Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
SPECHTENHAUSER, Sally
SPECHTENHAUSER, Sally. (Dubuque, IA, July 16, 1936--Dubuque, IA, Oct. 11, 2012). Spechtenhauser was the first Girl Scout in the state of Iowa to earn the Curved Bar. She was also active in the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and served as Grand Regent for several years. (1)
In June 1983 Spechtenhauser fell on a sidewalk near Grandview Avenue at Delhi. (2) In 1986 her $38,304 jury award resulted in the City of Dubuque being found responsible for regularly inspecting and supervising its SIDEWALKS. The Iowa Supreme Court upheld the lower court ruling in July 1986. (3)
In 1999 while watching a news program about American soldiers in Bosnia, Sally became aware of the youthfulness of many of the troops and remembered how her son appreciated baked goods when he was in the service. Calling other women in her circle of the St. Anthony Church Rosary Society and then the heads of the other six rosary circles at the church, she organized a cookie baking project. Within days she had received 150 dozen cookies. She also obtained lots of heavy duty boxes at a local grocery store, zippered plastic bags that could hold a dozen cookies and an official address from Army representatives for troops in Bosnia. The baker and other helpers included their addresses with the bags and boxes along with "Thank you" notes to the troops. Army recruiters picked up the boxes and mailed them with the circles of the rosary society paying the postage. (4)
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Source:
1. Obituaries, Telegraph Herald, October 13, 2012, p. 6
2. Kirchen, Rich, "Councilmen Harden Views on City Sidewalk Inspection," Telegraph Herald, September 16, 1988, p. 3
3. Kirchen, Rich, "Ready to Walk---and Walk," Telegraph Herald, August 21, 1988, p. 44
4. Nevans-Pederson, Mary, "Woman Leads Baking Brigade," Telegraph Herald, May 1, 1991, p. 3