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Saturday, June 25, 2022 | Sunday, June 26, 2022
The Messenger/Fort Dodge, Iowa
www.messengernews.net
Paying it forward in Manson Heimgartner enjoys serving behind the scenes By DEANNA MEYER
dmeyer@messengernews.net
MANSON — Denise Heimgartner could have chosen many career paths, but the one she’s chosen as an adult can’t be found specifically listed in the yellow pages or at a job fair. Heimgartner Denise is a selfd e s c r i b e d Heimgartner “helper.” Whether she’s taking calls in administration at K.C. Nielsen or working to improve the Manson community, Heimgartner is there to serve. “I truly believe everybody’s been helped, it’s just whether you see it or not,” she said. “As an adult, I just want to be a helper.” A true hometown girl, Heimgartner has lived in Manson since she was 5 years old. She graduated from Manson High School in 1978, attended Hamilton Business College in Mason City and returned to raise her family here. “It’s a great place to raise kids,” she said. “It’s safe. You don’t have to worry about them. … There’s good morals here.” Heimgartner, who recently served as the Manson Chamber president, can be found helping around the community in a myriad of ways, but she prefers to be a “behind-the-scenes person.” “My ideal pastime would be just to be free to do projects in town that need to be done,” she said. Recently, she organized a group of about six people
-Messenger photo by Deanna Meyer
Manson
DENISE HEIMGARTNER, of Manson, works to put stakes in the ground as support for a cattle panel. Heimgartner plans to plant flowers there to accent the Hidden Gems billboard on the wall above on Manson's main street.
to help clean out the former Foley’s clothing store. Owned by the city and turned over to the Manson Economic Development Committee, the building needed to be cleaned up and junk hauled away so it is ready for the next phase, whatever that entails. Heimgartner joined the Manson Chamber about four years ago, serving as vice president for two years and president for one year. She got involved because she wanted to do “something fun.” “I needed an outlet,” she said. One of the first projects she took on was organizing mini golf holes for Manson’s Greater Crater Days. The idea was to have each business donate and design a mini golf hole that represented their business. Not sure what to expect, Heimgartner hoped to get at least 12 businesses involved, but wasn’t prepared for the overwhelming positive response. She got 36. “I was super surprised how supportive the businesses were,” she said. “It amazes me how creative the businesses were to come up with something that represented their business. It was awesome.” This year, Heimgartner is serving on the Sesquicentennial Committee, which is planning activities for the town’s 150th in conjunction with Greater Crater Days. “With my Chamber connections, it’s a natural fit,” she said. “It’s a small group, but it’s a good group.” Heimgartner is in charge of
door for customers to read as they walk in, and to her knowledge, she hasn’t repeated one yet. Her husband, Don, is retired and serves on the Manson Fire Department. The couple’s children are grown and have moved away. In their free time, the couple enjoy going for motorcycle rides together. Not one to sit idle, she is working to get a group together to deliver groceries to homebound residents. “I will say, this community does support itself,” she said. “If someone has a hard time and there’s a benefit, people are supportive.” Heimgartner recalled a tough time in her own life when the community came to her aid. She was recently divorced with junior high age children when the family experienced a house fire. She hadn’t worked for the dealership very long, but the owner “closed the store down, left two people here and everyone came to help” – unsolicited. “They were there for me and I didn’t ask. They were just there,” she said. “That’s why I live here. “I guess I’m just paying ahead or paying it back, however you look at it.” Heimgartner is always on the lookout for people willing to invest in the community by donating a little bit of time and energy. “It’s amazing what a few willing people can accomplish when they work together.”
games. Among the activities planned are the return of mini golf, bags and “soccer pool” – which is playing the game of pool with a soccer ball. Another project Heimgartner has worked on behind the scenes is the “Hidden Gems” billboards now gracing downtown. “I really wanted to highlight what the businesses in town are,” she said. “There’s so much more to Manson than Main Street. So many people do things out of their home.” So the Hidden Gems billboards were designed and feature 20 businesses that are run from the owners' homes. Currently, Heimgartner is working to spruce up the area around the billboards. She is creating a cattle panel to serve as a trellis for flowers near one, and plans to plant pampas grass near
another. In connection with the Chamber, Heimgartner is also helping to bring back welcome baskets for people who are new to Manson and purchase a home here. The baskets might include business cards for snow removal, lawn care or daycare, and other services people new to town may need. Heimgartner has worked at the town’s John Deere dealership, K.C. Nielsen Ltd. (formerly known as Calhoun County Implement), for 25 years and refers to herself as “a point person.” “Most everybody knows if they need something, they’ll call,” she said. Heimgartner is known for putting a different quote or inspirational saying on a white board just inside the business’
