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Community Summer Festivals In Waukee

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While many local residents look forward to Waukee’s summer festivals and events, most are likely unaware of the extensive preparation that goes into each event throughout the preceding year.

Lead organizers from several of the area’s staple summer activities discussed with us the behind-the-scenes work necessary to pull off the fun-filled and well-attended events.

If you happen to run into one of the local volunteers or city employees who help make these events possible, be sure to express your appreciation. These activities contribute to Waukee’s quality of life, making it one of the most desirable places to live in Iowa.

Celebrate Waukee (June 2)

Held in Centennial Park, this annual event officially kicks off the summer season, bringing people together to celebrate the town, schools and local businesses. The daylong celebration includes festivities like a pancake breakfast, 5K run, face painting and inflatables, and ends with evening fireworks.

Celebrate Waukee was originally called Waukee Fest. The Waukee Leadership Institute’s class of 2015 decided to rebrand and restructure the event with the help of the city and others in the community. Their first run at the celebration was held during the summer of 2016.

The following year, Waukee Community Festivals — a 501(c)3 non-profit group — took on Celebrate Waukee in hopes of growing the event and putting the profits back into the community.

While the nonprofit’s board of five now does most of the planning, Jerry Slaughter, the Waukee Community Festivals Committee chair, said it takes nearly 60 people to help make the event run smoothly.

Their checklist includes requesting sponsorships, looking for musical acts and acquiring a permit and/or license for the beer garden and fireworks. The board starts making arrangements in September or October of the year before the event.

Slaughter would like to see Celebrate Waukee evolve in a way that embraces the city’s growing, diverse community.

“Having more people of different ethnicities in town presents an opportunity to welcome and learn about different cultures,” he said. “We would like to find more ways to bring people together and get to know one another in an entertaining atmosphere.”

Waukee Arts Festival (July 14)

The Waukee Arts Festival might not be what it is today if Cody Kilgore, president of the Waukee Area Arts Council, hadn’t been told he couldn’t do it.

“I really dislike being told I can’t do something. That became a ‘hold my beer’ moment for me, and we were off and running,” he said.

The idea for the festival came together when fundraising efforts for the Waukee Area Arts Council started to suffer.

“We were looking at creating an event that would have a large impact and raise funds for the organization,” said Kilgore. “It was kicked around in several board meetings for a while. Everyone thought it was a great idea, but we also knew it was going to be a huge project and we didn’t know where to start.”

During its first year, the Waukee Arts Festival showcased 23 artists on a Sunday afternoon. “I spent about three months nearly begging artists to join and arranging the food, music and other vendors and courting sponsors,” said Kilgore.

Preparing for the arts festival continues to be a large undertaking. Kilgore said that he and the board of directors never really stop planning for it.

“It’s like putting together a puzzle,” he explained. “A lot of time is spent building the artist base, finding the musicians to play, and arranging the concert band and sound production. Then we look at food. We want it to be unique. Once those pieces are in place, we fill in the details of support logistics, like recycling and refuse systems, extra restrooms, tents, golf carts for shuttles, signage, parking, mapping out artist spaces, civic organizations we want to invite to exhibit and support, and promoting the event.”

Kilgore said they’re already planning for 2019 concert acts, too. “We’re working with bands that require booking far in advance,” he said. “We’re also looking at working with another organization that will improve our recruitment of artists from across the Midwest and the country. So, we may begin accepting applications for the 2019 festival as early as a week or two after the 2018 event is over.”

Waukee Fourth of July (July 4)

Danae Edwards, recreation supervisor for the city of Waukee, has seen Fourth of July attendance grow as more people move to the western suburbs. Because of the newcomers, the Parks and Recreation board is always looking for ways to make the event more attractive. Next year, that includes the addition of a carnival, which will replace inflatable activities. They also pushed the start of the parade back to 3 p.m. so little ones can have their nap time before lining the streets.

