Prolific volunteer finds purpose by helping others

By Andrea Busche

Although Superior resident Kathy Evered is retired from work, she is definitely not retired from life. The former systems analyst has pivoted from a career in IT to giving back through volunteering.

Over the years, Evered has given back in numerous ways. She has distributed food. She has donated delicious items from her own garden and kitchen. She has served on a volunteer board to help her alma mater. She tutors students with dyslexia. She even volunteers her time as a dog walker.

“I like feeling useful,” Evered said. “I need to have a purpose. And I also needed the social interaction, particularly during COVID.”

Farm family

Evered grew up in Catawba, Wisconsin (population 110), which she describes as “A tiny farm community in the middle of nowhere.” Her parents and grandparents were dairy farmers, and Evered and her two siblings were expected to pitch in.

“As long as I can remember, we always helped,” Evered said. “We milked cows, cut grass and baled hay. Work on the farm was never done. And we were paid, but it wasn’t thought of as an allowance — it was for working.”

After graduating from Phillips High School, she attended the University of Wisconsin-Superior and double-majored in data processing and economics.

“From the time I was quite young, I knew I wanted to do something with computers,” she said.

Career in tech

Evered’s first professional job was as a junior programmer for Cargill’s Minnetonka, Minnesota location. Later, she moved to Chicago.

“I wanted to work with new computers and advancing technology,” she explained. “But I didn’t know a soul.”

Evered worked for a few Chicagobased consulting firms before landing at MTI Vacations, a travel agency, as a systems analyst.

In 2000, one of MTI’s leaders left to work at a startup travel agency called Orbitz. Evered was recruited to join him. She remained a systems analyst at Orbitz until her retirement in 2014.

In 1992, Evered began dating her husband, Bob, who lived in Superior. While working for Orbitz, Evered mostly worked remotely from Superior, but occasionally traveled back to Chicago.

Kathy and Bob got married in St. Lucia on April 24, 2003. Interestingly, they were wed in a joint ceremony with their good friends, Amy and Dean “Mitch” Michelizzi.

Volunteering

Evered began volunteering as a way to meet people in her new home of Superior. But her hard work was also prompted by her upbringing.

“I was raised to appreciate what we had, and to give back and share,” she said. “I was raised in a very Christian household.”

During her working years Evered’s generosity was mostly in the form of financial donations. But once she retired she had free rein to volunteer as much as she liked.

“I always said that when I retired I was going to do some serious volunteer work, while helping my parents along the way.”

And she has honored that commitment.

As a UWS graduate, Evered was proud to serve on the university’s Alumni Association Volunteer board. She also assisted the city of Superior with their recycling efforts, distributing bins and information to residents.

Evered also gave back to her “church home,” Christ Lutheran, by helping them with fundraising efforts. She baked zucchini breads, pasties and many other scrumptious items to share in church bazaars.

Evered began volunteering for Second Harvest Northern

Continued on page 12

Lakes Food Bank right before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I really enjoyed it,” she said. “The people, the atmosphere. And I only had contact with my husband during the pandemic, so I wasn’t a big COVID risk.”

Unfortunately, Evered had to step back from her work at Second Harvest when Bob developed some health issues, but she hopes to start again some day. She also served for a time on the All of Us Advisory Council — a research program through the National Institutes of Health.

Currently, Evered is volunteering at the Children’s Dyslexia Center of Upper Wisconsin-Superior, which is sponsored by Scottish Rite of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction Freemasons. There, she has become a Certified Dyslexia Practitioner I, and helps elementary-aged children with dyslexia learn to read. Ultimately, she would like to continue her studies and earn a Practitioner II certificate.

Evered also volunteers to walk her friend Amy’s dog, Murphy, five days per week.

Hobbies and interests

When she isn’t volunteering, Evered enjoys gardening, landscaping and reading. She also loves to bake and cook.

Although she spent a career in IT, her computer interactions of late include playing solitaire and the uberpopular web-based game Wordle.

She and Bob love to travel, and have visited many allinclusive resorts over the years. They also enjoy taking cruises.

Bob has two adult children, Katie and Brian, who both live in the state of Virginia. The family gathers together as often as they are able.

Appreciation

For those interested in volunteering, Evered has a couple of suggestions.

“The first thing to think about is how much time you want to devote to it,” she said. “And also think about how flexible you are, and find something that fits into your schedule. But it’s equally important to find something you’re passionate about.”

Evered shared that the abundant gratitude she has received over the years is one reason she loves volunteering so much.

“At Second Harvest, they would always tell the volunteers, ‘We’re so glad you’re here.’ And we’d have children tell us they love all the food.”

One of Evered’s reading students, a child with dyslexia, recently gave her a beautiful gift of a handwritten poem. It reads, “Roses are red, violets are blue. I can read better thanks to you.”

“Things like this are what make it so worthwhile,” Evered noted about volunteering. “You just know you are so appreciated.” D