Chilton Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award
Recognition for Community Outreach & Engagement
Save the Date! We will honor the 2024 Chilton Citizen of the Year (to be named) at the Chilton Eagles Club on March 19, 2025.
The Chilton Citizen of the Year Award was created in 1949 to recognize members of our community who go “above and beyond” in service to the Chilton community. Candidates are nominated for this annual honor on the basis of their volunteer efforts and personal involvement in the Chilton community. The Chilton Chamber of Commerce honors a new recipient annually at a social in March, with all members of the community invited.
Nominations are solicited from Chilton community members in January and early February and require the completion of a form detailing the nominee's activities. These must have benefited the citizens of the Chilton area, should focus on volunteer rather than job-related activities, and the nominee must live or work in the Chilton area. The winner is selected by a committee of Chamber members.
The Chilton Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the prestigious 2024 Distinguished Citizen of the Year award. This year marks the 76th Annual Citizen of the Year event, set to be celebrated at the Chilton Eagles Club on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Join us for a social hour and light dinner from 6:00 to 7:00 pm, followed by the award presentation and program starting at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $15.00 per person and are available at Vern’s Cheese, BMO Bank, or The State Bank of Chilton.
Nominations can be submitted to the Chilton Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 122, Chilton, WI 53014. A specific nomination form is required, which can be downloaded below, or you can email info@chiltonchamber.com to request a form. The form asks for detailed information about the nominee's accomplishments, which must be either typed or handwritten. Please note that the deadline for submissions is Friday, February 16, 2025.
It's important to highlight that nominees' achievements should have positively impacted the citizens of Chilton. The focus should be on volunteer efforts rather than professional achievements, and nominees must either live or work in the Chilton area. Resumes from previous years are not valid and must be resubmitted using the new form.
The recipient will be chosen by a committee of Chamber members based on the submitted nominations. The final selection will be made prior to the March monthly Chamber meeting, where the Chamber board will review the committee's recommendation.
For any inquiries, please contact Tammy Pethan, Chamber Secretary, at 418-1650.
The 2023 Citizen of the Year is
Pauline Geiser
Pauline Geiser
The 2023 recipient of the Citizen of the Year is Pauline Geiser. For many years Pauline has been volunteering throughout our community. Some of the events and organizations Pauline volunteers with are:
Chilton Public Library
- Host a monthly book club and potluck
- Delivers books to assisted living facilities and visits with residents
- Creates take and make crafts for both youth and adults
- Promotes literacy and fosters community connections
- Is a Library Aide
Salvation Army
- Food Pantry guide, cleans wherever needed, restocks food items
- Toy Shop set-up and Clothing Manager
- Coats for Kids set-up and distribution
- Back to School backpack set-up and distribution
- Jail Ministry Program assembly and delivery of care packages for Calumet County Inmates
- Red Kettle Campaign Coordinator
Good Shepherd Parish
- Served on the Parish Council
- Lector
- Eucharistic Minister
- Mother’s Day Rose Sale Coordinator
- Rosary Leader
- Religious Education Teacher and Sunday School Leader
- Sacristan
Pauline’s nonstop volunteering goes without recognition not only to the community but also to her family. She is always willing to get involved, help where needed and to do what needs to be done to benefit our community, youth, friends, and family. Pauline cares for her older sister and helps her family wherever and whenever needed. She cooks and delivers home-made soups and meals for any friends, neighbors, or just someone needing a warm dinner and some cheering up. Pauline does this all with a smile on her face and a warm heart.
Pauline has been married to Joseph Geiser since July 28, 1973. They were high school sweethearts and have raised three children. Kim who is married to Craig Schwobe. They have 3 children: Hailey, Mitchell and Brandon; Steven; and Nicholas who is married to Tamara Thiel Geiser. They also have 3 children: Lukas, Bennett and Ella.
Pauline and Joe farmed for 31 years, and she worked at Chilton Metal Products/Worthington. After moving to town, she began working at CPS in the school lunch program, and the Chilton Public Library which she feels is her true calling for her social life. As a grandma she took care of her grandkids when they were little making cherished memories.
