The mission of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) is to “advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy.” The women of the Clarion branch of the organization have dedicated themselves to this goal for many years. It is so important, that annually, they recognize one woman in the area who has gone above and beyond to meet that goal. This year, they chose to honor Joan Voigts as their Woman of the Year.
Voigts has been a Clarion resident for the last 30 years and grew up in northcentral Iowa. She was raised on a farm in Butler County. She was the oldest child, with two younger brothers. Living on a farm, Voigts says, “I gained a strong work ethic from my parents as I spent time gardening, driving a tractor, and caring for baby calves.”
She explained that she benefited from other strong women in her life as well. Voigts said, “I admire my maternal grandmother for whom I'm named. Her parents died when she was a child and she was raised by her aunt and uncle. As a farm wife, she learned how to sew, crochet, tat, knit, bake bread, make pickles. She and my grandpa raised three daughters, including twins, one of whom was my mother.”
Voigts received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Northern Iowa with a major in sociology and a minor in psychology. Voigts quickly found she had a passion for education as she spent the next decades in the classroom. She spent twenty years in early childhood education with the majority of that time working in the 4-year-old preschool with Clarion-Goldfield Dows School District.
Joan feels so strongly about the mission of educating children that she couldn’t give it up, even in retirement. She is still a regular substitute paraeducator in the elementary school. Voigts said she simply cannot give up “working children and helping them learn.”
Voigts has worked to further the mission of education in other ways in her own home as well. She and her husband Bruce have two children, Matthew and Michelle. Voigts supported her children as a stay-at-home mom and their first educator until her youngest went to Kindergarten. She adds that she always encouraged her children in their own educations, which must have been successful as both hold higher degrees. Michelle has a Masters and also works as an educator, while Matthew holds a Ph.D. from University of Nottingham in the UK.
Just over 20 years ago, Voigts took her commitment to education and work ethic to the local chapter of the AAUW. She has been a boon to the Clarion group as a reliable attendee at meetings and the secretary for the last couple of years. The chapter’s current president, Katie Greving said about Joan, “She is dedicated and reliable and really keeps our branch running.”
Besides her office, Voigts serves her AAUW chapter with fund development and as the scholarship committee chair. This involves organizing a dinner at a basketball game every year. The proceeds of that dinner go to fund two college scholarships for young women. Voigts coordinates this scholarship from start to finish, including forming the committee to read applications and granting the funds after the recipients finish a semester of school.
Everyone consulted about Joan and her achievements cite the scholarship as her crowning activity. Greving said that this is one of the main reasons she nominated Voigts for Woman of the Year. Florine Swanson, who Voigts named as one of her AAUW mentors, emphasized, “She really cares about the scholarships and helping young women continue their educations, and whatever she does, she does it very, very well.”
Outside of AAUW, her friends also mention her other notable activities and accomplishments. Voigts has been a board member for the Clarion Public Library, a volunteer at the local theater and for the Iowa River Players. She has played organ at her church for fifty years, including the last 29 at the First Lutheran Church in Clarion. Her friend and neighbor Becky Ahrendsen said Joan is a godsend to her church. “She is a joy to watch when she plays the organ, in addition to her hard work on the worship committee and planning youth services.”
Ahrendsen also talked about how gracious Joan is on a personal level to those around her. Voigts and her husband live only two houses away from them. She said, “The Voigts are kind and helpful neighbors. If we asked for help with anything, Joan would put it on her calendar, and we knew it would be done.”
Ahrendsen even told of a time when Joan and her husband helped save many of their possessions when their basement flooded when they were gone. Ahrendsen’s daughter, Elizabeth Dupic, who was good friends with the Voigts’ daughter Michelle, agreed. She described Joan as thoughtful and ready to give a big hug when the time is right.
When Joan is not helping her friends, neighbors, community and AAUW chapter, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, 2 ½ year old twins. She and her husband Bruce also travel a great deal and have visited 46 states and 12 countries. She also likes scrapbooking, walking, reading, and gardening.
While Voigts says she was not expecting to be named Woman of the Year, she is gratified to receive it. She stresses, “I am proud to be a member of the local chapter of AAUW. Thank you to the Clarion branch for selecting me for this honor. I am humbled to receive this recognition.”