Danae said planning for the event begins in early January, and it takes a village to coordinate the fireworks display at the end of the night. The Fourth of July team consists of several full-time staff members, a special-events team with about two people from Parks and Recreation, police, fire, city administration, marketing and communications and public works, as well as nine board members and about five part-time staff and volunteers.
Organizing the event begins with coordinating logistics at the start of the day, from lining up parade participants to navigating road closures and ensuring police are situated at each intersection on the route. Next is planning for all the vendors to set up in Centennial Park, along with the inflatables, a band, the stage, and the grand finale—the fireworks.
Edwards said the event is meaningful to her because “it’s a great way for the city of Waukee to give residents an event to create traditions and memories.”

Waukee Farmer’s Market (Every Wednesday from June 6 through Sept. 26; 4-7 p.m.)

Des Moines’ downtown farmer’s market is one of the best in the country. But if residents don’t want to make the drive and/or maneuver the crowded streets, they can still scoop up some locally grown produce in Waukee’s farmer’s market in the downtown triangle.

The family-friendly market is managed by local businesses that take turns overseeing the event week-to-week. Planning typically begins at the beginning of the year and involves contacting vendors to participate, scheduling live music, and working with the Parks and Recreation department on street closings.

To participate in the market, vendors are required to grow at least 51 percent of their produce. In addition to fresh veggies, residents can find floral arrangements, baked goods, specialty items, crafts, prepared food and various other items. Attending the Waukee Farmer’s Market is a great way to check out some of the area’s mom-and-pop shops, too.

Lyn Schafer, owner of Classic Floral Design in Waukee, said she hopes the farmer’s market continues to cultivate an atmosphere in which local families can enjoy themselves.

Go Biking Waukee

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It’s that time of year. The grass has started to green, neighborhoods have emerged from hibernation and the area’s evolving trail system is ready for use.

As residents dust off their bikes, strollers and tennis shoes, let’s walk through the winding trails of Waukee and beyond.

Overview

Waukee has three main trails—Heart of the Warrior, Sugar Creek and Raccoon River Valley Trail (RRVT).

The Heart of the Warrior Trail is three miles long and runs east to west through many of Waukee’s residential neighborhoods. Parking is available on the east side of the trail at Lion’s Park. Heart of the Warrior connects to Clive’s Greenbelt Trail, which leads to an extensive trail system. Centennial Park also sits along the trail, just across Ashworth Road, and provides a nice place for picnicking and playing outdoor games.

The Sugar Creek trailhead is at the intersection of Warrior Lane and University Avenue and curves through the city’s southern neighborhood of Glynn Village. This trail also runs through Centennial Park by way of a pedestrian bridge connected to the Spyglass neighborhood. Scenic views of the Sugar Creek Golf Course are an added treat.

Racoon River Valley Trail is the area’s largest system, spanning across 89 miles of trail and connecting to 13 additional communities outside Waukee. The trailhead is on the corner of Hickman Road and North 10th Street, where restroom facilities also can be found. Visit raccoonrivervalleytrail.org/the-trail for a
description of attractions and amenities in each community.

What’s New

In March, Waukee unveiled a new $1.1 million-dollar public art installation on the RRVT gateway trailhead. “Waukee Railroad Pergola: In the Shadow of the Rails” was designed by nationally recognized artist David Dahlquist and RDG Planning and Design of Des Moines. Dahlquist is also the mastermind of the High Trestle Trail bridge lighted superstructure that runs across the Des Moines River between Madrid and Woodward.

Similar to the High Trestle Trail bridge, the Waukee Railroad Pergola will be illuminated from dusk until dawn. At least six additional locations along the RRVT loop will adopt aspects of the main trailhead structure, making it the longest linear public art installation in the country.

In November, a pedestrian underpass that runs across the west side of Alice’s Road was completed along with a sidewalk to the east. “The new tunnel is really cool,” said Andy Walsh, who owns Mickey’s Irish Pub with his wife, Amy—both of whom are major supporters and participants in all things biking. “It’s not a straight shot. It’s a winding tunnel that goes back and forth. It’s neat.”

Grand Prairie Parkway also consists of two pedestrian underpasses. Waukee Parks and Recreation Director Matt Jermier said the underpasses were necessary for safety reasons. “We were getting a lot of comments about how busy that road is, and how dangerous it is to get across. As you’re trying to develop your trail system, the last thing you want is residents interacting with a six-lane road,” he said.

