By Tyler Lamb
Editor
Each year, the Walworth County Fair honors area senior citizens who dutifully contribute to their community.
This year’s Walworth County Fair’s Outstanding Senior Citizen winners include a fire chief, a nursing manager, as well as an active member of the Walworth County Home and Community educators.
The contest is designed to allow citizens of Walworth County to nominate a senior from their community, and the Walworth County Fair Board then picks the winners.
Four seniors were selected as 2013’s Walworth County Fair’s Outstanding Senior Citizens, and their information is as follows:
Eileen Guthrie: As a wife of a farmer for more than 50 years, Guthrie is involved with many community programs.
Guthrie is a member of the Millard Community Covenant Church where she is a member of the choir, church board, fellowship committee and funeral committee. She is the Education Program Coordinator of the Walworth County Home and Community Educators.
Guthrie has organized and participated in events that have won grants and awards thanks to her effort.
The Walworth County Fair also has Guthrie to thank for her help with countless food stands and organizing the assembly of to-go and drive-through meals as the kitchen coordinator, according to the fair board.
Guthrie does all this while finding time to spend with her husband of 55 years, three children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Guthrie’s nominee stated, “Eileen is the most selfless person you will ever meet. If you go to her with a need or request, she will find a way to meet it, regardless of her situation or own needs.”
Neill Flood: Neill Flood has lived in Delavan and served the community his whole life, working up to become fire chief, a position he has held since 1982.
Flood is best known for his accomplishments in modernizing the Delavan Fire Department, including heading its move to a 16,000-square-foot building that is named for him in 2011.
He is a member of St. Andrews Catholic Church, where he has held multiple officer positions, including trustee, parish council president and chairman of the maintenance committee. He is currently a member of the finance committee.
Flood has four children and is a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan, according to close friend Sen. Neal Kedzie (R-Elkhorn).
Karla and Brent Tildahl: The Tildahl’s have lived in Fontana for 43 years and both enjoy serving the community, according to the fair board.
Karla has been playing her church’s organ for 32 years, sings in the choir, developed a library and has done parish nurse work.
As president for American Association of University Women and a nursing manager for the Open Arms Free Care Clinic, Karla received awards for her leadership and fundraising, including the Leader in Education award won three times, Humanitarian Award from Aurora Lakeland Medical Center and the Fontana Citizen of the Year award.
Karla volunteers at the county fair, driving trolleys around the grounds with her husband, who also drives golf carts.
Brent also works closely with the church, where he was once president. Currently, he ushers and donates time doing janitorial work.
Brent has helped at the Walworth food pantry, contributed time to SMILES in Darien and worked for Meals for Kids. He also spent time helping Mission of Mercy.
In addition, it was noted Brent is presently retired; however, he enjoys yard work, gardening, reading and biking.
