MONROE - Tammy Derrickson says her life has truly come full circle. After dealing with deep loss and hardship from a young age, her story began once she made a conscious decision to persevere. Since then, she's been on an unexpected path that's lead her through forgiveness, healing and success.
Derrickson didn't have a childhood like most of the others she knew at the time. Her father was killed in Vietnam when she was just a year old. By the time she turned 6, her mother left. However, she felt blessed to be raised by her maternal grandparents - a frugal couple who lived on a hobby farm between Montfort and Fennimore.
Her grandparents lived through the Depression and often shared stories with Derrickson. They were retired and had raised 13 children of their own, and made a big impact on their granddaughter.
"My grandpa was an instrumental person in my life," she said. "He had an eighth-grade education, but he was hardworking and brilliant. Growing up, he was a rock for me."
Growing up could feel isolating at times. The nearest neighbor was several miles away and she didn't share much about her life with others. But Derrickson said cousins often came around and she found creativity to be an outlet, often reading or creating art.
As a self-proclaimed tomboy, she has wonderful memories of talking and watching Green Bay Packer games beside her grandfather.
Lessons were instilled early on - and the most important one that has always stuck with her has been to "always finish what you start." Times were tough for Derrickson at Montfort Elementary School, and on through junior high. Her unconventional family added to her isolation - and she would often miss a month or more of school.
But when seventh grade rolled around, a teacher recognized the bright, but troubled girl in her classroom. The teacher intervened, talked to her and held her accountable. The tough love went a long way.
"She encouraged and recognized me," she said. "I made a choice then that I could keep going down the wrong path or I could do well. I don't think that decision could have come from anyone but me. I wanted to succeed."
That deliberate choice would change her life's path. Derrickson graduated in the top half of her class at Iowa-Grant High School in 1984, by then well known for her art and painting.
"Art gave me the ability to think on my feet and be creative," she said. "Those are things I still use today."
After graduation, Derrickson says she received money through a program for children of Vietnam veterans who were killed. Her grandfather had invested the money wisely for her and she was able to attend the University of Wisconsin-Stout, where she majored in art with a concentration in graphic design.
Once she graduated in 1990, Derrickson married her husband, Jeff, and the couple moved to Freeport, where he got a job.
Although Derrickson looked for a job in graphic design, there wasn't much available. Instead, she saw a job at a local nursing home for an assistant activities director. She enjoyed teaching classes to seniors there, and after a few weeks, was the only one left in the department. She was quickly named the activities director.
She was there more than three years but says her heart was always in Wisconsin. When Derrickson found an opportunity to work in Monroe as an assistant director for a facility for those suffering from Alzheimer's Disease, she thought it would be a good fit.
Working with elderly people came somewhat naturally - possibly from time spent with her grandparents as they aged. She was eventually promoted to the facility director.
Derrickson's position today as the director of Monroe's Behring Senior Center didn't come by accident. When she heard the position was opening in 1996, she applied and undeniably wanted the job.
Unfortunately, she heard nothing.
As time passed and Derrickson realized she likely wasn't getting an interview, she felt she had to do something. She called City Hall and personally asked for an interview - and they obliged.
"They weren't going to interview me," she said. "I think there were 32 applicants. I took the last interview spot."
After a tough interview by the entire city council, Derrickson said she left feeling unsure. But by the time she got home, her phone was ringing, letting her know the position was hers.
Although the Senior Center had just finished an addition, much of the reserve funds had been spent, and the building needed work. Derrickson says she started a list and, slowly, began accomplishing both big and small goals for the facility. When she began, they served about 700 people. Today, that number is around 2,300.
"I've been so fortunate with such an excellent board of directors," she said. "I've set goals, looked at programs, and focused with their direction. I knew I would have to prove myself. I forged relationships with people. I scraped and painted and cleaned - it helped me get established here."
