2022 German Heritage Award
2022 German Heritage Award Winners
Sister Cities of Jasper, the Jasper Deutscher Verein, and the Jasper Partnership Commission recognized Joe Rohleder with the German Heritage Award during their annual German Heritage Dinner held Thursday, October 6, 2022.
Since 1999, Sister Cities of Jasper, the Jasper Deutscher Verein, and the Jasper Partnership Commission have celebrated German American Day in Jasper in October and presented the German Heritage Award. The German Heritage Award recognizes individuals or groups that have generously contributed time, talents, or resources to maintaining, improving or building upon our German heritage in Dubois County.
Joe Rohleder shares a passion for historical preservation, starting with their home, which they converted from the old stagecoach stop. Joe was instrumental in saving the Cabby gym, making a passionate case at a school board meeting for saving the gym, saying that it could still serve the school students and community for years to come. Joe was a driving force in developing the area of the Schaeffer barn. He saw the need and had the idea of utilizing the barn, smokehouse, gardens to teach the history of local agriculture. With the help of the JHS football and wrestling teams, they dismantled, moved and re-assembled the barn. Most impressive of his projects is the Alexander school house. He found a place that preserved the schoolhouse and its history while creating a space that was modern enough to tell the story. He often shares his vision of preservation with area clubs and organizations.
