Jerry and Patricia Papenfuss named Winona Health Foundation Ben & Adith Miller Community Service Tribute honorees

Jerry and Patricia Papenfuss received the Winona Health Foundation Ben & Adith Miller Community Service Tribute. Rachelle Schultz, Winona Health president/CEO, presented the award Monday, August 10 in the Robinson Healing Garden on the Winona Health main campus. This is the 32st consecutive year the Tribute has been awarded.

In presenting the award, Winona Health CEO, Rachelle Schultz, noted that although, due to the pandemic, the traditional Tribute recognition dinner had to be cancelled, it’s important to acknowledge the many contributions Jerry and Patricia Papenfuss have made and continue to make to the Winona Community. “There are probably not many areas in our community you haven’t touched,” she said.

When asked what motivated their community involvement, Patricia said, “Winona is the kind of community where people get involved. We have the opportunity to be part of the community.” She noted that during the time she and Jerry operated Winona Radio, community service was a requirement of owning a radio station and they enjoyed giving people the opportunity to share what they were doing in the community. Among her many contributions, Patricia specifically mentioned her years making phone calls to Telecare clients as a Winona Health Volunteer. “I enjoyed making each call and having a positive impact on someone’s day.”

Jerry said, “Winona is such an entrepreneurial community; that’s one of the reasons it’s such a giving community. We’ve worked for over 50 years to help Winona be a better community, and we want to continue to see it grow and prosper. At this stage of our lives, we feel fortunate for so many reasons, including our good health.”

In a letter, Travis Thul, Dean of Technology at Minnesota State College during AMII initiation and implementation, said that Jerry’s leadership in the Advancement Manufacturing Infrastructure Initiative (AMII), “transformed not only Minnesota State College Southeast’s capabilities, but its entire ability to inspire, educate and motivate the students from across southeast Minnesota and beyond.

Hugh and Vera Miller and RTP Company generously gave $25,000 to the Winona Health Foundation’s Ben & Adith Miller Patient Care Fund in Jerry and Patricia Papenfuss’s honor. The Patient Care Fund helps community members in need with their medical bills. This is the 31st consecutive year that the Miller family has sponsored the Ben & Adith Miller Community Service Tribute.

Those who would like to make a gift to the Winona Health Foundation in honor of Jerry and Patricia Papenfuss may direct their gift to the Winona Health Foundation by mail: 855 Mankato Ave., Winona, MN 55987, or online: winonahealth.org/foundation.

Questions about the Winona Health Foundation may be directed to foundation@winonahealth.org or, for more information, visit winonahealth.org/foundation.

Following is a synopsis of some of Jerry and Patricia’s volunteer involvement and accomplishments over the years:

Jerry’s Community Contributions:

• Past President, Winona JCs
• Past President, Hiawatha Valley Toastmasters
• Past Exalted Ruler, Winona Elks Lodge 327
• Past Chairman, City of Winona Planning Commission
• Past Frosty, Winona Winter Carnival
• Past President, Winona Area Industrial Development Association
• Past President, Minnesota Broadcasters Association
• Past member, National Association of Broadcasters Board of Directors
• Past member, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
• 1990-1996 State Chairman of the Re-elect Boschwitz for US Senate committee
• Past member, St. Anne of Winona Foundation Board of Directors
• Honorary Ambassador, Winona Area Chamber of Commerce
• Past Grand Marshall, Steamboat Days Parade
• Past member, Board of Directors, Fortress Bank, Winona and Houston
• Current member, Winona Community Foundation Board of Directors
• Co-Developer, Knopp Valley
• Co-Developer, AmericInn of Winona

Patricia’s Community Contributions:

• Past President, Community Memorial Hospital Auxiliary
• Past member, Cotter Schools Board of Directors
• Past member, St. Mary’s Catholic Church Finance Committee
• Past member, Minnesota State Chiropractic Board
• Member, First Winona Blandin Group
• Member, Minnesota State College Southeast Scholarship Committee

Community Recognition:

• Jerry and Patricia are members of the Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
• Jerry and Patricia have had a long-time commitment to Minnesota State College Southeast (MSCS). They were public relations co-chairs for the first District 861 school bond referendum. That referendum gave the District the money to build the first college building on Homer Road. At that time, the college was part of the school district. Jerry and Patricia have established a scholarship endowment fund at the college and have invested in the Advancement Manufacturing Infrastructure Initiative (AMII) at the college.
• Jerry and Patricia were given the President’s Award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Upper Mississippi Valley Chapter for volunteerism, philanthropy and fundraising.
• Jerry and Patricia are lifetime members of the Winona Area Chamber of Commerce.
• Patricia was given the Marquette College of Journalism Professional Achievement Award.
• Jerry is a Winona State University Distinguished Service Award recipient.
• In 2006, Jerry received the Benedictine Horizon Award given to recognize exceptional leadership by an individual volunteering in the Benedictine Health System.
• Jerry is a lifetime member of the Winona Elks Lodge 327 and the Winona Knights of Columbus.
• Jerry is a member of the Winona County Fair Hall of Fame.

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Past recipients of the Ben & Adith Miller Community Service Tribute:
2019 Greg Evans
2018 Steve and Nancy Bachler
2017 Steve Groth
2016 Jon Kohner
2015 Dr. Chuck and Judy Shepard
2014 Dee Cipov
2013 Irene Renk
2012 Marlene Kohner
2011 Jenny Kahl
2010 Justin Green
2009 Nancy Iglesias
2008 Dennis Theede and Home & Community Options, Inc.
2007 O.J. and Karen Fawcett
2006 Donna Helble
2005 Kent Gernander
2004 Marilyn and Keith Schwab, Kim and Pete Schwab
2003 M.L. “Max” DeBolt
2002 Rose Andersen and Diane Barge
2001 Carol “Mickey” and Dan Barr
2000 Joette and Michael Gostomski
1999 Roger Metz
1998 Nancy and Mark Kristensen
1997 Dave Arnold and Dan Rukavina
1996 Pete Woodworth
1995 Dr. Frank and Ruth Bures
1994 Sue Cornwell
1993 Bob Kierlin
1992 Tom Graham
1991 Gary Evans
1990 Pauline Knight
1989 Tom and Judith Stark, Dr. Roger and Helen Hartwich, John and Helen David