What’s Ahead

What’s next for the Waukee trail system? Jermier said their top priorities are safe
commutes and connectivity. “As we continue to put in more parks and develop new neighborhoods, we’re looking at ways for parents to not have to get in their car and drive to an elementary school,” said Jermier. “A good example of this plan working is the trails in Fox Creek Park that connect to Grant Ragan Elementary. There are many residents who can see the school from where they live and walk from the trail system.”

Safer routes also mean creating more underpasses. “The crossings on Hickman are just way too crazy,” said Walsh. He has been involved with numerous fundraising efforts for the trail system and says a connector from RRVT to the High Trestle Trail is another project on the list once more funds become available.

“It would be amazing. If bicyclists want to ride High Trestle Trail right now, it involves loading up the back of a truck and unloading in Woodward. With a connector, we could get on our bikes from here, ride to Woodward, curve around the north side of Des Moines and back down. That would be great.”

Raccoon River Valley Trail Events

Jermier said there has been an uptick in charity events and 5k runs since completing the north loop on RRVT. “We get usage numbers from Dallas Country Conservation, and those continue to increase year after year,” said Jermier.

One of Waukee’s largest and best-known trail events will take place on Saturday, June 16. The annual BACooN ride covers 71 miles of on the Racoon River Valley Trail and will be presented by the Blue-Ribbon Bacon Festival, RAGBRAI and the Iowa Bicycle Coalition. Numerous stops along the way will provide tasty bacon treats.

Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee is the official post-party location for the ride, featuring three bands and food and drink specials for riders. Additional RRVT events include the Market to Market Relay for runners on May 12 and live
music on Fridays and Saturdays from 7-10 p.m. at Perry’s historic Hotel Pattee.

Side Bars

If you’re looking for a pit stop where you can grab a drink and pump some more air in your tires, consider the following Waukee establishments: Mickey’s Irish Pub, Saints Pub and Patio, and Hy-Vee Market Grille (where the tire pump is located at Hy-Vee Gas).

Additional places with food and/or drink near the Waukee trails include 1908 Draught House, Rookie’s Sports Bar and Grill, Kenny’s Garage, Sidetrack Pub, and Broheim’s Indoor Golf and Pub.

Walsh, who has owned Mickey’s for 11 years, says bicyclists generally prefer to stop at bars that are known to be ‘bike-friendly.’ “That means the place might be
owned and populated by bikers,” he explained. “‘Bike-friendly’ bars put out a station for filling water bottles, provide extra bike racks and create specials for bicyclists—things like that.”

We Have It Good

Walsh thinks some Iowans tend to take for granted how good of a trail network we have. “We’ll have people driving across the country who stop here and jump on
the RRVT,” he said. “We’ll show them our network, and they’re blown away by all the paved trails. It’s not a priority for most places, like it is here.”

For more information on Waukee’s trails, visit waukee.org.

Gastro Pub & Grub

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Life had been going so well for Andrea Gleason, half of the husband-and-wife ownership duo of Waukee’s new restaurant, Gastro Grub and Pub.

She was planning her wedding with the love of her life, and she had never been happier. And then she was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer.

“I’m sorry, what is it?” Andrea asked her doctor.

“You have cancer,” the doctor said.

“No, I don’t. I’m fine.”

Andrea’s mother was sitting next to her and began to cry. She and Andrea’s father had a friend who had recently died from melanoma. She didn’t know how her daughter would survive this.

“There’s no way,” Andrea repeated to herself. “We’re thriving. This can’t happen now.”

Andrea and her now-husband, Sean, met while working at Legends Grill in West Des Moines. She’d been trying to earn some cash to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. He’d been studying pre-med at Drake, but dropped out after losing his father—a prominent Des Moines doctor —to suicide three years earlier.

She was smart, beautiful and full of life. He was handsome, brimming with untapped potential and ready for whatever life would present next. They had fallen in love instantly.

A few months into dating, Andrea had told Sean she wanted to move to Los Angeles, which also would give Sean an opportunity to recreate his life. So they packed their bags and headed west.

When they arrived in L.A., Andrea encouraged Sean to do something he really enjoyed. He’d always had a knack for cooking, and his mom had been urging him to become a chef since he was a teenager.

“Even when we first started dating, he would cook full meals for me,” said Andrea.

Sean began taking courses at Le Cordon Bleu, a culinary arts school, while working at Fig and Olive, an upscale restaurant. Andrea landed a restaurant gig at Katsuya, a popular L.A. sushi joint, and went to auditions in her free time.

“I ended up spending more time at the restaurant than I did on acting,” she said.

After a year at Fig and Olive, Sean left for The Village Idiot. That’s where he and Andrea had their first taste of gastro pub fare—what Andrea describes as a fusion of eclectic foods.

Sean worked his way up to Sous Chef there within three years. After four years of hustling and getting a taste of the L.A. restaurant scene, the big city lifestyle began to wear on Andrea. It was time to go home. “We were working six days a week just to pay rent,” she said.

The couple decided to make the most out of their trip home and planned a two-week
road trip to visit several National Parks. When they landed in Yosemite, Sean proposed.

“We were so excited, we had to get a drink just to calm ourselves,” she laughed.

Back in Iowa, they moved in with Sean’s mother—with no jobs and no money. But they had a dream. “We wanted to open a restaurant,” said Andrea.

With Andrea’s experience and Sean’s talent, they created a business plan and presented it to potential investors. But nobody would bite.

“Who are you? You just moved back from California. You don’t have any money. Why should we go all-in when you have nothing to lose?” they were told.

Andrea understood the rejection. But she also knew they weren’t giving up.

About a year passed with no luck when the city of Des Moines announced it was approving food truck permits. They decided to give it a shot. With a small investment from their parents, they bought a food truck off Craigslist.

By the summer of 2015, Gastro Grub was ready for customers. It was just the two of them. Andrea took orders and Sean cooked.

They frequented events like the Valley Junction Farmer’s Markets on Thursdays, Hinterland and various food truck festivals across the metro.

When winter came, Andrea and Sean decided to keep going and parked outside
Confluence Brewery every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The profits weren’t great, but staying open helped the couple get their name out in the community.

Gastro Grub grew in popularity, and by the summer of 2016, “the requests were coming in like crazy,” said Andrea. “It was so good that it was more than we could handle.”

Andrea’s mom joined their party of two, helping Sean in the kitchen.

When she wasn’t on the food truck, Andrea played volleyball at The Sands, one of her favorite things to do in the summer. Her arm started to bother her, and she thought she may have hurt it playing.

Then she found a lump, and Sean’s mom, a nurse, urged her to get it checked out.

She was told it was nothing serious and was given several courses of antibiotics, but the lump kept growing and it became painful and bruised. Sean’s mother suggested Andrea be seen again.

One summer afternoon, when the flow of customers had settled around the food truck, Andrea sneaked away to Mercy’s Urgent Care in Clive.

“Sean’s dad helped create that facility. In some weird way, I think he sent me there to get the right tests,” she said.

The doctor sent her to get a biopsy. Soon after, she went back in for the results.

“Denial. I was in total denial,” said Andrea. “It felt like the future Sean and I were planning was ruined.”

She told Sean she didn’t want to do the food truck anymore. “We had just booked our wedding, and now I didn’t even want to marry him. I wanted him to find someone else, so he didn’t have to go through this. I was broken,” she said.

But Sean knew he wanted to be with Andrea forever—until death do they part.

A PET scan showed Andrea’s cancer had metastasized in the lymph node under her arm and spread into eight more tiny tumors across her chest. She was sent to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics where she qualified for a clinical trial that had cured other patients with her type of cancer.

“Keep trying to live your life as much as you can,” her doctor told her. So she did. That meant, despite taking 12 pills a day, flying to Vegas for her bachelorette party and not missing out on summer festivals like Hinterland.

