Residents recall Dunklau’s generosity
News Editor, Tammy

Area residents are remembering a Fremont man known for his philanthropy, something that benefits people each day.

Rupert Dunklau, a longtime community benefactor, died Wednesday at his home. He was 88.

Those acquainted with Dunklau remember him for his leadership and support of the local hospital and university, his church and various charitable initiatives.

The school of business at Midland University, Lutheran Family Services, Fremont Center for Healthy Families, and Dunklau Gardens, formerly A.J. Merrick Manor, all bear the Dunklau name.

“I am deeply sadden by the news of Rupert Dunklau’s passing,” said Fremont Mayor Scott Getzschman. “He had a strong passion for our community and he truly left his legacy on many institutions. We are a better community because of his leadership and guidance.”

Born in Arlington where he grew up, Dunklau graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a bachelor’s degree in business and began working at Valmont.

Fellow Valmont employee Dale Olson gave Dunklau a ride to work that first morning. It was 1950. “We rode to Valmont together for many years,” Olson said. “Rupe was a good friend.” Olson said Dunklau had considered working for another company, but his father-in-law told him about Valmont and the company’s founder, Robert Daugherty, had convinced Dunklau to come to work there.

Dunklau would help guide Valmont through a tremendous period of growth, retiring as executive vice president in 1973.

President of the Rupert Dunklau Foundation, he was formerly director of Fremont National Bank and Occidental/Nebraska Federal Savings Bank.

Terry McClain, who was chief financial officer at Valmont from 1973 – 2014, worked with Dunklau as a shareholder. “He had a really strong view of community and as a result was a great giver to various community projects, specifically to people who were in need,” McClain said.

Olson, who worked at Valmont for 38 years, remembered Dunklau’s support of Midland University. “ He was generous with Midland. He asked me for the first contribution I ever made to Midland,” said Olson, who with his wife, Fern, have long supported the university and for whom Olson village is named.

Dunklau’s community began early. In 1950, he started serving on the board for Lutheran Family Services and would serve for the next 16 years.

Dunklau and his wife, Ruth, were among honorary chairpersons for the “Light the Way” campaign, which established what is now the Rupert Dunklau Center for Healthy Families.

“It’s really a sad day for Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, because we have lost a very strong advocate for children and families and a very dear, generous, faithful friend,” said Ruth Henneman, vice president of development for LFS of Nebraska.

Dunklau’s service to Fremont Health Medical Center spanned decades.

In 1972, Dunklau was appointed to serve on the board of trustees for Memorial Hospital of Dodge County, and became chairman in 1978. He served for 34 years until his retirement in 2006. Information from the medical center states that during Dunklau’s tenure as chairman, he displayed a passion for new medical programs and modern technology.

Dunklau saw tremendous growth at Fremont Health. Capital additions authorized by the board during this time exceeded $112 million – additions that were never financed with taxpayer money. In September 2014, Fremont Health received a gift of $2 million from the Rupert Dunklau Foundation in honor of Rupert Dunklau, and Fremont Health’s long term care facility, A. J. Merrick Manor, received a new name – Dunklau Gardens.

“The Fremont Health family was saddened to learn of the passing of Mr. Rupert Dunklau,” said Patrick Booth, president and chief executive officer. “He was truly a great man with a big heart that cared deeply about our community. Today, our thought and prayers are with Rupert’s family and friends.”

Dunklau was known for the support of his church, Trinity Lutheran in Fremont. The Rev. Dan Heuer, who’s served as senior pastor for a decade, shared good remembrances of Dunklau. “The last 10 years that I’ve known him, he has been very faithful,” Heuer said. “He really cared about his church and about his faith…while he gave philanthropically to a number of different places – and while he was being thanked by those places –he always gave God the glory for all that he had and for the ability to give back to the community and various places that he supported.”

Heuer added that Dunklau had a special place in his heart for church workers. And pastor noted something else about Dunklau. “In the last six months, he said a number of times ‘I’m ready to see Jesus.’”

~~~Article courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clipping on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~