Currents
WED., APRIL 20, 2011 • INTER-COUNTY LEADER NORTHERN CURRENTS • SECTION B
THE-LEADER.NET
An award-winning newspaper serving NW Wisconsin
The anchor of Bone Lake
After 43 years, Wayne Shirley retires from town board ... and more
symbols, marks and highlighted addresses with three colors, all noting something special at each location in the town. "One color is pie, one color is cookies, one color means you get the Holy Grail of treats: Pie and ice cream!" LaFond said with a laugh. "But really, nobody in government projects professionalism, honesty and integrity like Wayne Shirley. Nobody." Shirley let a little grin slip out when his secret was revealed. He added later, in private, that he also "knew every home where he could get coffee ... but treats were another matter."
by Greg Marsten Leader staff writer TOWN OF BONE LAKE – With a total of 43 years of service to the Town of Bone Lake, longtime Chairman Wayne Shirley was honored in grand fashion on Saturday, April 9, in a special ceremony at Bone Lake Lutheran Church. Well over 100 people attended to honor, celebrate - and to some degree, roast - the well-known local man who has been instrumental in more than just local government, but also has played an important role in many local lives, agencies and organizations. Shirley wasn't just noted for his service to the town, as he has also served on numerous local volunteer and leadership roles, from the local telephone company, to the Towns Association, Bone Lake Lutheran Church Council, United Pioneer Home Board, Polk County Board of Supervisors, Luck Rural Fire Association and more. Shirley has literally spent a lifetime serving the community. After nearly half a century of public service, the large crowd showed up to wish him well, tell their "Wayne stories," honor him and yes, even poke him a little bit, since he's the kind of guy who cannot only take it, but give it pretty well.
The anchor gets hooked "He's been like an anchor," stated neighbor Linda Glenn, who vividly recalled Shirley having fun with her when she called to request help, cleanup or assistance for some town matter. "He'd hear it was me on the phone and would say, 'What now, troublemaker?' Then he'd laugh." Shirley dipped his toes into local government for the first time as an assessor in the late 1950s and said he "felt totally, completely lost" at first. "I was a 22-year-old dummy!" he joked, while recalling how a prominent, local resident "went into orbit" when he saw the tax assessment numbers Shirley had given to his property. "I learned real fast, that's for sure." The last time Shirley wasn't involved with, elected to, cleaning up, fixing or helping run the Town of Bone Lake, TVs were black and white, fire engines were always red and going to the moon was just a fantasy. "Public servants like Wayne Shirley don't come around very often," stated Polk County Land Information Department Interim Director Sarah McCurdy, who noted that he was quick to assist with mapping projects, grant applications or whatever was asked of him, "He always, always said yes to whatever we'd asked."
Wayne Shirley was given a "secret map" created over the years by a local assessor, showing locations and homes in the Town of Bone Lake where they were always welcomed to have coffee, pie, cookies or the ultimate, pie and ice cream. - Photos by Greg Marsten
The whole secret map issue finally gets daylight You can easily say that Shirley's hand has been in just about every local role ... sometimes for very unique reasons, as longtime friend and assessor Greg LaFond noted. LaFond said that anyone in his assessment office "always wanted to be the assessor for Wayne's town," that they always liked working with him, since he knew everyone, and their concerns. Or so it seemed. As it turns out, they also had a little secret, which was revealed later when a specially marked map of the Town of Bone Lake was revealed. On the map were strange
Wayne Shirley (right) received several awards and plaques, including from his fellow Town of Bone Lake board members Dan Beal (left, planning commission) and town clerk Dennis Frandsen (middle.)
534247 35L
Follow the Leader
Ghosts of Bone Lake past "The Town of Bone Lake was created in April of 1889," current Town of Bone Lake clerk Darrell Frandsen said. "While Wayne's terms of service didn't go quite that far back ..." Frandsen's joke was only halfhearted, as he later gave evidence of Shirley's longevity and dedication by reading off a list of names he served with since he was first on the board in 1965: Chairs Harvey Dueholm, Abel Jenssen and Harry Johnson; former Supervisors Pete Hostrup, Elmer Hedlund, Ellis Richter, Irvin Hermstad, Harry Johnson, Darwin Sorenson, Keith Nelson, Bill Schilling and Roger Neumann. His list of past treasurers includes Mickey Vilstrup, Roy Nelson, Janice Bystrom, Leonard Sorenson, Theresa Nelson and Rhonda Bazey. Town clerks include Neil Martin, Glenn Benson, Darwin Sorenson, Janice Bystrom, Jane Bubendorf, Gwynne Jenson and Frandsen, himself, for 22 years. Frandsen noted that Shirley is "easily the longest-serving town board member in Bone Lake," and he called him "a wealth of knowledge and history to Bone Lake for all of us." "His friendship and help to me has been invaluable," Frandsen said. "Whether we are comparing assessment rolls together, conducting meetings or walking through a foot of snow locating a grave in the cemetery ... he's always been there." The fire loan Shirley was also known for his frugality, and as a town’s representative on the Luck Fire Association, he also spread that penny-pinching into other arenas, as Ron Hanson of the Luck Rural Fire Association noted. Hanson spoke of the difficult time Shirley had when the fire department wanted to borrow "big money," $100,000, years ago for a new fire hall and departmental improvements. "He made sure we paid off that fire department loan early," Hanson said. "I learned a lot from Wayne and wouldn't dare increase a budget, much less a levy!" Hanson said that Shirley always had the firefighters in mind and tried to make sure they had full support from the fire association and his town. Hanson called him "a patient, caring man," and referred to him as the "patron saint of firefighters."
Even the assessors get applause, sometimes In an age where it has become fashionable to portray politicians and government officials as "the enemy," Shirley is known for his tenor of being disarming, approachable and fair. That air of realism is contagious, as longtime friend, accountant and former state Assemblyman Bob Dueholm joked. "I never thought I'd hear Wayne described as 'patient,'" Dueholm joked. "And it's nice to be in a crowd where assessors are applauded!" Dueholm also concurred with others that Shirley has been "an anchor for the town" for decades, and the kind of person "you had to know" if you wanted to get something done. He noted Shirley’s involvement with the United Pioneer Home, Polk County tourism, local planning commissions and even his mentoring of other people who took on the roles beside him.
See Wayne Shirley, page 2