Congratulations on being the 2023 Citizen of the Year! Chilton is proud to have a devoted women like you as a part of our community.
Past Recipients of Citizen of the Year Award
| Year | Recipient(s) |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Pauline Geiser |
| 2022 | Judy Hacker |
| 2021 | Lois Geiser |
| 2020 | Ron & Sandi Kolbe, Luke & Emily Kolbe |
| 2019 | Kim & Nancy McKeen |
| 2018 | Jerry Thiel |
| 2017 | Jerry Mallmann |
| 2016 | Bud & Barb Wieting |
| 2015 | Al Steiner |
| 2014 | Donald Kampfer |
| 2013 | Richie Loose |
| 2012 | Paul Meier |
| 2011 | Terry Friederichs |
| 2010 | Vern & Edith Knoespel |
| 2009 | Tom Roberts |
| 2008 | Paul Hugo |
| 2007 | John Rodney Ronk |
| 2006 | Derek McDermott |
| 2005 | Chuck Schuknecht |
| 2004 | Al & Cleta Woelfel, Roger & Cheri Kolbe |
| 2003 | Dr. Joseph J. Schlaefer |
| 2002 | Rodney Rautman |
| 2001 | Lila Kilsdonk |
| 2000 | Clem Casper |
| 1999 | Sue Seckel |
| 1998 | Deb Bohn & Carl Siebert |
| 1997 | Daniel Albedyll |
| 1996 | Mary Schuler |
| 1995 | Ruth Ann Thede & Ray Wagner |
| 1994 | Jerry Schneider |
| 1993 | Bill Engler, Jr. |
| 1992 | Flossie J. Edens & Ray Mlada |
| 1991 | Dave & Cindy Berth |
| 1990 | Jerome (Jerry) Koenig |
| 1989 | Greg & Kathy Garton |
| 1988 | Bill Engler, Sr. |
| 1987 | Rose M. Wettstein |
| 1986 | Jim Eisner |
| 1985 | Alpheus W. Larson & Lorraine L. Larson |
| 1984 | Betty Koch & Ed. J. Casper |
| 1983 | Arthur W. Hugo & F. J. Schneider |
| 1982 | Gail Engler |
| 1981 | Dick Gilles |
| 1980 | Barbara Hertel & Louise Sohrweide |
| 1979 | Mary Knauf |
| 1978 | Ken Weber & Beulah Griem |
| 1977 | Roger Nelson |
| 1976 | Robert Mand |
| 1975 | Harry Thompson |
| 1974 | Lester Nelson |
| 1973 | Dave Casper |
| 1972 | Hugo Herzog |
| 1971 | G. G. Bloomer |
| 1970 | Arthur Horst & Neil Nelson |
| 1969 | Evelyn McCarty |
| 1968 | Rev. Roland Ahearn, Rev. O.M. Moeschberger & Jack Young |
| 1967 | Dr. K. R. Humke & Dr. James Knauf |
| 1966 | J. Ed. Sohrweide |
| 1965 | Gordon Aebischer |
| 1964 | Orrin Meyer |
| 1963 | Royal Klofanda |
| 1962 | Howard Schucht |
| 1961 | Mr. & Mrs. Vince Todd |
| 1960 | Donald E. Bonk & Vincent G. Reinkober |
| 1959 | Bernice Tesch & Norbert Sturm |
| 1958 | Arthur B. Connell & John Steenport |
| 1957 | Mrs. William Stauss |
| 1956 | Francis J. Flanagan & Rev. William Griffith |
| 1955 | Judge George Goggins, Dr. Goggins & William J. McHale |
| 1954 | Carl Hofmeister & Martin Salm |
| 1953 | John Reinkober & John Schneider |
| 1952 | Arthur Hipke & William Knauf |
| 1951 | Irene Flatley & Theodore Christoph |
| 1950 | Dr. E. T. Rathert & Dr. N. J. Knauf |
| 1949 | Jerome Fox, Judge Arps & Ray Jensen |