Harold Watermolen

One fine day, quite a number of years ago, it was Gene Schmitz, a fairly new recruit to the Knight of Columbus himself, who asked Harold about joining the organization.  As is the case with a number of other men who eventually became part of the Council, Harold had heard of the Knights but really didn't know a great deal about them or about what they were up to in the area.  Harold followed what might be called the normal path of involvement in the Council that so many others have taken as well, and he has helped out occasionally with activities such as the Tootsie Roll Drive, brat sales, the Summer Blast and the pancake/porkie breakfast.  After getting involved with some of the things the Council is about he said he was a little surprised with the amount of activities that are undertaken and the considerable amount that is donated both in money and in time to various causes.  He's certainly found his time in the Knights and his involvement to be worthwhile and has enjoyed the time at food stands.  He does whatever he can with his other commitments and has noticed that as far as the food stands go, he usually ends up cooking and that Tom Gauthier always seems to be helping out at the same time as well.

 

A retired member of the Green Bay Fire Department, Harold still works today part-time as a driver for a trucking company.  That's hardly a job for retirement, given the fact that he's been driving for some 45 years now.  He had his own truck while he worked for the Fire Department.  He's managed to cut his working to two or three days a week now, but notes that the Fall seems to be a very busy time for drivers; everybody seems to be looking for drivers at this time of the year.  He's also thinking that this might just be the last year for driving, and then he feels he'll have the opportunity "to see what life is all about."  Harold retired from the Fire Department with the rank of Battalion Chief and served as a member of the rescue squad for 15 years.  He was with the first group of paramedics to be certified in Green Bay through a program that at the time was centered at Bellin Hospital.  He really doesn't remember why it was that he wanted to get involved with the Fire Department in the first place, but is was something he was willing to eventually devote 31 years to as a full-time job.  He found it to be an excellent job, 90% of which was helping people and therefore very satisfying.  He retired from the Department about ten years ago.

 

Since retirement he has continued his driving but he's also found a bit more time to spend up north hunting and fishing.  He likes bow hunting and has been pretty good getting his share of goose and deer, but the day of this interview "was not a good day."  He has a trailer in the Crivitz area and likes to make use of that as much as possible.  Harold and his wife, Ruth, have been married for 42 years now and have three children, 2 girls and a boy.  That has provided them with eight grandchildren for them to enjoy.  He is a native of Green Bay and lived for a part of his life in the Ss. Peter & Paul area.

 

November 2002