Rob and Evy Alsaker –Committed to Preserving Heritage and the Norwegian Immigrant Story
Robert (Rob) and Evy Alsaker of Winnetka, Illinois, made their first trip to Vesterheim and Decorah in the fall of 1998. “I was President of Chicago Norske Klub and Torske Klub and for years people had been telling me that I needed to go to Vesterheim. So, when Evy’s mother was visiting from Norway, we decided to bring her to Vesterheim for a visit and ended up staying a couple of nights in Decorah,” Rob said. They have many fond memories of this, their first trip to Vesterheim. Little did they know that it was the first of many visits that they would make to Decorah over the years, and the beginning of their long, strong relationship with Vesterheim.
Over the years, the Alsakers have given their time, talent, and treasure to help support Vesterheim in a variety of ways. In the early 2000s, at a Vesterheim dinner event in Chicago, Rob and Evy met Vesterheim Trustee Jon Hart and his wife Mary. Jon encouraged Evy to get more involved with the museum. A retired bank executive, Evy accepted Jon’s invitation to the Vesterheim Board of Trustees, serving from 2004-2013. While on the Board, she was an active member of the Finance Committee and served for three years as Board Treasurer.
Rob and Evy were also active members of the Chicago Friends of Vesterheim group, serving on the planning committee for their annual event. When Vesterheim was in possession of King Olav’s 1951 Cadillac limousine, Rob, a retired executive with Culligan International, served on the committee that raised money to help get the vehicle operational again. In fact, Rob had the opportunity to get behind the wheel. “I remember driving it around Decorah,” he commented.
Rob and Evy have been proud Vesterheim members since 1998 and frequently give gift memberships to their family and friends. Carrying on Rob’s family’s rich legacy of supporting Norwegian artists, they are passionate patrons of Vesterheim’s fine art collection and have provided financial support for many of Vesterheim’s fine art exhibitions over the years. In appreciation for their generous gift to Vesterheim’s Strong Roots | Bold Future Campaign, the reception desk in Hanson Vesterheim Commons bears their name. They also love to shop in the Museum Store. “The store staff do such an amazing job on merchandising. In fact, all the staff at Vesterheim are always so warm, friendly, and helpful,” Evy shared. Some of their favorite items to purchase include
Vesterheim Blend coffee and CDs for Rob and Oleana knitwear, gifts, cards, and Norwegian candy for Evy. For their many years of ongoing generosity to Vesterheim, the Alsakers have achieved the prestigious Silver Level Kroneklubben Award for accumulated lifetime giving.
When asked why it is important for them to stay involved with the museum, Evy shared, “We are interested in the preservation of our Norwegian heritage. Vesterheim is special because it preserves and educates people about Norwegian immigration to the United States. Being a Norwegian immigrant myself, I believe the knowledge and impact of Norwegian immigrants is a story that needs to be told and retold and Vesterheim does this so wonderfully.”
Over the years, Evy and Rob met many wonderful people through their connection to Vesterheim. Two very special people who talked to her about Vesterheim were Harry and Josefa Andersen. Harry came from the same area in Norway that Evy is from. “During their lives, they were so generous to Vesterheim and always impressed on me the importance of promoting and being proud of our heritage,” Evy said.
Rob and Evy are also members of Vesterheim’s Valhalla Society, including Vesterheim in their estate plans. “Joining Valhalla (Society) was something we did years back,” commented Evy. “When you get to a certain point in your life, you realize that you have been fortunate in so many ways and that it is time to ‘give back’ and to remember and recognize certain people, organizations, and institutions. Vesterheim is one of our top choices.” Rob added, “Including Vesterheim in our estate plans is a great way to ensure that the good work of Vesterheim continues into the future.”
For more information about the Valhalla Society and including Vesterheim in your estate plans, contact Diane Wagner, Vice President of Donor Relations, at dwagner@vesterheim.org, or by calling 563-382-9681, ext. 103.
Rob and Evy Alsaker