Hoke named VACC Citizen of the Year
Author Kathy  Magoto

The Versailles Area Chamber of Commerce (VACC) is proud to announce Ms. Adela Hoke as their newest recipient of the Citizen of the Year Award. On Monday, January 27th the VACC will ceremoniously award the Citizen of the Year obelisk to Ms. Adela Hoke.

The board received multiple nomination letters for Ms. Hoke. The letters had a reoccurring theme emphasizing Adela's stewardship to church and community, as well as her care for the elderly and handicapped and her commitment to the continuity of Versailles' Worch Memorial Public Library.

Adela is a lifelong resident of Versailles, born on the Old Grey Pike, which is now called Versailles Yorkshire Road. Her parents Urban and Mary (Poly) Berger later moved the family of six to Seibt Road (off State Route 47), east of Versailles. One brother Romaine Berger (and his wife Elsie) and two sisters Bernadette Shawler and Mona Lou Blakeley also live in town.

She married her husband, Wayne in 1949 and was married for 41 years until his death in 1990. They raised four children; John, (who married Kim and lives in Bloomfield Hills, MI), twins; Richard (who passed in 1992) and Edward (married to Judi and lives in Troy, OH) and Sharon (who married Cary Sheremet and also lives in Bloomfield Hills, MI).

Adela began working as a bookkeeper for J.K. (Keenan) Long Tobacco Company her senior year of school. While she and Wayne were raising their family Adela volunteered her time to the Athletic Boosters, Summer Swim Team, and Religious Education (CCD). She also worked a short time for Barney Phelan, approximately 18 years for Clarence Poeppelman and then 20 years for the Versailles Savings & Loan from which she retired in 1992

When the library was being moved to its present location they needed a lot of help tagging books and Adela donated her time to help with the large task. She became a key resource for the "Friends of the Library" by helping with the Library Book sale held during Poultry Days.

Over the years Adela Hoke has quietly and generously volunteered her time for countless tasks and continues to volunteer with bingo and monthly birthday parties at the Versailles Health Care Center, as well as accompanying wheel chair residents on their shopping trips, and any other projects that need handled.

Every Monday Adela is one of four ladies that volunteers to tabulate the collection for St. Denis Church. She also helps with the Community Meal the third week of each month and helps with the annual Darke County Right to Life Garage Sale tirelessly working along side volunteers half her age.

Adela enjoys reading, vegetable gardening, yard work and volunteering. She finds volunteering personally rewarding and hopes that she can make a positive difference in people’s lives. "It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing." --Mother Theresa

The public is invited to help Adela and her family, celebrate on Monday, January 27, at the Riviera Banquet Room, Stillwater Valley Golf Course. A cash bar will be open at 5:30 pm with a catered chicken, green bean, baked potato dinner served at 6:15 p.m. A brief business meeting, for the purpose of reports and election of directors, will immediately follow the dinner. The highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the “Citizen of the Year” award. Local politicians, trustees, fire and police chiefs and council members will also be on hand. Tickets are $20.00 per person and can be obtained by contacting Fred or Stacy Poeppelman at 526-9869. Since this is a catered meal advanced tickets are necessary. Please reserve your tickets by January 22nd.