Encyclopedia Dubuque
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HAT LADY OF DUBUQUE: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:rokusek.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Jill Rokusek]]HAT LADY OF DUBUQUE. Jill Rokusek began her enjoyment of hats as a child when she played dress-up in her mother's clothes. Later, she was always sewing, matching clothes and hats for herself and her children. She presented her first hat show at the Stonehill Care Center in 1983 and turned her hobby into a production. Soon she was presenting shows for organizations, clubs, churches, and national groups. In 2010 she performed about thirty to thirty-five shows per year and several shows on television. The proceeds from her programs went to charities in Dubuque. | [[Image:rokusek.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Jill Rokusek]]HAT LADY OF DUBUQUE. Jill Rokusek began her enjoyment of hats as a child when she played dress-up in her mother's clothes. Later, she was always sewing, matching clothes and hats for herself and her children. She presented her first hat show at the Stonehill Care Center in 1983 and turned her hobby into a production. Soon she was presenting shows for organizations, clubs, churches, and national groups. (1) In 2010 she performed about thirty to thirty-five shows per year and several shows on television. The proceeds from her programs went to charities in Dubuque. | ||
Highlights from her hat shows included traveling across Iowa with "Miss Iowa," Jennifer Curry who reigned from 1995 to 1996. She was selected as "Celebrity of the Week" on a cruise ship. As a contestant in the "Ms. Iowa Senior Classic Pageant" she won an award for "Stage Presentation." Rokusek received a hat from the the former "First Lady of Iowa" Christy Vilsack with an invitation to perform at a tea in the Governor's Mansion. Although she was unable to send a hat, the Queen of England sent Rokusek a letter thanking her for her charity work and wishing her continued success. | Highlights from her hat shows included traveling across Iowa with "Miss Iowa," Jennifer Curry who reigned from 1995 to 1996. She was selected as "Celebrity of the Week" on a cruise ship. (2) As a contestant in the "Ms. Iowa Senior Classic Pageant" she won an award for "Stage Presentation." Rokusek received a hat from the the former "First Lady of Iowa" Christy Vilsack with an invitation to perform at a tea in the Governor's Mansion. Funds raised at the party was used to purchase books for Iowa's libraries. (3) Although she was unable to send a hat, the Queen of England sent Rokusek a letter thanking her for her charity work and wishing her continued success. | ||
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Source: | |||
1. Hat Lady Show Includes Dubuque Girls, ''Telegraph Herald,'' Mar. 6, 2003, p. 12 | |||
2. Television guide, ''Telegraph Herald'', March 16, 2007, p. 110 | |||
3. Bragg, Mary Rae, "Dubuque's Hat Lady," ''Telegraph Herald'', June 2, 2002, p. 16A | |||
[[Category: Entertainers]] | [[Category: Entertainers]] | ||
Latest revision as of 01:01, 20 May 2024
HAT LADY OF DUBUQUE. Jill Rokusek began her enjoyment of hats as a child when she played dress-up in her mother's clothes. Later, she was always sewing, matching clothes and hats for herself and her children. She presented her first hat show at the Stonehill Care Center in 1983 and turned her hobby into a production. Soon she was presenting shows for organizations, clubs, churches, and national groups. (1) In 2010 she performed about thirty to thirty-five shows per year and several shows on television. The proceeds from her programs went to charities in Dubuque.
Highlights from her hat shows included traveling across Iowa with "Miss Iowa," Jennifer Curry who reigned from 1995 to 1996. She was selected as "Celebrity of the Week" on a cruise ship. (2) As a contestant in the "Ms. Iowa Senior Classic Pageant" she won an award for "Stage Presentation." Rokusek received a hat from the the former "First Lady of Iowa" Christy Vilsack with an invitation to perform at a tea in the Governor's Mansion. Funds raised at the party was used to purchase books for Iowa's libraries. (3) Although she was unable to send a hat, the Queen of England sent Rokusek a letter thanking her for her charity work and wishing her continued success.
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Source:
1. Hat Lady Show Includes Dubuque Girls, Telegraph Herald, Mar. 6, 2003, p. 12
2. Television guide, Telegraph Herald, March 16, 2007, p. 110
3. Bragg, Mary Rae, "Dubuque's Hat Lady," Telegraph Herald, June 2, 2002, p. 16A