A Tradition of Kindness
Established in Greendale since 1956
The Lions Club’s mission has always been to empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, foster peace, and promote international understanding through Lions Club service. However, it wasn’t until November 10, 1955, that a group of 27 men from Greendale, sponsored by the Cudahy Lions Club, received notice from Lions International that their request to form a club had been accepted. This marked the beginning of a vision that would materialize in Greendale.
On January 3, 1956, the group was granted a charter, and they assembled on February 18, 1956, to formally accept the charter and appoint Charles Bates as the club’s first president. From that moment on, Lions’ unselfish service to its community in Greendale became well-established. The club’s goals then included helping the blind and the deaf, improving the community, and enhancing the health and welfare of the citizenry. These goals remain unchanged today, and the Lions Club continues to fulfill its mission.
Service with a purpose.
An annual Pancake Breakfast, which began on the Youth Memorial Building grounds in 1960 was later moved to the high school cafeteria and supported the Lions Quest program in the schools for many years, providing college scholarships for students.
Another significant event in the Lions Club’s calendar is the 4th of July and Village Days celebrations. The Lions have been a part of these events since the introduction of the first dunking booth. Today, they provide staffing for amusements games on the high school grounds, which have evolved into a well-provisioned beer garden adjacent to the Village Gazebo during the festivals. Sales of food and refreshments, along with a raffle and Rummage on the Green, have become the club’s primary source of funds to support humanitarian efforts.
The Lions Club’s commitment to community service extends beyond these events. One of their longest-running service projects is the annual Easter Egg Hunt, which has been held since 1965. Other notable projects include the installation of play equipment in Lions Park, participation in free vision screenings, and conducting outings for the blind.
Humble Recognition
During the club’s existence, nine members have been honored with Melvin Jones fellowships for their outstanding contributions. Melvin’s personal philosophy, “You can’t achieve much until you start helping others,” has inspired countless public-spirited individuals worldwide. Past recipients are:
Gordon B. Von Gonten – 4/26/1984
Walter E. Rolfs – 9/06/1990
William Curtis – 4/01/1992
Donald M. Brezinski – 9/11/1995
Wayne T. Broeker – 5/22/1996
Robert Lee Drews – 6/10/1998
Thaddeus (Ted) L. Fennig – 12/06/2000
Lyle Dorow – 12/10/2005
Ray Schultz – 12/13/2007
Noelle Joers-Yanisch – 6/13/2024
Herbert Ripka – 6/13/2024
Past Presidents
As Lions, our action and service inspires others. We provide courage and a unique sense of empowerment to our community and to the world. To do this, we depend on great leadership and thank our past presidents for their dedication and service:
Photo Gallery
We’ve captured a lot of fun on film over the years. If you have photos to contribute to our archives contact our webmaster.