Special People From Fort Dodge

October 27, 2024
 
Reflections From the Heart of Allan Redenius
There are people I’ve met in my now hometown of Fort Dodge, Iowa that have so impressed my life. 

​Here are just a few:
 
Walt Stevens—Editor of the Fort Dodge Messenger for so many years.  Always objective, always insightful in his reporting of local news.  On one occasion at a community event, he asked of me, “Look at all the grey hair here.  Who is going to attend these events in ten or fifteen years?”  Well Walt, I think I’ve found the answer.  People who were once not grey, are grey now and attend these community events.
 
Dr. Clarence Tompkins—A humble Methodist preacher who had a vision for a place where the elderly could retire and live out their days in dignity.  Literally, pennies at a time, he raised money to see his dream come true.  He once told me, after the first residential building was completed at Friendship Haven, no one lived there.  The people of Fort Dodge thought he was crazy and soon would be broke.  Do you know what that man of humility did?  This is what he told me, “Though the building was empty, at night I turned on all the lights.  That way as people drove by, they would think the place was full.”  His strategy worked.  Soon people were lined up to move in.
 
Roger Natte—A well-known local historian of Fort Dodge, Iowa.  He knew so much history about Fort Dodge, it made you proud to be a Dodger.  I told him once, the high school should offer a Fort Dodge History Class.  If young people knew the proud history of their hometown, fewer of them would want to leave Fort Dodge.
 
I could go on with my list, Dr. Bill Ryan, H.C. Kirkberg, Herb Bennett, and others of local notoriety.  Each one of them adding just a little to my appreciation of Fort Dodge, Iowa.
 
When Nathaniel was told that Jesus’ hometown was Nazareth, he asked, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”  We all know that Jesus changed the world.  Can anything good come out of Fort Dodge?  All you need to do is open your eyes.  There are flowers blooming all around!
 
Hoping to be one of them….
Pastor Allan
 
©2024 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved