J.D. Simons Community Volunteer for 2021: Annie Jenson
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JD SIMONS — Mark Johnson, president of the Colfax Commercial Club, presented the 2021 JD Simons Community Volunteer Award to Annie Jenson, owner of A Little Slice of Italy, at the Colfax Village Board’s February 14 meeting. —photo submitted
By LeAnn R. Ralph
COLFAX — The Colfax Commercial Club has awarded the J.D. Simons Community Volunteer Award for 2021 to Annie Jenson.
Jenson, who lives in Colfax and owns and operates A Little Slice of Italy on Main Street, was nominated for her willingness to work with community members and for her service on the Colfax Village Board.
J.D. Simons was considered to be the founder of Colfax in 1864.
The J.D. Simons Award reads, “In honor of your dedication to ‘all things Colfax’ and your outstanding community involvement, your willingness to volunteer your time across many organizations and for many individuals, and most importantly — for making Colfax a better place to live.”
Mark Johnson, president of the Colfax Commercial Club, presented the award to Jenson at the February 14 Colfax Village Board meeting.
According to the nomination, “Annie is a vital member of the Colfax community. She is a hard-working, self-employed business owner of a well-loved hometown restaurant, with some of the best pizza in the area, not to mention the ice cream. Annie takes her business to heart and works with members of the community every time they ask.”
As an example, the nomination mentions Jenson’s donation of ice cream coupons for all the children who took part in Vacation Bible School at Colfax Lutheran and for children attending Sunday School during the year.
Jenson has served as a trustee on the Colfax Village Board for nearly 10 years.
According to the nomination form for the J.D. Simons Community Volunteer Award, “The distinction of being the founder of Colfax goes to a man named John D. Simons. As a businessman and philanthropist, he was one of the most influential characters in the early history of this locality, and many a poor man could point to him as the man who ‘helped him out’ in time of dire distress. Beginning with Mr. Simons, there have been many business owners and residents that have carried on the values of volunteering, supporting and promoting the village of Colfax. In this spirit of volunteerism, the Colfax Commercial Club is seeking to recognize an ‘unsung hero’ in our community.”
The first J.D. Simons Award was presented in 2016 to Troy Knutson, author of “Looking Through the Lens.” Knutson has devoted all of his adult life to collecting the photographs and other memorabilia included in his book, published the year of the Colfax Sesquicentennial in 2014.
The second J.D. Simons Award in 2017 was presented to Ernie and Geri Bates for their dedicated devotion to the Caring Ministries Food Pantry, the Colfax Community Cares Food Pantry and the Support for Sunday backpack program for school children.
The third J.D. Simons Award in 2018 was presented to Mona Thorson, who has served tirelessly in a variety of organizations over many years, including the Colfax Woman’s Club, at her church, Colfax Lutheran, with the Red Cedar Sounds Sweet Adelines Chorus, and as “Daisy the Elf” when her husband, Gary Thorson, dons his Santa Claus suit to bring the magic of Santa to children in the area.
The fourth J.D. Simons award in 2019 was presented to Claudia and Kyle Kressin, owners of Kyle’s Market in Colfax. The Kressins employ local students at Kyle’s Market and work diligently around their school schedules so they can be fully involved; sponsor community events like the Easter Egg drop; recognize special groups and organizations by handing out flowers and donating food and prizes; and allowing bake sales, cookie sales and brat sales at the grocery store.
The fifth J.D. Simons award in 2020 went to Susan Hill, who grew up in Colfax and is the owner of the Tapestry Trunk Bed and Breakfast.
Hill has devoted countless hours to volunteer efforts around the community for the American Legion Auxiliary (she is the vice-president and the historian), the Colfax Municipal Building Restoration Group, at Colfax Health and Rehab, at her church, as the curator of the Colfax History Room in the Colfax Municipal Building and as a member of the Hill Grove Cemetery committee.
Hill also has generously shared her many collections through presentations at the Colfax Health and Rehabilitation Center, at the Merry Mixers senior citizens meetings, and at events she has held at the Tapestry Trunk.
J.D. Simons Community Volunteer Award recipients receive a plaque, and a name plate is placed on another plaque that is on display in the Colfax Municipal Building.
