September 6-8, 2024
Glenwood City, Wisconsin

The Glenwood City Rustic Lore Days Committee is pleased to announce the 2024 Grand Marshals will be Marvin and Jean Booth, who will lead our home-town celebration this year!

 

Marvin and Jean’s “story” begins almost

140 years ago when Jean’s grandmother

(Katherine Meulemans-Logghe) was the

first girl baby born in Glenwood City in

the year 1885, while Marvin’s great uncle

, Henry Platson, was the first boy baby in

the same year.  In fact, both of their

great-grand parents owned the same

farm at different times during their

lifetimes.  Needless to say, Marvin and

Jean have a rich history in Glenwood

City, showing that they were destined to

be together – which makes them a

perfect selection as Grand Marshals. 

 

Marvin was born in Rice Lake, WI in 1944

to Harris J. Booth and Pearl M. (Coleman)

Booth while his father was fighting in North Africa and Europe during WWII and his mother was home caring for the family.  Marvin was the second-born in a seven-sibling household including: Harris Jr., Judi, Steven, David, Annette and Sandi.  The family moved to Glenwood City in 1945 which allowed Marvin to be a graduate of Glenwood City in 1962.  Following graduation, Marvin went to St. Paul to work at the Waldorf Paper Company for about one year.  Following this job, he was hired by Edison Brothers Shoes as a salesman.  His primary duties within the women’s shoe department, was both as a salesman and a window trimmer.  Window trimmers were responsible for the window displays that draw customers into the store to purchase shoes.  And Marvin was good at his job!  This job transitioned into an assistant management job for Target stores, where they also wanted him to trim windows for the entire company.  As these were the years of the Vietnam crisis, he was drafted into the Army.  Marvin was drafted on September 15, 1966, just two weeks after he and Jean were married.

 

Jean was born in Glenwood City to Art and Ruth Logghe in 1945 at the Busch Maternity Home, also known as the nunnery and formally the John Steffen home.  She lived on a farm north of Glenwood City along with her brothers Dave and John Logghe.  She attended a one-room school, named Camp Nine.  She even had to walk two and a half miles home from school each day.  She also graduated from Glenwood High in the Class of 1963.  Following graduation, she went onto Globe Business College where she received a degree in Office Machines and Key Punch.  She then started a job at Econ Lab in St. Paul, where she worked for three years.  Jean then went on to follow her husband at Army bases.

 

Marvin and Jean’s love story also starts in Glenwood City as they first met when they were in high school.  The first meeting happened in no other place than a high school study hall, where Jean tried to get Marvin’s attention from across the aisle of desks.  But at that time, Marvin paid no attention.  Following this, Marvin and Jean met again at the Midway Café where Marvin needed a ride home.  His friend said he would give him a ride home, but only if they could take a pair of girls home first.  Marvin told his friend, “I’ll take the short one” – being Jean – and they have been high school sweethearts ever since.

 

Marvin and Jean were married on August 30, 1966 in South Dakota.  Upon returning home, Marvin’s induction orders were in the mail and about two weeks later, he was shipped out for basic training at Fort Leonardwood, MO.  After basic training Marvin was shipped to Fort Polk, LA for leadership school and AIT.  Jean traveled to Louisiana and lived there for four months while Marvin was a cook.  In August, Jean moved to Fort Hood, TX to join Marvin, as he was training with a whole new battalion for Vietnam.  She was there with Marvin for 7 months prior to him being shipped out to Vietnam, at which time, she returned to Glenwood City with two-week old son, Steve. He was shipped to Central Highlands where his brother, Steven, had just returned home from.  When Marvin was back from Vietnam, the Booth’s chose not to go back to the Twin Cities and instead were able to purchase one acre of land and a used 10 by 50 trailer house.  Two years later, they built their first new house.  Marvin and Jean have three children: Steve, Brenda and Amy.  Steven resides in Glenwood City with his wife Crystal, Brenda lives in Boston, MA with her husband Craig and Amy lives with her husband Michael in Downing.  Marvin and Jean have been blessed with five grandchildren: Curtis, Brenden, Steven, Kaylie and Olivia, as well as three great-grandchildren: Cayden, Cathryn and Caralyn.   

