The Outstanding Older Adult Award Goes To...

For two years now, the Des Moines Presbytery’s Older Adult Ministry Task Force has asked our church sessions to submit nominations of an outstanding senior adult for this award that recognizes mature, service-minded and Christian modeling of faith.

This year's nominees and their families were honored at the Presbytery's Nov. 8, 2011 Stated Meeting at First Presbyterian Church in Oskaloosa. They each received a certificate during the ceremony and a free meal hosted by the church. The winner was Luree Straup from First Presbyterian Church in Allerton, Iowa. Luree does the daily devotions in the Mission Yearbook and is currently reading through the Bible – for the third time! She received a special commemoration plaque.

Congratulations to all 13 nominees—you are all winners in God’s eyes! Thanks goes to each church and their sessions for the following nominations:

• Al and Emily Wyckoff (Ankeny)
• Barbara Boatwright (Des Moines, First)
• Mary Lou Briles (Des Moines, Park Avenue)
• DeVerne Dixon (Indianola, Trinity United)
• Gene Freese (Atlantic, First United)
• Harriet George (Clive, Heartland)
• Madonna Jack (Hartford, Community United)
• Bob Mahaffey (Des Moines, Union Park)
• Kathryn Renoe (LeRoy, First)
• Luree Baker Straup (Allerton, United)
• Lola Timmins (Ottumwa, Westminster)
• Dianne Van Gorp (Oskaloosa, First)

And the award goes to Luree Straup, (Allerton, First).

The OAM Task Force members felt all were qualified – even over qualified! And it was very difficult to center on one person, from the amazing report of the walks in faith over many, many years. Each person’s story will be highlighted in the monthly OAM eNewsletters.

Their lives will be inspirations to us all to never retire from listening for God’s whispers.

Older Adult Ministries Task Force Moderator Darlene Shepherd or 641-673-5793.

Deadline Extended for Submissions to Outstanding Older Adult Award



Last year's award presentation at the Downtown Marriot in Des Moines, Iowa. Nominees are recognized in the presentation and also given a certificate and meal with their family and friends during the Presbytery's stated meeting.

The OAM Task Force of the Presbytery of Des Moines invites your church’s Session to nominate one person for the 2011 Outstanding Older Adult Award, to be honored at the Des Moines Presbytery’s November 8th Stated Meeting in Oskaloosa.

Your nominee should be a person who is 65 years or older and should exemplify the art of growing older while deepening their faith. This person need not be actively involved in the church at this time in their life. Their record stands for the great work they have done while they were aging.

The submission deadline is Sept. 26, 2011. Submission deadline is now Oct. 18th.  The nomination forms and fliers are available online at: www.presbyteryofdesmoines.org/OlderAdultAwardNominationForm.pdf .