But the side effects of treatment caught up with her. Andrea recalls sitting in her car one morning, getting ready to pick up burgers and buns for the truck. “I just cried,” she said. “I felt so awful and wanted to crawl back in bed, but I knew that wouldn’t help anything, so I just pushed through and did the best I could.”

Her subsequent scans showed the treatments were working. Her tumors were shrinking. “I felt like I was going to be saved,” she said.

But right after the wedding, Andrea felt the tumor in her armpit growing larger, and her doctors confirmed her worst fears. The cancer was growing again, and it was aggressive.

“It was so depressing to have this false hope that I was going to be fine. Life was going so well, and it was being taken away from me again,” she said.

Amid her treatments, Andrea and Sean worked with a realtor and local bank to nail down a spot for their restaurant. “We really wanted to make it happen,” she said. “Not only because it was our dream, but because both Sean and my parents knew the truck was wearing me down.”

She said they looked for space downtown, but were worried it was oversaturated. Their realtor took them out to Waukee, and they fell in love with the space formerly occupied by Louie’s Wine Dive off University.

The couple secured a loan through the Small Business Administration and made a down payment on the building. “We needed the restaurant,” said Andrea. “I wanted it for Sean. I thought if I wasn’t going to make it, Sean couldn’t do the food truck without me. But I thought he could do the restaurant if I got it up and running for him. That was my goal, so he would be OK. I told him if I died, he could not give up everything we’ve worked for.”

Andrea’s doctor scheduled her for surgery for her 31st birthday to try to remove the remaining tumor in her armpit. She was told there was a chance she’d lose her arm.

Luckily, she woke up to good news. “I think we got it all,” her doctor told her.

After surgery, Andrea started radiation three days per week for six weeks. The first session landed on the week of Gastro’s Grand Opening. “I would go straight to the restaurant from Iowa City,” she said. “I was going to make this work and take it one day at a time, just like everything else.”

Although Andrea completed radiation in early February, her doctors can’t definitively say she’s in remission until she has several clear scans. She’ll remain on a treatment called Keytruda for the next 12 to 15 months.

Since Gastro Pub and Grub opened, Andrea said quite a few cancer survivors have come in to tell her she’s inspiring them not to give up on life. “I just have to stay strong and keep doing what I’m doing,” she said. “I still worry. I want to be done and move on with my life, but it’s always in the back of my mind.”

She said cancer has shown her how much we need to support one another. “So often, we’re so selfish. We forget to love one another and take care of each other. If anything, I can help do that now. I can try to make people’s lives a little bit better.”

The couple plans to donate some of their proceeds to a charity every month and is helping support the metro non-profit Freedom for Youth by using Freedom Blend Coffee in their restaurant.

Andrea said they’re hoping to set themselves apart from other area competitors by taking their food industry experiences in California and infusing that into their meals and drinks. Items on their menu range from a bourbon bacon jam burger to a vegan barbecue jackfruit sandwich to pork chops and mashed potatoes.

Andrea said operating a business with her spouse has its ups and downs. “We’re together every single day, but we’re so busy,” she said. “I miss him even more now and still get the butterflies when I see them. Our love is still strong, and we put that into the restaurant.”

Waukee’s 8 Year Old Miracle

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Ella Goering isn’t your typical 8-year-old. With a mature, caretaking personality, you can find her reading and crafting alongside older children or adults, unless she’s taking care of younger children. Then, she’s a mother hen. In her wise, young years, Ella’s faced more than most anyone will encounter in a lifetime: she has a brain tumor.

“Ella fell at school in kindergarten and hit her head pretty badly,” said Ella’s mom, Sherri. “Shortly after the fall, she began getting headaches. After seeing several doctors, they determined she had a concussion and time would be the best medicine. Ella would still get headaches about once a month after vigorous activity, but usually laying down for a bit would help.”

The family managed the headaches for almost a year, and then they started to become more frequent. Different doctors told the family it was anything from the flu to migraines. Yet, Sherri knew something more was going on. In December of 2015, Ella had an MRI.

