The essence of a Hidden Hero is a commitment to being a positive presence and dedicated supporter of your community, without concern for the compensation or recognition your work receives. For the community of the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic parish in Dutzow, one such Hidden Hero is Fred Roesner.

Roesner, 64, has been a member of the Knights of Columbus council at the parish for nearly 40 years, volunteering his time for community events and fundraisers. He leads the quarterly fish fries that serve as a major fundraiser for the school at St. Vincent, and also provides his time to other community events, fundraisers, and parish needs. 

He also volunteers for the Paul Ballmann Memorial Golf Tournament, which raises money for local families in need, as well as the Dutzow Community Club which maintains the community’s baseball field.

Roesner was busy helping to prepare for the St. Vincent Fall Festival in September when Record staff members and fellow parish volunteers surprised him with his own Hidden Heroes superhero cape.

Hidden Heroes are chosen through community nominations. Here’s what Roesner’s nominator, a fellow parish volunteer, had to say about him:

“He heads all fish fries, fish and chicken dinners, and Father’s Day breakfasts. He’s the first to volunteer at all St. Vincent Church events and help out with the annual Paul Ballman Golf Tournament. He is the first to show up and last to leave, and he is a great asset to our community.”

Roesner’s decades of service began after he joined the Dutzow Knights of Columbus council around 1983. He said his involvement with the group has helped bring him the joy of being part of his community.

“It’s just the joy of helping people, helping the community,” Roesner said when asked why he volunteers his time. “Helping the school and education are big for me, helping make sure the school stays up and running.”

Roesner commented that he actually wasn’t a very active volunteer when he first joined the Knights of Columbus, but a good friend convinced him to become more involved and they spent decades collaborating as volunteers.

“We used to always do it together all the time. Since he passed away, I just kind of took it over,” Roesner remarked.

He emphasized that his volunteer spirit isn’t at all unique in Dutzow or St. Vincent. The whole community is full of people who are happy to do good work.

“Everybody’s free and ready to help. When we have the fish fry, I never have to ask for people to come help. Workers just show up. That’s the kind of community we’ve got,” Roesner said.

Roesner is retired after a four-decade career in industry, and now works the farm that his family has owned for four generations. He said the community and the St. Vincent parish are ingrained in his family’s history.

If or when Roesner also decides to retire from running events at the parish, he said he simply hopes someone will be as inspired as he was to make that part of their life.