Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Longtime Hartley couple named parade grand marshals
Jackie and Keith Stoltz have been involved in a variety of clubs, organizations and community causes throughout the past five decades.
Jackie and Keith Stoltz have operated their businesses in Hartley for four decades.
If it's happened in Hartley during the past 52 years, either Keith or Jackie Stoltz probably had something to do with it.
The Hartley couple has been involved in nearly every local committee or cause spanning the last five decades, from the Thresher's Bee to the pool drive to the Lions Club to city council. Through it all, their love for the City With a Heart has only grown.
"When we go away to places, it's always nice to come back home," said Keith.
The Stoltzes came to Hartley as newlyweds from Emmetsburg in 1971. Keith worked for GTE in Hartley, while Jackie worked for the Social Welfare Office in Primghar.
The task of acclimating to a new community was a bit difficult, Jackie recalled, but eventually they made friends and adjusted.
"He worked at the telephone company, so he knew more people in town. I worked in Primghar so I knew more people in Primghar," she said. "When we would go to community events, all our friends grew up here and knew everyone here."
Deregulation of the telecommunication industry allowed Keith to open his own telephone service business – Phones & Service – in 1983. Jackie's Floral Center opened in the same location, which now houses Central Homeopathy, the year prior. Eventually both businesses were moved next door into their current spot downtown, which previously housed The Hub Clothiers.
The couple's son, Curt, later joined Phones & Service as an electrician, making it P & S
Electric. Keith believed the existence of both businesses today proves community support is strong in Hartley.
"We've always had a lot of backing here and in the area," he said. "We've appreciated it so much."
The couple's work in Hartley extends beyond the commercial sector. They have served in several capacities at Trinity United Church of Christ as well as other local organizations like the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary. Keith is a member of the Hartley Lions Club and past city council member, while Jackie is a member of the Tritonia Women's Club and also served on the Chamber board for several years.
Additionally, they helped with efforts to raise funds for Hartley's new pool – one nickel at a time.
Jackie and Keith spearheaded efforts for the downtown can and bottle depository, which raised more than $30,000 for the pool. They did a vast majority of sorting themselves during the can drop's four-year run and also transported loads to the Cherokee depository.
"It's kind of crazy when you think about, really," Jackie said. "$30,000 in nickels, and we still have some left over to haul in yet."
That dedication to Hartley led Summer Celebration Committee members to pick the Stoltzes as this year's parade grand marshals. They were equal parts shocked and honored.
"We were surprised and grateful," said Jackie. "It was really special when they told us."
"It made us both kind of emotional," said Keith. "We are very grateful to be thought of and remembered."
The Stoltzes have no plans to ever leave Hartley. Though they may not have been born here, it will always be home.
"We feel at home here," Jackie said. "We bought our cemetery plot and got our headstone, so I guess we're here for good. We've been here longer than we've been anywhere else."
