EAGLE GROVE — You just do it. That sums up what 63 years of service means to Warren and Karen Scholten, of Eagle Grove. This quiet, busy couple moved separately to teach in the Eagle Grove Community School District in the early 1960s. And they found each other, married and began decades of working together to make the city their home.

She taught kindergarten, first grade and remedial reading in the Eagle Grove school system for many years, retiring in 2003. He began as an industrial arts instructor, but shifted his focus to special education and began advocating for intellectual disabilities. He also volunteered in concession stands and with the Boy Scouts for many years.

They both spent their summers delivering meals when they were not teaching.

In 1973, when an explosion at a cafe in the heart of Main Street devastated this central Iowa community, it initiated a need for counseling, and Warren Scholten began a long journey in leading a volunteer organization to help.

When he retired in 2001, and Karen two years later, it did not change their service to Eagle Grove.

The Scholtens are known for their work with Eagle Grove Concerned Inc. Karen Scholten presides over the Meals on Wheels program. The couple works together with Elderbridge for both the home delivery program and congregate meals program in Eagle Grove. Meals are prepared and served at the Senior Center, in addition to a home delivery program that involves many.

“They have demonstrated an unselfish commitment of time and patience in leading our local nonprofit in various areas of community service,” said Kurt Knudsen, who has served with Warren on the Eagle Grove Concerned Inc. board since its inception.

“Our first project was the Eagle Grove Community Counseling service in 1973, after the explosion in downtown Eagle Grove,” he said.

Concerned Inc. also started a hospice program in Eagle Grove, in addition to the ongoing meals programs.

The Scholtens are quick to identify the many other people and groups involved: Nine churches and the Eagle Grove Rotary Club rotate weeks for the home deliveries. Karen Scholten can tell you who covers the east side of town and who handles the west side and where they are in the six-week cycle. Between the home deliveries and congregate meals, more than 1,000 nutritious meals are served each month, Monday through Friday.

“People are good about taking responsibility (for delivering meals),” said Karen Scholten. “It’s important to spend time with people.”

And that is what they do. The Scholtens have not only helped organize and deliver this program, they spend time talking with the people who receive the meals.

“My mom would go to homes as a ‘quarterly,'” said Warren Scholten. “It’s hard to go in for just a minute. It’s important to have the one-on-one.”

“Elderbridge sponsors the local home delivery program,” Karen Scholten said. “This was started by a group of women who saw a need and started delivering meals.”

Eagle Grove Concerned Inc. is the subcontractor with Elderbridge for the meals programs.

Their commitment to providing meals stems from a history that Karen and Warren share. Both their mothers benefited from meal programs in the communities where they lived. That need is common in every community, and they have worked hard to keep it going in Eagle Grove.

“The James R. Johnson Foundation, a local group, has helped with grants for the Senior Center in addition to the Wright County Charitable Organization,” said Warren Scholten. “They have been so good to Concerned Inc. and the Senior Center.”

Over the years, the Scholtens both have a history of helping where needed. When the neighboring town of Belmond was hit by a tornado in the early 1970s, Warren was there to help.

Until a year ago, Warren Scholten worked with Dollars for Scholars, a scholarship program for graduating seniors. Karen Scholten is also a member of the Eagle Grove Equality Club. She serves on the scholarship committee and has enjoyed presenting the scholarships over the past few years.

“It’s just fun to see the joy when they are announced.” she said.

Warren’s work to address mental health issues in the Eagle Grove area has spanned more than 50 years, with fond memories of his work with Special Olympics. He took one Eagle Grove student to the very first national Special Olympics in Chicago at Soldier Field on July 20, 1968.

“I heard Eunice Kennedy Shriver speak at this,” he said, referring to the sister of President John Kennedy.

Over the years, their church involvement has also been important. They both taught Sunday School and brought music into churches and the Rotary Ann retirement home. Both are musicians — Warren sang in choir, while Karen played piano or organ. Their memories of weekly hymn sing-alongs at the Rotary Ann still brings smiles to their faces.

“We’ve been given a gift through Christ,” said Karen Scholten. “Our response is to give thanks and to carry and share.”

Loretta Moon, who is treasurer of the Senior Center, summed up the Scholtens’ volunteer work: “As I reflect over the years I have worked with Karen and Warren through the Eagle Grove Senior Citizens, congregate meals, and Eagle Grove Concerned, Inc., they are always kind and put others first.”

“They always care about the individual and have a listening ear whenever you meet,” she added. “Mother Teresa wrote, ‘If you want to change the world, love your family.’ Their love of Eagle Grove’s family is just that example.”