She says the wonderful staff that surrounds her along with generous donations are also part of her success. Everything she does is part of her plan to ensure a future for the facility.
"I think the future is bright for the senior center," she said. "Our older adults are such a valuable resource in the community. I feel a responsibility to leave this facility better than I inherited it."
Since so many who use the Senior Center are veterans and she also has a strong connection, Derrickson held a program for veterans several years ago. Few people came or participated.
"They weren't ready to talk," she said. "And I wasn't ready to do the program. I considered it my greatest failure - and I always wanted to make up for it."
When the Green County Historical Society called a few years later asking her to attend a program in Lancaster to honor her father and other Vietnam vets, she says she proudly attended. She took notes and met people at the special event.
She decided to try again with a similar program and her own twist - A Salute to Vietnam Veterans. She and her staff worked for eight months and opened the program up to the community. It brought in 700 people from the community. It was a special moment for her.
"They finally got the recognition they deserved," Derrickson said.
Although she never knew her father, Derrickson now knows a little about him. She reconnected with his family several years ago and met her grandmother shortly before her death at age 99. She learned her father was a Green Beret - likely where Derrickson gets her toughness.
"Sometimes you can make up for a lifetime in a short amount of time," she said. "My life came full circle and (the Senior Center) was part of that. It was a path I think I was meant to take."
Derrickson still enjoys participating in veteran-related things. She often speaks and shares her story - and hopes others will do the same to find healing the way she has.
"When you lose someone in the military, it's a different kind of grief than other grief," Derrickson said. "And not knowing him adds to that."
Derrickson and her husband, Jeff, enjoy being busy with their two children, Hannah and Isaac. They enjoy family vacations and date nights. Derrickson says she also still loves to read and is still a huge Green Bay Packer fan. A highlight in her career was in 2012, when several of the Packers came to play bingo at the Senior Center.
And the quote that sits within view at Derrickson's desk each day sums up so much of the hard work she put in for the very important and special seniors in Monroe, and to also find closure and acceptance within herself: "There are those that look at things the way they are and ask why. I dream of things that never were and ask why not." - John F. Kennedy
Derrickson didn't have a childhood like most of the others she knew at the time. Her father was killed in Vietnam when she was just a year old. By the time she turned 6, her mother left. However, she felt blessed to be raised by her maternal grandparents - a frugal couple who lived on a hobby farm between Montfort and Fennimore.
Her grandparents lived through the Depression and often shared stories with Derrickson. They were retired and had raised 13 children of their own, and made a big impact on their granddaughter.
"My grandpa was an instrumental person in my life," she said. "He had an eighth-grade education, but he was hardworking and brilliant. Growing up, he was a rock for me."
Growing up could feel isolating at times. The nearest neighbor was several miles away and she didn't share much about her life with others. But Derrickson said cousins often came around and she found creativity to be an outlet, often reading or creating art.
As a self-proclaimed tomboy, she has wonderful memories of talking and watching Green Bay Packer games beside her grandfather.
Lessons were instilled early on - and the most important one that has always stuck with her has been to "always finish what you start." Times were tough for Derrickson at Montfort Elementary School, and on through junior high. Her unconventional family added to her isolation - and she would often miss a month or more of school.
But when seventh grade rolled around, a teacher recognized the bright, but troubled girl in her classroom. The teacher intervened, talked to her and held her accountable. The tough love went a long way.
"She encouraged and recognized me," she said. "I made a choice then that I could keep going down the wrong path or I could do well. I don't think that decision could have come from anyone but me. I wanted to succeed."
That deliberate choice would change her life's path. Derrickson graduated in the top half of her class at Iowa-Grant High School in 1984, by then well known for her art and painting.
"Art gave me the ability to think on my feet and be creative," she said. "Those are things I still use today."
After graduation, Derrickson says she received money through a program for children of Vietnam veterans who were killed. Her grandfather had invested the money wisely for her and she was able to attend the University of Wisconsin-Stout, where she majored in art with a concentration in graphic design.
