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Lifetime of Giving Honored By Greater Poweshiek

Heimann named recipient of ‘Spirit of Giving’ award

Pictured from left to right are: Bob Mann, Spirit of Giving 2011 winner Art Heimann, Tom Marshall and Dick Ritter.
Photo courtesy of the Grinnell Herald Register.

The Second Annual Connie Marshall Spirit of Giving Award was bestowed last week on Art Heimann, whose long record of volunteering to help others is familiar to many Grinnellians. Heimann received the award before an audience of 170 which included four of his five children at the Grater Poweshiek Community Foundation’s (GPCF) annual Spirit of Giving dinner, held October 12 at the Grinnell Athletic and Recreation Center. The award came with $1,000 for Heimann to donate to charities of his choice.

Raised in the San Francisco area, Heimann arrived in Grinnell for the first time during World War II when he was assigned to a training post on the Grinnell College campus. He served in the Army Corps of Engineers in the Philippines and then completed and the completed work on an engineering degree after the war.

Heimann returned to central Iowa, taking a job at Maytag and settling at Rock Creek Lake. He worked at Maytag for 34 years, rising to the position of chief manufacturing engineer.

Heimann found ways of volunteering and helping others as soon as he put down his Iowa roots. H served on both the Colfax school board and city council and as a Boy Scout troop leader. He holds the Silver Beaver Award, the highest award given adults in scouting.

Heimann moved into Grinnell in 1989 and continued his service, gaining election to the Older Iowans Legislature. He served two terms on the board of the Hawkeye Valley Area Agency on Aging and served alongside with his first wife Julia on the Central Iowa Residential Services Inc. (CIRSI) board and in the Poweshiek Association for Retarded Citizens, which operates two group homes in Grinnell.

A past president of the Grinnell Senior Chamber, Heimann has also served on the Kiwanis Board and held membership in the club for over 20 years. He is also a long-time participant in the annual CROP Walk, helped with the Iowa Valley’s Continuing Education 55 Alive driver’s education program, was recognized by the Des Moines Presbyter’s Older Adult Ministry Task Force as their “Outstanding Senior” and currently serves on the Board of Adjustment of the city of Grinnell.

Heimann was part of the founding group of what is now Second Mile, helping to turn a semi-annual clothes drive into the thriving shop now located on Third Avenue. He continues his support for Second Mile, helping with the fund-raising campaign now under way to expand the store to accommodate furniture and more goods for sale. He also helped found the Community Education Council which sponsors the Bucket Courses. The Mayflower Community also sees Heimann volunteering regularly, from serving as past president of the Resident’s Association to helping organizing program speakers. He regularly donates pieces he creates in his wood shop for sale in church and charity auctions.

Brandon Davis, a GPCF board member, served as chair of the committee which chose Heimann as this year’s honoree. With obvious respect and affection, Davis described Heimann’s long record of service and then noted Heimann is humble man, embarrassed by recognition.

“I was scared he wouldn’t let us give the award to him,” recalls Davis, chuckling. “When he found out he would have $1,000 to donate to charity, I think that hooked him in.

“We don’t volunteer for recognition,” said Heimann of his years of service. “We volunteer because we can share our time and talents with others and help them.”

Heimann acknowledged his many friends in the room in addition to his children, adding that he was humbled to receive the award.

“This community has been wonderful to me,” Heimann told his audience, remembering his first walk in Grinnell was a march to the campus post.

Heimann divided the $1,000 that came with the award between Second Mile and the Mayflower Community. The checks were accepted by Dick Ritter of Second Mile and Bob Mann of Mayflower.

“When we retire, we don’t quit. We keep on going,” Heimann said in conclusion. To the laughter of his listeners, he then added of the Mayflower Community, “I hope to see most of you there someday.”

In addition to Davis, the members of the GPCF Friend-raising/Fund-raising Committee that selected Heimann were Julie Augustine, Heidi Durbin, Al Henderson, Nancy Maly, Bob Mann, Martha Pinder, and Don Schild.