 

During their time back in Glenwood City, Marvin and Jean had several occupations between them.  Marvin started working at the Co-op for $1.68/hour.  Following this, he worked at Doughboy in New Richmond as a Toolroom Machinist for 7 years.  At the same time in 1968, Marvin was a substitute rural mail carrier for route one with the United States Postal Service in Glenwood City.  In 1975, he became a full-time rural carrier on route one.  After a total of 32 years with USPS, Marvin retired on September 1, 2000.  While Marvin was working, Jean was a stay-at-home wife and mother for 10 years, where she enjoyed gardening as well as raising animals such as goats, rabbits, chickens and horses.  Some may even refer to these things that “hippy people” would do.  After the kids were in school, Jean worked as a type-setter and proofreader at the Tribune Press Reporter for about 6.5 years before going across the street to Hiawatha National Bank for the rest of her working days at our local bank.  Jean served as both Teller and Head Teller for 25 years before retiring in 2009.  

 

Both Marvin and Jean have been highly involved in our community for many years.  Marvin was part of the snowmobile club and assisted with our first snowmobile derbies.  He has been an American Legion life member for 55 years and has served in many capacities: commander (5 years); county commander (2 terms); district vice commander (1 term) and was a 32nd degree Mason.  Marvin was chairman of the board of the American Legion Clubhouse, Vice President of cemetery board; 20 years as Chairman of the board of the United Methodist Church, Board of Trustees of the United Methodist Church for 10 years.  Jean’s involvement includes many organizations that she is still an active part in today.  Jean has been a 4-H general leader when her children were younger, Sunday school teacher at United Methodist Church, Treasurer of Glenhaven Auxiliary (25 years), Member of American Legion Auxiliary (50 years) and its treasurer for 15 years.  She has also been a Red Cross Bloodmobile helper, Glenwood City Historical Society Board member – 7 years as treasurer, assisted in writing the ECHO Glenwood City history book and assisting Helen Limberg in writing a new history of Glenwood City book, secretary and treasurer of cemetery board and United Methodist Church –member and financial treasurer.  In addition to all of the community organizations that Marvin and Jean have been involved in, they are also the creators of the Walnut Ridge Drive housing development.  In 1996, they purchased 57 acres and hired CedarCorp to divide the land into 11 lots that included new roads, telephone and electrical.  Marvin and Jean built and lived in two houses that currently sit on Walnut Ridge Drive today.  Additionally, they commented that this development process was scary in having to sell lots – only selling one lot the first year, followed by two years of no sales, then the next year all lots were sold.  Without Marvin and Jean in our community, Walnut Ridge Drive in Glenwood City would not exist today.

 

In retirement, Marvin has continued a 54-year-old business – Marv’s Sharpen-It-Service – which sharpens saw blades of all types: chain saws, buzz saws, scissors and shears.  He also enjoys making maple syrup, hunting, spending time at the cabin on Potato Lake in Chetek (built by Marvin and Jean), gardening, planting and caring for flowers as well as bird watching.  Jean’s desire in retirement has been making quilts, wool lap quilts to be specific, entering foods, flowers, photography, antiques and more at the St. Croix County Fair, gardening, spending time at the cabin, writing and traveling.  

 

Marvin and Jean are both “honored to be representing Glenwood City” as this year’s Grand Marshals for Rustic Lore Days. When they were asked, a few tears were shed in knowing this honor of being asked and the importance of this role in our community and celebration weekend.  Marvin and Jean embody a rich, long-lasting history in Glenwood City and we are honored to have them serve as our Grand Marshals for 2024.  Please join Marvin and Jean to celebrate Glenwood City’s “Mardi Gras” for Rustic Lore Days on September 6-8, 2024!