John L. Weaver 1928-2004
How
does one even begin
to pay tribute to a life that has influenced so many people, a life filled
with community service, a life that so touched our organization?
It is not an easy task.
We pay tribute to our own John L. Weaver, who was serving ACHS as a
board member when he passed away on December 18, 2004.
John's involvement with the Historical Society reaches back over more
than 20 years. He was a loyal
member and donor for each of those years.
His formal service with ACHS began when John was elected to the board
of Directors in 1994. In 1997,
he was elected president and served two terms, for a total of six years, as
the president of the Historical Society.
It was during those six years that John left his greatest mark on
ACHS.
When he accepted the office of president, John knew he was taking on
a formidable task-a museum that could no longer accept artifacts as there
was not one inch of museum room to put them.
There was no plan for a new space and only a little money.
John, with the full support and help of the board and members, began
working steadily to find the best answer for the long-term future of ACHS.
Being no stranger in the community, John was often able to bring many
connected people together to seek the best new space for the Historical
Society. It was through John's
efforts that the idea of the Anoka City Library building being reused as a
facility for ACHS began to be considered.
How many meetings must John have sat through, "carefully and
deliberately" as he would always say, working to ensure the best
outcome for history?
Fundraising was another side to the complex puzzle of new space and
there again, John was on the side of history.
Many were the times when he simply took out his checkbook when
something was needed and even though he prided himself on being
"tighter than the bark on a tree," John was always generous when
it came to history. Other
times, he helped convince others to "step up to the plate" with
cash or in-kind donations.
When all of the pieces finally came together in 2001 and the
remodeled library building was becoming the History Center, John was there
again. He helped carry boxes,
placed books on the new library shelves, carried more boxes, and helped with
the massive task of moving for many hours.
He was there to lend a hand in anything needed during that wild time
of setting up the library and new exhibits in a real exhibit hall for the
very first time, be it phone calls for a particular need, or just wielding a
broom.
It was with great pride in what John called a "community
accomplishment" that he helped cut the ribbon to open the doors of the
new Anoka County History Center and Library on July 12, 2002.
He proudly showed off the building, the exhibits, and most of all,
community pride in the museum facility he had helped to organize.
In 2003, John once again was key in making provision for the future
of history. A gala event,
called "A Tribute to John Weaver," was turned into a fundraiser
for the John Weaver Endowment Fund. This
fund continues to grow and will provide ACHS dividends to continue
gathering, preserving, and sharing history for many years to come.
John has indeed left his mark on Anoka, our county, and in Minnesota history as not only a friend to ACHS, but also a patron of the Boy Scouts and the Anoka Technical College, a member of the Anoka City Council, and a leader in the state legislature. We all mourn the loss of such a friend.