Viterbo chaplain and volunteering couple receive Iverson-Freking honors for 2023

A couple known for community involvement, and a clergyman who spent many years as a military chaplain, are the latest winners of a La Crosse area award that’s been around almost 40 years. 

The Iverson-Freking Awards from the Bethany-St. Joseph nursing homes are given this year to Marc and Sue Schultz and Father Conrad Targonski. 

At the announcement ceremony on Thursday, Sue, who’s a past Mrs. Oktoberfest, talked about getting satisfaction from helping others, and Marc urged young people to get an early start at volunteering around the community.

Father Conrad, the chaplain at Viterbo University, pointed to St. Francis of Assisi as an example for serving other people.  He’s a former military chaplain, and says he often takes veterans to the Italian town of Assisi, in recognition of the work of Francis.

Winners of the Iverson-Freking honor are chosen for volunteer work and demonstrating faith.  The newest honorees will be recognized at a luncheon in late January.

The awards were established by Bethany-St. Joseph in the 1980’s, as a way of recognizing members of different faiths working together. The program is named after former La Crosse Catholic Bishop Frederick Freking and Lutheran businessman Carl Iverson, who both helped start the nursing home.