Denise Duerksen, Harvey County United Way immediate past board chair & community investment chair
By Sheila G. Kelley, Development Coordinator
Question: Where did you grow up and what was your family life like?
Answer: I grew up in the small town of Goessel. Everyone knew everyone’s business😊 we played outside till dark, we didn’t have to lock our doors and Sundays were seriously a day of rest. I had parents who were hard working and taught my brother and me to be the same. They got divorced when I was going to be a freshman in high school, so my brother and I grew up quickly. However, that experience made me the person I am today.
Question: Who have been your strongest influences in life?
Answer: I have three people I would say were my strongest influences. First, both my grandmothers. They were so talented. Both were amazing quilters, cooks, and hard workers. I learned so much from just hanging around them. The other person is Cindy Hastings. She was my rock growing up and helped me through some of the most difficult times in my life. We connected during my 4th grade midweek class at church and still remain close to this day.
Question: What led you to your career?
Answer: Back in the 80’s there was a secretarial studies program at Bethel and that is what I went to school for. After getting my Associates of Arts degree from there, I started working for five different businesses handling their secretarial and bookkeeping needs. At that time, one of the groups I worked for was the JDC (now known as the EDC). That is basically how I got into working for the City of Newton. In May I will have completed 31 years here. I felt like I found my forever job the first day at work.
Question: How would friends and acquaintances describe you?
Answer: I believe they would describe me as enthusiastic, what you see is what you get, honest, loyal and just someone fun to be around.
Question: With so many volunteer opportunities in the community, why did you choose to be involved with Harvey County United Way?
Answer: I was exposed to United Way when I first started working for the city. Since then, it has been something that I wanted to be involved with. I was so excited to be asked, way back in the day, to be on the then allocations committee. It was a place that I could make a difference in the community and with non-profit organizations. I have remained a part of that committee, now the community investment committee. I love serving on this committee because you really see what a difference you make in the lives of people!
Question: What’s the one thing you want people to know about HCUW?
Answer: Harvey County United Way has a huge impact on so many lives, whether it is through helping someone with services available from our partner agencies or through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Lives are changed daily.
Thank you, Denise, for your service to Harvey County and your unwavering support of Harvey County United Way.