Once she graduated in 1990, Derrickson married her husband, Jeff, and the couple moved to Freeport, where he got a job.
Although Derrickson looked for a job in graphic design, there wasn't much available. Instead, she saw a job at a local nursing home for an assistant activities director. She enjoyed teaching classes to seniors there, and after a few weeks, was the only one left in the department. She was quickly named the activities director.
She was there more than three years but says her heart was always in Wisconsin. When Derrickson found an opportunity to work in Monroe as an assistant director for a facility for those suffering from Alzheimer's Disease, she thought it would be a good fit.
Working with elderly people came somewhat naturally - possibly from time spent with her grandparents as they aged. She was eventually promoted to the facility director.
Derrickson's position today as the director of Monroe's Behring Senior Center didn't come by accident. When she heard the position was opening in 1996, she applied and undeniably wanted the job.
Unfortunately, she heard nothing.
As time passed and Derrickson realized she likely wasn't getting an interview, she felt she had to do something. She called City Hall and personally asked for an interview - and they obliged.
"They weren't going to interview me," she said. "I think there were 32 applicants. I took the last interview spot."
After a tough interview by the entire city council, Derrickson said she left feeling unsure. But by the time she got home, her phone was ringing, letting her know the position was hers.
Although the Senior Center had just finished an addition, much of the reserve funds had been spent, and the building needed work. Derrickson says she started a list and, slowly, began accomplishing both big and small goals for the facility. When she began, they served about 700 people. Today, that number is around 2,300.
"I've been so fortunate with such an excellent board of directors," she said. "I've set goals, looked at programs, and focused with their direction. I knew I would have to prove myself. I forged relationships with people. I scraped and painted and cleaned - it helped me get established here."
She says the wonderful staff that surrounds her along with generous donations are also part of her success. Everything she does is part of her plan to ensure a future for the facility.
"I think the future is bright for the senior center," she said. "Our older adults are such a valuable resource in the community. I feel a responsibility to leave this facility better than I inherited it."
Since so many who use the Senior Center are veterans and she also has a strong connection, Derrickson held a program for veterans several years ago. Few people came or participated.
"They weren't ready to talk," she said. "And I wasn't ready to do the program. I considered it my greatest failure - and I always wanted to make up for it."
When the Green County Historical Society called a few years later asking her to attend a program in Lancaster to honor her father and other Vietnam vets, she says she proudly attended. She took notes and met people at the special event.
She decided to try again with a similar program and her own twist - A Salute to Vietnam Veterans. She and her staff worked for eight months and opened the program up to the community. It brought in 700 people from the community. It was a special moment for her.
"They finally got the recognition they deserved," Derrickson said.
Although she never knew her father, Derrickson now knows a little about him. She reconnected with his family several years ago and met her grandmother shortly before her death at age 99. She learned her father was a Green Beret - likely where Derrickson gets her toughness.
"Sometimes you can make up for a lifetime in a short amount of time," she said. "My life came full circle and (the Senior Center) was part of that. It was a path I think I was meant to take."
Derrickson still enjoys participating in veteran-related things. She often speaks and shares her story - and hopes others will do the same to find healing the way she has.
"When you lose someone in the military, it's a different kind of grief than other grief," Derrickson said. "And not knowing him adds to that."
Derrickson and her husband, Jeff, enjoy being busy with their two children, Hannah and Isaac. They enjoy family vacations and date nights. Derrickson says she also still loves to read and is still a huge Green Bay Packer fan. A highlight in her career was in 2012, when several of the Packers came to play bingo at the Senior Center.
And the quote that sits within view at Derrickson's desk each day sums up so much of the hard work she put in for the very important and special seniors in Monroe, and to also find closure and acceptance within herself: "There are those that look at things the way they are and ask why. I dream of things that never were and ask why not." - John F. Kennedy