At a City Council meeting earlier this week, Mayor Dale Stainbrook declared today (August 25, 2021) “Jeannine Windels Day” for the City of Crookston. Windels will be leaving Crookston next week on August 31, as she moves to Plymouth, Minnesota, to be closer to family. She first arrived in Crookston in 1964 and has spent almost 57 years in the community.
She was an active member within the community serving as the Crookston Lions Club Secretary, Board member for the Crookston Area Chamber of Commerce, and President of Crookston United Way Board, among many other roles that she carried.
In honor of all she has done in the community over the years, The Crookston Lions threw her a farewell party this afternoon at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston to say thank you. Many showed up to wish her well, and there was a program at 5:00 p.m. for those who wanted to stand up and say their goodbyes.
Current President of the Crookston Lions Brian Frisk spoke on what Windels has meant to the community. “We’re losing years of experience and leadership with her moving on,” said Frisk. “Everything she did was 100% effort at all times, and the backbone of the Lions Club was her. She has had a pulse on everything going on in whatever role she has had over the years, and she is going to be greatly missed.”
Windels said without hesitation that she will miss the community and that the people will be what she misses the most. “That’s easy; it’s the people,” said Windels. “It’s a great community, and I definitely will miss it.”
Today Windels was presented a plaque with the mayoral proclamation of August 25, 2021, being “Jeannine Windels Day,” and given a cutting board from the Lions District Executive Board as gifts.
Windels said she was grateful that people would show up and give her a going-away party. She also talked about some of the roles she filled and the work that was done. “I don’t like to think of it as accomplishments, you were given a job to do, and you made sure you got it done,” said Windels. “There were a lot of great people that would help. I appreciate all the awards and recognition, but it takes a lot of people to make a community work.”
A full list of all Windels leadership roles and Awards over the years are down below.
LEADERSHIP ROLES
- Crookston Lions Club Secretary (Since 2006)
- Past District Governor-5M-ll, 2009-10
- Board of Directors-Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation-2013-19
- Chair of Crookston Lions Club 75th Anniversary Celebration-September 14, 2013
- Club Excellence Program District Chair-2010-2013
- President-Crookston Lions Club, 1997-98
- District 5M-11 Zone Chair
- Governor District 20 (NW MN and ND) Toastmasters International (first woman)
- Trinity Lutheran Church Congregational President (first woman)
- Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Executives Board of Directors
- Crookston Area Chamber of Commerce (Board Chairman)
- Crookston United Way Board (President)
- University of Minnesota, Crookston Women’s Association (Charter Member/President)
AWARDS
- Lions-International Presidents Leadership Award-2012
- Crookston Chamber Chairman’s Award for Distinguished Service (2006)
- Experienced Americans (with Harvey, October 2006)
- NW Minnesota Foundation Ruth Edevold Award for Excellence in Leadership (2004)
- NW Minnesota Women’s Fund Community Builder (2001)
- UMC Torch & Shield Award (1995)
- Financial Woman of the Year, National Assn of Bank Women, Siouxland Chapter (1989)
- Crookston Business & Professional Woman of the Year (1981)
- Lions MD5M Hall of Fame-2014
Many people stood up during the program to highlight Windel’s work over the years. The pictures from the program are down below.