“We went in that morning for the MRI and had actually planned to spend the rest of the day Christmas shopping,” said Sherri. “As Ella was coming out of sedation, the radiologist and nurses came in to talk to me in a private room. I immediately sensed something was very wrong, but I couldn’t have imagined what they were about to tell me. Thank God my dad was there. I thought I was going to faint when they told me Ella had a large brain tumor.”

The official diagnosis was medulloblastoma, an aggressive, cancerous brain tumor. The tumor was at the base of Ella’s spine, causing a blockage so the fluid couldn’t flow to the spine, which caused the headaches and visual trouble. Ella, Sherri and family were transferred to Iowa City, where Ella was scheduled for surgery to drain the excess fluid from her brain and to remove the tumor. However, Ella didn’t come out of surgery as planned.

“Ella woke up unable to talk, walk, swallow and more. After a week, we found out she developed posterior fossa syndrome (PFS). It was the scariest time of our lives,” said Sherri.

Ella and Sherri were sent to MD Anderson in Texas for proton radiation, where they spent 91 days in the hospital doing radiation, chemotherapy and intense therapy to regain Ella’s abilities. Ella’s father Jerrod stayed in Iowa with 4-year-old Adelle.

“Being thousands of miles from everyone and everything we knew was heart-wrenching, but we knew it was going to offer the best treatment option for the type of brain tumor she had,” said Sherri. “We were incredibly grateful for technology, so we could see our family. Ella’s best friend, Kendall, called almost every single night. Kendall would do the talking for both of them, since Ella couldn’t speak. That friendship would inspire anyone to call their friends and catch up.”

Slowly but surely, Ella started making progress. Each new development, from swallowing to squeezing a hand for yes/no communication to regaining her voice, was a big win. Yet somehow, her cancer grew during treatment. When the radiation and chemo were complete, Sherri and Ella made their way home to Iowa. Without a doubt, the entire journey changed their family.

“If not for deep faith in a plan larger than my own, I’m not sure how I would’ve made it through each day. God told me to trust Him,” said Sherri.

In an act of complete surrender in faith, the family focused on quality of life, stopping treatment to allow Ella to experience life to the fullest. That next December, the family’s prayers were once again answered.

“I learned of a ketone supplement that could help her,” explained Sherri. “I did a ton of research and contacted the company. I took it myself before giving Ella the recommended dose for children the next day. I was across the house when I heard loud belly laughter. I knew it wasn’t Adelle’s laugh, and I ran to find Ella laughing hard with happy tears rolling down her cheeks.”

The ketone supplement continued to benefit Ella. She regained some of her strength and her schoolwork began to improve, too. Since then, her MRI’s have been stable, and Sherri said they don’t talk or think too much about the cancer itself.

“Our minds can’t orchestrate the series of events that God’s plan entails,” said Sherri. “Living in a surrendered place has opened us up to what I perceive as miracles. I’m not saying I don’t worry or fall into trying to control life, but when I realize I’m doing it, I surrender and let it go.”

“If you see us out and about, feel free to smile and say hello,” she continued. “Ella does use a walker, so it helps when parents talk with their kids about why that is, instead of having others stare or ask condition-specific questions.”

Sherri posts updates on her Facebook page, facebook.com/ellagoering. These days, the forum is filled with walking practice and sleepovers with new friends from school.

“I pray no one has to face anything like this, but life is happening for all of us,” said Sherri. “Everyone has a story, and I hope what you take from ours is to let go and let God. God has everything figured out, and as hard as it can be, we need to step out of the way and let Him work.”

The Adventures of Paul & Moose: Serving the Community Through Animal Therapy

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Dogs are known as man’s best friend, and for Waukee resident Paul Mohlke and his 6-year-old labradoodle, Moose, the title couldn’t be more fitting. Not only do they share the typical owner-pet bond, but these two are committed to community outreach through animal therapy.

Their story began about seven years ago, when Mohlke became ill and ended up in the hospital. It was during his hospital stay that he first experienced what a therapy dog could do.

“My sisters knew I had always liked dogs, but with my work and my schedule, I wasn’t in a position to have one of my own,” said Mohlke. “During my time in the hospital, my sisters asked the staff if the therapy dog could come to my room. As soon as the dog came in, everything changed, and I instantly knew I wanted to have this same impact on people.”

