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BLUE EARTH - Two Faribault County seniors have been crowned king and queen as Outstanding Senior Citizen Volunteers.

Two county residents are selected each year for the honor by the Faribault County Ag Society.

Joan Goeke of Elmore and Lawrence Wolf of Blue Earth were crowned recently, and both were shocked.

Wolf's wife received a letter saying he was nominated for the award. Since he was gone fishing that week, she withheld the information. She then lured him to the fair last Wednesday.

"I had no idea," he said. "One of the ladies came over and put a name tag and a flower on me, so I figured I was in something. I just couldn't believe it. It's actually quite an honor, I thought."

Goeke knew she was nominated. Her family was notified and the phone chain began.

"I think half of Elmore was there," Goeke said. "Plus friends from the Cities, Spirit Lake and Pequot Lakes. It was unreal. It was just like I was swimming some place."

Goeke wasn't quite comfortable winning the award and is still getting used to it.

"There are so many other people that are very deserving," she said.

Wolf echoed similar sentiments.

"It's nice to be recognized, but there's a lot of other people who help and do a lot also," he said.

For the past 17 years, Wolf has been a member of the Lions Club - with that many years of perfect attendance. The Lions Club is what sparked his involvement in Relay For Life. The group is charged with setting up the 7,000 to 8,000 luminaries, and Wolf has helped every year.

Because of his 30-year career at Green Giant, Wolf got involved with the planning of the Green Giant Memorabilia Museum, which opened recently.

Another passion of his is helping with Interfaith Caregivers. He and his wife have been involved with the service group for about five years.

"We help transport people to doctor's appointments and things like that," Wolf said. "I just enjoy helping people. It keeps me busy."

Goeke has made a career of serving others, though she doesn't quite view it that way.

"I've never had a job," she said. "I just got to go and do what I loved every day."

Goeke has been a nurse for 55 years and taught medical careers for 25.

"I loved those kids," she said. "I am a nurse; I love to take care of people. I just got paid for doing something I loved doing. I've always had it really good; I'm surrounded by good people.

Before all that - 49 years ago - she was a reporter for the Sentinel and would call in hospital news from Buffalo Center, Iowa.

Her volunteer work is quite involved. She is a co-founder of Interfaith Caregivers and is now a volunteer. She was the board chairwoman for 10 years.

"That has been a big thing in my life," Goeke said. "I also teach classes for families of persons with Alzheimer's."

She has worked with Savvy Caregiver for the past eight years, and also has worked with a support group for Alzheimer's for the past couple of years.

"We just started the support groups," Goeke said. "I feel that's a real mission for me. There are families that are suffering and there are no answers."

Goeke and her husband volunteer with the United Hospital District Auxiliary, which helps escort people from different departments in the hospital. She also assists in the gift shop, was a chairwoman of the auxiliary, and a hospital board member for several years.

While she no longer actively works as a nurse, she keeps up her license and is the parish nurse for Shiloh Lutheran Church in Elmore. She serves as a deacon at Shiloh; a position that helps parishioners and gives assistance to the pastor as needed.

"At one time I directed the choir," she said. "Until I lost my voice. I taught confirmation, Sunday School - adult Sunday school."

The couple also helped direct and participate in the Elmore community theater when it performed melodramas.

Goeke also volunteers to help with Hospice and helps with grief groups.

"If you have three things you don't need anything else," Goeke advised. "Faith, family and friends. So I feel like a millionaire. I have a husband of 52 years. We've lived in Elmore our 52 years. Enjoy every day; there are so many opportunities that are along the way. That's my regret. I sometimes pass right over those opportunities."

Wolf and Goeke now get to go to the Minnesota State Fair to compete for the title of the state's most outstanding senior volunteers.