Wasdyke shares creative talents with others

by Dennis Dalman

editor@thenewsleaders.com

In a citation honoring him, Sartell Senior Volunteer of the Year Jim Wasdyke was described as “an engineer who has found his creative side.”

That’s an understatement. Wasdyke not only paints, writes poems and plays fiddle but he creates mosaics and is constantly coming up with creative ideas for the Sartell Senior Connection, of which he is one of the founding members.

The annual award for the Sartell Area Chamber of Commerce’s Retired Senior Volunteer of the Year award is for “an outstanding resident who has not retired his or her spirit” and who, through volunteer projects, fosters a positive image of Sartell.”

Wasdyke not only enjoys his creative pursuits, but he teaches them, sharing them with many others. At the Sartell Senior Connection’s weekly arts sessions, Wasdyke can often be seen doing his oil-painting as his wife, Shirley, enjoys doing her cross-stich creations. He, his wife Shirley, and one or two other musicians also do a musical performance and sing-a-long for the Connection. Wasdyke’s group also performs at many area senior nursing homes.

Wasdyke organized a Walk ‘n’ Roll walking program at Val Smith Park, musical jams at the Whitney Senior Center where he also teaches painting, and meetings of the Granite City Radio Club model-airplane flyers.

Through the Sartell-St. Stephen Community Education program, Wasdyke teaches fiddle-playing and mosaic-making. Jim and Shirley Wasdyke are dedicated members of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and work as a team to help enrich the lives of senior residents in the greater St. Cloud area. At the annual Children’s Easter Celebration in Sauk Rapids, the Wasdykes help make the day festive by helping with bingo, face-painting and egg-decorating.

“Jim’s enthusiasm for life and his willingness to share his talents is remarkable,” the award citation reads. “He has a positive outlook on life and his attitude is contagious.”