Jerry Ahrens
Jerry can't remember exactly who it was that got him to sign on the dotted line and become a part of the Knights of Columbus--it may have been Father Al, but neither of them seems to be able to remember.  Because of his work schedule he is not able to be too active in meetings of the Council any more, but he does occasionally have the chance to do some of the things he had done several years ago for the Council--activities such as Free Throw competitions, booyah sales and the like.  Listening to him list the things in which he is involved makes one wonder where he finds the time.  In addition to working as an RN at Bellin Hospital, he has farm chores and serves as Parish Council President to several linked parishes in 'Central West Kewaunee County.'  He was recently re-elected to the latter position. 

A native of Little Chicago (north of Marathon City,) Jerry holds a Degree in Agriculture and worked for the Federal Government as a meat grader.  He eventually worked as a farm manager in Wisconsin until one day he was overcome by corn silage gas and decided he needed to look in another direction.  He came to Green Bay in 1989, pretty much 'jobless and homeless.'  He worked for a while as a janitor in DePere and enrolled in Bellin College of Nursing.  Some television ads for BCN have made him a familiar face on the airwaves.  Since 1992 he has been working for Bellin Hospital, usually in the Advanced Care units (IMCU.)  An average day for him begins at around 4:00 AM on his farm at Ellisville, near Luxemberg.  He handles some of the farm chores and then heads off to work which begins around 7:00 AM.  After working until around 7:00 or 7:30 PM, he heads back home to handle some more of the farm chores.  The population of the farm includes Registered & Grade Sulfolk sheep, show chickens, meat chickens, laying hens, show rabbits, meat rabbits, and turkeys, ducks and geese in season.  That's a total of about 300 meat birds in addition to an acre and a quarter worth of organic garden.

 In those rare moments when he not pursuing his hobbies of gardening and taking care of the animals, he likes to hunt and fish.  Jerry and his wife, Debra, have been married for twenty-three years now and she is occupied full time as a farm wife and a home schooler for their children.  They have six children ranging in age from one that is 22 years old and a graduate of Purdue University to the most recent addition to the family at a month and a half, born on the Feast of the Assumption, August 15.  Another of his four daughters is in college and one of his two sons is at Holy Trinity in Casco.  It is an incredibly busy life, one that certainly speaks of energy and dedication.  We are very happy to call them a part of our Council 10243 family.  

October 2001