Still serving over 70

BELLE PLAINE — Each year Belle Plaine recognizes Stars Over 70, individuals over 70 who contribute positively to the Belle Plaine area.

This year’s honorees are Jolene Blanchard, Dan Blanchard, and Jack Schlesselman. They were interviewed by senior students from Belle Plaine Community Schools.

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Jolene Blanchard

By Landen DeWitt

Jolene Blanchard was born in Vinton Aug. 12, 1952 and was raised on a farm just south of there.

She got her first job when she was 15, as a carhop at a drive in restaurant. After high school, Jolene majored in French and elementary education at Iowa State University in Ames.

Jolene will have been married to her husband, Dan. for 50 years in July. They met while on a choir trip to Chicago. Jolene was cold, and Dan gave her his coat.

The couple moved to Belle Plaine in the summer of 1975 and raised three sons there. They have four grandchildren — three are boys.

Jolene calls her granddaughter “the one miracle girl,” because there hasn't been a girl born in their family for a while.

Jolene 39 of 55 years in the workforce as a teacher. Now retired from teaching, she works part time at the Belle Plaine library and has spent 15 years working with Women in Mission, which is run from First Lutheran Church, and Belle Plaine Partners for Beautification, which helps with gardening in the community.

Jolene says her greatest achievements are being a mother, wife and teacher, and helping raise funds for equipment at Franklin and Drahn Parks. Her big future goal is to live to 100.

Dan Blanchard

By Nathan Pyle

Dan Blanchard grew up in Vinton and went to college in Dubuque. After graduating, he moved to Belle Plaine and worked for his family business, Motor Supply Warehouse.

He installed his first computer in the 70s.

Dan met his wife Jolene, who was a grade ahead of him, during a high school choir trip to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Dan noticed that Jolene was cold, and his put his coat around her shoulders.

The couple has been married for 50 years and has three sons, Perry, Burke and Ross, who graduated from Belle Plaine High School.

Dan has been working mowing lawns and shoveling snow since the age of 15, before getting a part-time job later in his teen years. He's been on the library board for about 35 years.

Dan plans to enjoy retirement, travel and enjoy life to its fullest. He’s been to Canada and Jamaica and plans to take his wife to Iceland for their 50th anniversary.

Dan says his greatest achievements are his family and community involvement.

His advice for today's generation is to volunteer and give to the community.

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Jack Schlesselman

By Sophie Brecht

Jack Schlesselman was born in rural Deep River May 31, 1947. He graduated from Montezuma High School in 1965, then joined the Navy for four years.

In 1969, Jack entered Central College in Pella, graduating in 1973.

At the age of 26, Jack took a job as high school band director at Turkey Valley Community School District in Jackson Junction. After a year there, he served as assistant band director for several high schools, including Montezuma, HLV and Lynnville-Sully.

In 1979, Dan married his wife, Judy, with whom he has three daughters. The couple has five grandchildren.

In 1980, Jack became the Belle Plaine band director. He retired in 2011 after 31 years.

Jack became involved with First Lutheran Church in Belle Plaine in 1979, joined the Belle Plaine American Legion in 1980 and the Lions Club in 2007.

Jack continues to serve the community and is still involved with the school, driving a bus to activities and on regular routes. He says that he wanted to do something after retiring to keep himself busy.

He has recently started working with the elementary school, giving fifth and sixth graders more one-on-one time with their instruments.

Jack has been a part of the Iowa Military Veterans Band, the Sully Big Band (a jazz group) and Night Shift, a jazz ensemble.

Jack said that teaching instrumental music for 38 years with good groups of kids and raising three successful daughters are his greatest achievements.

Dan said that starting a family and traveling with the Navy have had the most impact on his life. Because he was a small town kid, traveling to different countries with the Navy really opened his eyes to show him a whole new world beyond rural Iowa.

Dan wants to see a live Chicago Bears game, but only if they start getting back into their groove. He’d also like to return to Germany one day.

Jack still loves Belle Plaine because of the reasons he came here in the first place. The town is still quite safe and clean.

Dan likes the small town feel Belle Plaine offers and the fact that it is close enough to cities without being too close. It’s a good place to be.