The Rice County Senior Citizens of the year were announced today during a program at the Rice County Fair in Faribault.  Marvin and Sara Schrader of Faribault were honored by 2018 Senior Citizen of the year Ron Parker.

Parker said it was a "humbling honor to receive the award last year" and he was "happy to present the plaque to the chosen couple."  The Schrader's were nearly speechless when they came to the front of the Straight River Room to accept the award.

The couple volunteers at the Paradise Center for the Arts, River Bend Nature Center, participates in the CROP walk, delivers Meals on Wheels and works with Rice County Habitat for Humanity fundraising activities.  They contribute food and auction items to Habitat events and help on the actual builds with landscaping, by slinging a hammer and bringing food for workers.  They worked with the Raise the Roof dinner for Habitat and Table for Eight fundraiser for the Community Cafe.

The announcement stated, "They share a passion in the value of education, and are supporters of the South Central College Scholarship Fund, and support many activities at local schools.  While active in their own church, they are ecumenical and often attend fundraising or educational events offered by other local churches."

The announcement I read during the program then talked about the volunteer efforts of each person.  Marv, has been active in Faribault Rotary and Sertoma Club and has been honored by them for his time and financial contributions.  Described as, "an unassuming guy" he has been a leader with the Rotary Rose Sale, STRIVE program which he helped found.  Marv also helped with the restoration of the bank clock in downtown Faribault, the Rotary Mural and the Buddy Bench project.  He has also served on their Camp Committee and the annual Rotary High School Concert Committee.

Marv worked on the Sertoma Poinsettia sale and Sertoma Golf Tournament.  Those projects raised funds to support a number of Sertoma activities like camp for deaf students and college scholarships.  "He is not afraid to get his hands dirty or lend a shovel to beautification of Faribault as he did in helping with a Chamber of Commerce project."

Sara, "has been an active force in her church for the past 40 years, coordinating dinners and bake sales, making quilts which are sent to places all over the world."  She has used her sewing talent to create banners for her church, making items for the kitchen and sewing costumes at times.  Sara was described as, "a take charge sort of person and whatever she does she does it well."

Marv was a pilot and Sara a nurse and the couple were described as, "expert lefse rollers" noting they participate annually in rolling more than 1200 rounds of the Norwegian delight at First English Lutheran Church in Faribault.

I have been on a couple trips overseas with the Schraders and can tell you this couple, now in their 80's have the energy of people much younger.  They are like sponges in obtaining more knowledge about the world we live in.  I enjoyed my visits with them in those foreign environments.

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