GALENA — Valerie (Val) Stocks, Senior Vice President and Mortgage Banking Manager, celebrated her 40th anniversary at Apple River State Bank on Nov. 22. 

Stocks joined the bank in 1983 and has spent her entire career at Apple River State Bank. She has worked in operations, loan support, as a loan officer, served on multiple committees, and is branch manager for the Warren office. Val plans to retire on Friday, Dec. 22 this year. A reception will be held in her honor at the bank’s Warren office that day.

A native of Freeport, Val has attended numerous training schools and graduated from the Midwest School for Community Bankers. She has been involved with Jo Daviess County Habitat for Humanity, Jo Daviess County Fair Queen Pageant, Warren Chamber of Commerce, Apple River Ballpark & Concessions, Village of Apple River, Village Voices Theater Awards, Warren Community Unit District 205 School Board, Community Bankers Association of Illinois, and Jo Daviess County Development, Inc. 

She served as the Clerk for Apple River Township and Treasurer for Apple River and Thompson Township Assessment District for 32 years. She is currently the Warren Women’s Club Treasurer, and the Coordinator and Treasurer for the Apple River Stagecoach Event Center. 

Val and her husband, Greg, have two daughters, a son, four grandchildren, and three grand dogs.