(Le Mars)— $243,679 was the amount of money raised during the 29th annual Gehlen
Ball held Saturday evening at the the Le Mars Convention Center. The amount
represents a new record besting last year’s amount by nearly $9,000. The Peter J.
Gehlen Spirit Award was presented to Mike and Joan Driscoll of Le Mars. Reverend
Kevin Richter read the following narrative when announcing this year’s Gehlen Award
recipients.
“This year’s Peter Gehlen award winners are one of those quiet couples in the
background always willing to help, to serve, to contribute. They are both graduates
of Catholic schools, he from Gehlen in 1968; she from Algona Garrigan in 1969. He
spent time in the U-S Air Force before going on to college at Iowa State. After
that, he returned to the Le Mars area to farm. They were married in 1975 at St.
Cecilia parish in Algona. She then taught either Kindergarten or 2nd Grade at
Gehlen from 1975 to 1985. Since then, she has also spent time tutoring for Gehlen.
They were very active members of their rural parish of St. Joseph Neptune until
moving to Le Mars and joining St. Joseph parish. Now, they are active members of
the All Saints Parish. He is a 4th degree knight in K of C. She has served on the
parish Faith Formation Committee and is active in the parish choir. They are part
of Perpetual Adoration. It was in 1998 that they started their business, which is
called…”Drico Products”. Through this business, they have been enormous
supporters and benefactors for Gehlen Catholic School. They were one of the
instrumental couples in establishing the Donor Wall at Gehlen. Each year, there
have been many awards, plaques, trophies quietly provided to Gehlen and the parish
at significantly reduced or even at no cost. In addition to the contributions
through their business, they have both been active in the school by volunteering in
many capacities:
* Past Gehlen Ball chairs
* Football and Fine Arts Concession chairs
* Parent coordinators for the volleyball team
* They have helped with serving breakfasts and lunches
* Served as judges for speech contests
* Supported their children and now their grandchildren through many of the
fine arts and sporting events.
Their daughter said the following about them: “I think that Mom and Dad just really
believe in supporting the school and students. They believe in Catholic education
and the difference it can make in our lives”. Another daughter added the following:
“I always think of Mom saying to us each day when we left for school – make someone
smile today, or make someone’s day better. And I think that’s an attitude that they
have – it’s the day to day, sometimes seemingly small contributions that add up to
help someone out, help a struggling student, support those are things that make
Gehlen a good school and and a good family”.
As mentioned, Mike Driscoll is a Gehlen alum. He says he enjoys supporting Gehlen
Catholic School as a way of giving back.
Joan Driscoll says she was honored and humbled by the recognition.
Both of the Driscolls believe a Catholic education is beneficial for students to be
better prepared for life after school, and they are proud that both there children
and now their grandchildren were able to receive a quality Catholic education. The
Driscolls say Gehlen’s reach goes way beyond the walls of the school building, and
beyond this community. They say Gehlen Catholic School provides a purpose of
helping others.
