Alpenfest der Buergermeister title adds new way for Wishart to serve Gaylord

Paul Welitzkin, The Petoskey News-Review
·4 min read
Dona Wishart, director of the Otsego County Commission on Aging, is the "der Buergermeister" for the 58th version of Alpenfest, which happens July 11-15.
Dona Wishart, director of the Otsego County Commission on Aging, is the "der Buergermeister" for the 58th version of Alpenfest, which happens July 11-15.

GAYLORD — Communities across Michigan have annual events and festivals but there is something different and unique about Alpenfest and Gaylord.

As an outsider Dona Wishart has developed an appreciation of the special relationship between the city and its annual summer celebration. Now the director of the Otsego County Commission on Aging is ready to enjoy another view of the festival as she will serve as the "der Buergermeister" for the 58th version of Alpenfest, which runs July 11-15.

"It's historically important to the community and it gave and continues to give us an opportunity to showcase our community. Most importantly the festival is made for families," said Wishart.

Established by Jim Grisso, the longtime editor of the Gaylord Herald Times, the der Buergermeister honor — which translates as the Mayor in German — is an honorary title awarded to an individual who has impacted the community by giving their time, energy, heart and soul in making the community a better place to live. The honor is intended for someone who adds great value by sharing their ideas and leadership skills to help others become successful to their cause.

"This isn't something you choose, it is bestowed upon you. It is something that has touched my heart. I am pleased to serve this community in any way I can and this is very special," added Wishart.

Helping Wishart obtain insight into Alpenfest and Gaylord was her husband Bill Wishart, the former mayor and a member of the very first board of directors for the event.

"He would tell me the stories of what the town was like and what it was facing when the festival was started in the 1960s," recalled Dona.

Bill also told her about the efforts of people like Gordon Everett, Jim Mongeau and Harold Elgas, who helped to make the event a catalyst to revive the community when U.S. Plywood opened a plant in Gaylord.

Wishart was born and raised in Saginaw and graduated from Douglas MacArthur High School. Following high school she briefly attended Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City before enrolling at Michigan State University and earing a bachelor's degree in education and program administration.

She moved to Gaylord in the early 1980s and noted that the city's location was important to her because "I am an outdoors girl so being close to the woods and water is my happy spot," she said.

She worked at the chamber of commerce, the tourism bureau and at First Congregational Church as a youth director before being hired by the county commission on aging 29 years ago.

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When asked how she got into the "senior citizen business" she eagerly recounted the influence her grandparents had on her.

"My paternal grandparents immigrated from Germany and my maternal grandparents were all American going back to Kit Carson," said Wishart.

The grandparents lived life differently she said.

"My paternal grandparents were frugal, worked hard and had a small family. My maternal grandparents had a large family, worked hard but didn't mind spending some money on having fun. I was heavily influenced by watching them age and being a part of their lives. All four of my grandparents were a part of my life for 42 years, which is unusual," she said.

Also influencing her was her older brother, Dr. David Brechtelsbauer, 76, a geriatric physician. He has participated many times in the Alpenfest runs and last year took first place in his age category, "Of course he doesn't have competition," Wishart said with a laugh.

Besides the county commission on aging, Wishart has also served on the Michigan Commission on Services to the Aging under four governors and the executive board of the Alzheimer's Association Michigan chapter.

Previous recipients of the Der Burgermeister designation:

  • 1980: Jim Mongeau*

  • 1981: Harold Elgas*

  • 1982: Tom Gill*

  • 1983: Ted Engel Jr.*

  • 1984: Sam Titus*

  • 1985: Edward Calkins*

  • 1986: Curtis Toms*

  • 1987: Jack Deming*

  • 1988: Shirley Bates*

  • 1989: Ed Strolle*

  • 1990: Willis Wegmeyer*

  • 1991: Ernie Grocock*

  • 1992: Al Kassuba*

  • 1993: Katheryn Lemp*

  • 1994: Bob McNamara*

  • 1995: Keith Gornick

  • 1996: Jim Mathis

  • 1997: Dick Beachnau*

  • 1998: Ron Chavey*

  • 1999: Gerald Campbell*

  • 2000: Daune Weiss*

  • 2001: Gladys Solokis

  • 2002: Betty Moore

  • 2003: Gordon Everett*

  • 2004: Pat and Chuck Nelson

  • 2005: Bob Harden*

  • 2006: Mary Sanders

  • 2007: Howard Cheney

  • 2008: Jim Grisso

  • 2009: Barb and Gene Fleming

  • 2010: Alma Harrison

  • 2011: Bill Granlund*

  • 2012: Rudi Edel

  • 2013: Maureen Derenzy

  • 2014: Matt Barresi

  • 2015: Judi Doan

  • 2016: Rosie Warner

  • 2017: Tim Granahan

  • 2018: Sheila Simpson

  • 2019: Paul Gunderson

  • 2021: Bobby McNamara

  • 2022: Jon Deming

*Deceased

— Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Alpenfest der Buergermeister title adds new way for Wishart to serve Gaylord