Every day for the remainder of his hospitalization, Mohlke was able to see the therapy dog, and it was because of those visits that he began researching dog breeds and the process of training a therapy dog.

Roughly a month later, he was leaving a Walgreens when he noticed a dog sitting behind the wheel of the car parked next to his. Not knowing the breed, he stayed in the parking lot until the dog’s owner returned. He learned the breed that captured his attention was a labradoodle, a mix between a Labrador and a poodle. Not long after, he connected with a family that raises labradoodles in rural Northeastern Iowa.

“I let them know I was planning to train a puppy for therapy work,” said Mohlke. “Two days after our first conversation, they reached out saying someone returned one of the puppies due to conflicting emotions about losing a dog not long before. The next day, I went to meet the puppy, and once I saw him, I knew Moose was the one.”

Coincidentally, Mohlke learned the family who returned Moose also had plans to train him for therapy work. It’s as if Moose was destined to be a therapy dog.

The duo started therapy dog classes when Moose turned 2 years old. Mohlke used a center in Urbandale to help with the training, and he and Moose worked together one night a week for an entire year. At the end of 12 months, Moose took a test through Therapy Dog International.

“Moose has a great personality and loves people, so he was easy to train,” said Mohlke. “But, the testing felt a little like how I imagine American Idol contestants must feel. After the testing, all of the handlers, along with the dogs, were brought into a room, and Therapy Dog International selected some of us to move to another room, while the rest stayed. That’s how Moose earned his certification, and it was extremely rewarding.”

With a formal certification in hand, Therapy Dog International connected Mohlke and Moose with places in Central Iowa looking for therapy dogs. The first place they were sent was the VA Central Iowa Health Care System (VA), and four years later, you can still find them meeting with veterans there for two hours on Saturday mornings. Additionally, every Tuesday, they visit the students and staff at Orchard Place School.

Mohlke explained that these two sites are very different, but the variety works well for them. He gets to interact with veterans at the VA, and Moose loves the kids and the attention they give him at Orchard Place.

“Sometimes, it doesn’t take much to impact someone’s day—you can just do the littlest thing, and it makes all the difference,” said Mohlke. “I’ve had kids ask, when Moose and I are getting ready to leave, if they can just give me a hug, and the students make cards for Moose on his birthday every year. I’ve also received a letter from the daughter of a veteran who passed away, telling me how our visits meant everything to her father. Things like that make it all worth it.”

Mohlke and Moose were named “Volunteers of the Year” for Orchard Place this past year for the service they provide. Perhaps it’s partly because, as Mohlke explained, Moose is extremely perceptive during their visits, finding and sitting with the people who need him most.

“On a recent visit to the school, Moose gave particular attention to one girl,” explained Mohlke. “He kept licking her and making her laugh. Her teacher told me that she wasn’t having a good day, and somehow, Moose just knew.”

While “working” does leave Moose enjoying recovery naps at home afterward, Mohlke believes Moose loves his job. “His tail just wags all the time,” he said. “Moose really likes it because, just like us, he enjoys having a purpose and a job to do.”

Moose even has a baseball card that Mohlke makes himself and hands out to the people they meet. The front features a smiling headshot of Moose, bandana around his neck, and on the back, people can learn more about the friendly labradoodle, including his favorite toy (squeaky tennis balls), his favorite treats (hot dogs and string cheese) and his favorite activities (chasing rabbits and squirrels, along with visiting people, of course).

Mohlke explained that he’s looking forward to retirement, so he and Moose can visit even more organizations that request therapy dog visits, such as hospices and hospitals.

“I’ve found that Moose has the ability to help anyone, regardless of their role,” said Mohlke. “I’ve had nurses run us down in the hall, asking to see him because they’ve missed him so much. And now, a lot of the kids we see say that when they grow up, they want to do this. It’s rewarding to know they’ll know what a program like this is and what it means to experience it firsthand. Life is more than just work and having a job. When I was in the hospital seven years ago, I asked myself, ‘What’s my purpose?’ And, I can honestly say both Moose and I have found ours.”

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