Four generations of Peavey family recognized for scouting history

Three generations of Peavey family Eagle Scouts and four family generations involved in scouting were recognized Saturday during a fund raiser to benefit local scouting.

The Peavey family received the Rusk County Community Service award for 2009. It is given each year on behalf of county residents and Boy Scouts of America. The Peaveys have produced Eagle Scouts over three generations, and they have been involved in Boy Scouting over four generations.

The event was held at the home of Bob and Barb Lorkowski, south of Bruce. The goal for the evening was to raise $22,000 with about $12,000 alone coming from numerous items put up for auction.

The proceeds will help benefit the Blue Hills District of the Boy Scouts of America. The district includes 2,000 youth and 450 volunteers in Rusk, Barron, Sawyer and Washburn counties.

“I can’t thank you enough for your contribution to Rusk County and to scouting,” said Lorkowski in making the presentation.

Joe Baye, who spoke at the event, said the Peavey family for continuing to support scouting in the area. He listed many of the family’s accomplishments — including their Eagle Scout projects — as did the speakers who followed.

“The Peavey has continued to be avid backers of scouting, financial backing for many things including fishing outings, one of our favorite things to do, ” Baye said.

Former scout Royal Brandt, who also spoke, called Pete Peavey an inspiration, enticing young scouts to take hiking, biking, camping, hunting and Flambeau River trips. He added Peavey challenged scouts to become Eagle Scouts.

“He made scouting fun for us,” Brandt said of Pete Peavey. “He was the inspiration to get us going.”

District representative Gary Gilger noted the 100th anniversary of Boy Scouts will be recognized next year, adding the 2 millionth Eagle Scout was honored this past summer and only about 4 percent of the 113 million youth in scouting over the last century have achieved this rank.

“That is a lot of kids in scouting,” Gilger said. “It is amazing the impact the program has had and the experience the kids have in the area because of scouting, and the Peavey family encapsulates that.”

Eagle Scout is the highest rank that can be earned in the Boy Scout program.

Harold Pete Peavey was a Cub Scout before joining Ladysmith Boy Scout Troop 46 at the age of 12 in 1938.

His father, Harold J. Peavey, had been a Boy Scout in the teens and earned a medal for helping sell war bonds and stamps during, World War I. Although he went no farther than 1st Class Scout, Harold realized the value of Scouting and encouraged his son Pete to continue to Eagle Scout.

Troop 46 held its winter meetings at the old Ladysmith City Hall and its summer meetings at the Boy Scout Cabin in Ladysmith’s Riverside Park, according to Pete. The troop went on hikes and weekend campouts. Pete spent the summers of 1938, 39, 40 and 41 at Boy Scout Camp Nawakwa in Chippewa County (it is now a Girl Scout Camp).

Pete’s Eagle Scout project was making army cots for troops who were training for World War 11. He received his Eagle Award at a ceremony in the school gym in 1942.

Pete’s sons Jay and John both advanced to Eagle Scout with strong encouragement from their father, who was an assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 45 and Scoutmaster of Troop 46. Pete also served on the Boy Scout Council for several years. John earned Eagle Scout on June 27, 1972.

Jay, who received his Eagle Award in on Dec. 23, 1965, encouraged his son. Jay, Jr., to stick with Boy Scouting. His Eagle project involved building walking trails

in the Ladysmith School Forest. He received his award in 1992.

Jay is serving in the U.S. Air Force and will complete his deployment to the Middle East in time for the October ceremony.

Also recognized will be three Eagle Scouts from the Gerken family over two generations.

Dr. Kurt Gerken, who grew up in Merrill and spent his summers at Pulaski Lake, joined Boy Scouts and earned his Eagle Award in April 1942. His Eagle project was clearing land for campsites at a Minocqua area Boy Scout Camp. The work involved blowing stumps with dynamite.

Dr. Gerken came to Ladysmith in 1948 and was Scoutmaster of Troop 46 until being called up for the Korean War in 195 1. Some Scouts in his troop earned the Eagle Award.

Both of Dr. Gerken’s sons became Eagle Scouts - Kurt on Jan. 25, 1968, and Eric on Oct. 26, 1971.

Other families with three generations of Eagle Scouts or two generations with three or more Eagle Scouts are asked to contact the Bob and Barb so they can be recognized at this event.