Jerry Menne celebrating his 90th birthday at Valley View School in Ashwaubenon. PC: Fox 11 Online
ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — It’s a birthday celebration for a favorite volunteer at Valley View School in Ashwaubenon.
Jerry Menne turns 90 the day after Christmas, but students wanted to wish him well a little early during a party for the man who has been making a difference for years.
Many say it’s not considered a big deal at Valley View School until Jesse the Jaguar shows up. The Ashwaubenon mascot riled up the crowd of about 800 Wednesday morning. But everyone in the gymnasium turned quiet when the guest of honor arrived.
“Happy Birthday,” said Doug Pieschek, Valley View School Principal.
Menne, former Ashwaubenon Village President, has been a volunteer reader at the Kindergarten through 5th grade school for 14 years.
“He’s been coming here longer than you have been alive,” Pieschek told the students.
Students created a card complete with 90 hand-made candles, and no party would be complete without singing “Happy Birthday.”
“Happy Birthday, dear Jerry. Happy Birthday to you,” sang the students.
“It was just awesome. I just can’t explain it. It was just awesome,” said Menne.
Menne reads and listens to six different fourth graders for an hour each Wednesday.
“It’s just fun to go with someone else and read to him. And read out loud,” said Bryce Oettinger, Valley View School 4th grade student.
“He’s really important to me, and he’s really nice and I love having him come into our classroom, to read with us, because he tells us stories,” said Josie Johnson, Valley View School 4th grade student.
The Ashwaubenon School District Superintendent says Jerry has read with hundreds of students.
“Stories to kids who have been through the years, kids are in high school now, and in college now, who still remember Jerry Menne, spending time in their classroom with them,” said Kurt Weyers, Ashwaubenon School District Superintendent.
Jerry says it’s been his pleasure.
“I get more out of it than I give. And that’s one of the things that keeps me going. I’ll be 90, and I’ve enjoyed all 90 years,” he said.
Jerry says he encourages students to keep reading. He plans to return to the classroom Jan. 4 after winter break.
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