Volunteer of the Year – Kurt Smith

The East Troy Railroad Museum would not be possible without the dedication and commitment of its many volunteers.

Each year at our Annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, one devoted volunteer is recognized with our “Volunteer of the Year” award. This recognition is given to one truly outstanding and inspiring volunteer who has taken a leadership role to preserve and enhance the museum while encouraging others to do the same.

The 2022 award went to Kurt Smith, who volunteers in many ways, including cutting the grass, helping his wife set up Santa’s Workshop for our Christmas Trains, and working in the maintenance facility regularly – especially in the wood shop. Smith says he learned about the East Troy Railroad when he and his wife bought a home in East Troy.

“We saw the trains running and we took a ride with some friends,” he recalled. “Then I went to an open house when the maintenance facility was new and I saw the wood shop. I thought I would enjoy being able to work there as a volunteer.

Now he has been volunteering for almost five years and really enjoys working with the other volunteers.

“I have flexible hours and I don’t have to put in for vacation,” Smith said. “It’s just a fantastic thing to volunteer for the railroad and there are so many things you can do.”

In his “day job” before retirement, Smith was a full-time farmer for 10 years and a part-time farmer for 20 years. He was also a sales representative and consultant for a water conditioning company.

He and his wife, Julie, have three children and six grandchildren and will celebrate 47 years of marriage this June.

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