Local women honored at DAR 100-year anniversary

MT. PLEASANT — As Women History month began to wind down, the James Harlan Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) fittingly drew a crowd of willful and wonderful women for their 100-year anniversary celebration, Saturday morning.

To begin the program portion of their celebration, James Harlan DAR Regent Gayle Olson bestowed the chapter’s first two Women in American History Awards.

“The Daughters of the American Revolution present the Women in American History Award to a woman who is making or has made a difference in their community and serves as an example in her contributions of the areas of education, religion, social, scientific, or cultural innovation.” Olson began. “We’re so proud of the first recipients we have chosen. We are so proud of all they have done to help our community and are so pleased to be able to present these awards to them today.”

First, Olson posthumously honored Joy Conwell, of Salem, with this award.

“Joy Conwell left a legacy of leadership in history,” Olson said.

According to Olson, Conwell was the first woman to serve on the Midwest Old Settlers and Threshers board of directors.

“She organized explore post 1846, named after the year Iowa became a state, at Midwest Old Threshers’ log village,” Olson said. “Hundreds of explorer post members and their families have demonstrated pioneer history to visitors each year.”

The community elected her for three terms of service with Mt. Pleasant School board, shared at the Governors’ Youth Conference, and spent many years organizing at the Chadwick Library.

“We just can’t imagine our lives without Joy in them,” Olson concluded as she presented the award to Conwell’s husband and son.

The chapter honored Lugene “Lucky” Krieger as the second recipient of the award.

“When we chose her, we didn’t realize she was born only a couple of months before our DAR chapter was born,” Olson said. “So, we almost share our 100-year birthday.”

“Lugene ‘Lucky’ Krieger, matriarch of the Krieger Girls Farm, is a talented athlete, devoted mother, and exemplary citizen,” Olson said. “This strong woman invested her integrity, talent, and work ethic to live out her motto, ‘love everyone.’”

In addition to honoring local women with these awards, the James Harlan DAR chapter held true to their desire to educate through a presentation from Iowa author Cheryl Mullenbach and Cathy Helman.

The two took turns presenting on national and local “Mischievous Women of the Progressive Era.”

They highlighted a number of historic women who pushed gender role stereotypes as reporters, police officers, and world changers.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com