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Glenn Wienke
Glenn Wienke

2019 Chamber Gala Awards: Glenn Wienke honored as Town of Lewiston Citizen of the Year

Sat, Apr 20th 2019 07:00 am

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Gala Awards dinner from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, May 9, at the Niagara Falls Country Club.

The event begins with a cocktail hour followed by a sit-down dinner and program. The chamber board of directors will then present awards to Business of the Year and Citizen of the Year honorees from the Lewiston, Youngstown, Ransomville and Sanborn communities. In addition, a silent and basket auction will take place.

Tickets are available at the Chamber of Commerce office, 895 Center St., Lewiston.

The Sentinel’s weekly awardee profiles continue with two more pieces by Chamber of Commerce President Jennifer Pauly.

Glenn Wienke has been chosen by Town of Lewiston Supervisor Steve Broderick and Town Board as the 2019 Town of Lewiston Citizen of the Year.

A lifelong Town of Lewiston resident, Glenn loves everything about Sanborn, from history to the businesses. He has volunteered countless hours beautifying the business district and working toward preserving the rich agricultural history of the region.

In 1996, Glenn retired from his job at Exolon in North Tonawanda. Right after retirement, Glenn started volunteering in several organizations and became an active member of the Sanborn Area Historical Association, the Sanborn Business & Professional Association and Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce. In 2006, Glenn was honored as the Sanborn Business Person of the Year. He enjoys being a part of the organizations that keep the community involved and create events to enhance the area.

Upon entering Sanborn from the north, south, east and west, visitors will find “Welcome to Sanborn” signage installed by the business association. Every spring, Glenn volunteers to help take care of the planting, watering, trimming and upkeep of the greens and flowerbeds that adorn each sign. The signs and flowerbeds are a nice way to welcome visitors to the area. He makes sure the plants are watered all summer long at all of the locations.

The land where the Sanborn Lewiston Farm Museum is located was owned by Glenn’s relatives, Nancy and Leonard Wienke. The 56-acre farm property was purchased by the historical association to develop a farm museum – a living history agricultural center. The land also has a vintage barn that was Glenn’s grandfather and father’s barn, pulled over by horses in 1903 from Bridgeman Road. The barn was dedicated as the Wienke Barn a few years ago by the historical association.

Glenn has lived in Sanborn his entire life. He graduated from Wilson High School in 1952, as Niagara-Wheatfield High School didn’t open until 1958. Glenn met his wife, Marie, through the Young Peoples group at church. They married in 1956 and Glenn served in the Army in Korea right after, from 1957-58.

Marie and Glenn were married for 62 years until her passing this past August. They raised three daughters, Karen, Kathy and Kris, and have six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and another on the way any day! Glenn is an active member of Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in North Tonawanda.

In his spare time, if you can’t find Glenn at the schoolhouse or farm museum buildings, you will find him honing his craft of weaving hand baskets that are donated to many fundraisers and organizations. Glenn is a people person and says he can always run into someone he knows at the store or post office in Sanborn. He loves being active and enjoys the camaraderie among volunteers in the historical association, business association and Chamber of Commerce.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce, along with the Town of Lewiston supervisor and council members, are proud to honor Glenn Wienke, the 2019 Town of Lewiston Citizen of the Year.

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