent Show at Ford Theater; music in the beer stand by Triple Play.
SATURDAY
Poker Run for motorcycle riders; Pop Can and Duck Races on the Sugar River; Garden Tractor Races, a Canoe Race and Triathlon on Lake Montesian; a presentation "From the Cold War to the Present" by Lt. Col. Paul F. Rieder at the Zwingli Church; music by HWY in the Teen Tent and Mattom Pipestorm in the Beer Stand; fireworks over Lake Montesian, co-sponsored by the Community Club and the Bank of Monticello.
SUNDAY
Church services at the Montesian Gardens by the members of the Washington Reformation Church; chicken barbeque starts at 11 a.m.; the parade starts at 2 p.m., followed by community water fights and music by the Greg Anderson Band and Dan Reilly in the Beer Stand; raffle drawing concludes activities.
Root will be at the front of the parade Sunday during the community celebration, which begins Thursday. "Children Are Our Future" is the Homecoming theme.
"We snatched him up on his offer" to be marshal, said Sandy Hershberger, secretary of the Monticello Community Club. "We are so honored to have him as parade marshal."
Root has lived in Monticello for 62 years and was a carpenter and handyman in the area for 45 to 50 years after serving in the U.S. Navy.
"I'm honored that they took me up on my offer," Root said. "This community means a lot to me and my family."
Root grew up on Sandy Hook Road in Brooklyn Township and moved to several farms around the area, including Evansville, Stoughton and Albany, where he graduated from high school in 1939. While living in Evansville, Root experienced the labor of tobacco.
"My sister and I would sit and drop the seedlings in the ground," Root said. "When we were done with our 13 acres, my dad sent us to help the neighbors to help plant their tobacco.
In 1951, Root married Elmira Grossenbacher, who grew up in New Glarus and was 100 percent Swiss. She went to school and became a teacher and taught in several country schools in the area, the Albany school district, and Monticello school district for 37-plus years.
The couple has two children, son Jim, who lives in Monroe with his wife Janet and their children Carson and Rachel; and daughter Connie, who lives in Rockford with her husband Mark.
Root served the residents of Monticello on the Fire Department, the village and school boards, the Village Planning Committee, was president of the Monticello Businesses and Professional Association, and is a 50-year member of the American Legion and an active Lions Club member.
"Monticello is a peaceful town," said Root. "Most folks are very friendly and it's been a pleasure getting to know everyone."