Wencil Froelich 

Wencil is proud to relate the fact that he is still living on a part of the farm onto which he was born back in 1917.  That might give the false impression that he is tied only to the land and that he has not ventured far from it, but that certainly is not the case.  In his especially active life he has found the time to serve as Chairman of the Town of Bellevue for sixteen years, President of the Bellevue School District for sixteen years, President of the Sanitary District for fifteen years and Director of Valley Bank for thirteen years.  He also helped organize the Bellevue Fire Department and has been involved in the Red Cross and the Curative Workshop.  He ran for State Assembly a few years back and lost by just 79 votes out of thousands cast, a loss which he has come to appreciate because he feels being elected would have brought about too much of a change in lifestyle for him and his family.

 

It was back in 1946 that Wencil and some friends decided to join the Knights of Columbus.  He became involved in Council 617 initially, and was especially drawn by the camaraderie and the charitable reputation of the Knights.  After a time he became a Charter Member of Council 4505 when it was formed, and followed by becoming a Charter Member of Council 10243 when it formed in 1990.  This gives his the rare distinction of having been a Charter Member of two Councils.  Wencil and a friend got involved together and usually rode to meetings and other activities together.  In time, he says, “The years caught up” and he found it necessary to shed some of the many activities in which he was involved.  For that reason he has not been able to be too active in Council 10243.

 

In his time in the Knights he remembers taking part in at least fifteen Tootsie Roll Drives and numerous other activities of the Councils he has been a part of.  He also enjoyed attending numerous Third Degree exemplifications and observing the unfolding of the events of the Degree. 

 

For relaxation, he enjoys playing cards, especially bridge, and he belongs to several bridge clubs.  He also has enjoyed golf for many years and plays every Wednesday (in season).  His wife, Luella, plays on Tuesdays.  In addition to still finding time to help out on the farm, Wencil has been involved in wood working for some forty years now and was deeply involved in preparing much of the fine oak which now is a part of St. Bernard Church.

 

Wencil and Luella have been married for fifty seven years now and have raised six children, all of whom still live in the area.  Though he’s not as active in the Knights as he wishes he could be, his contribution to the history of fraternity as lived out in three Councils over the years is exemplary and we are honored to have Wencil and his family as a part of our Knights of Columbus family.

 

October 1997