Founding Member of Friends of the New London Public Library is Greatly Missed

Van Handel remembered by Friends of Library. (Waupaca Now, 3/9/2011)

Excerpt: The children from BABES were special to his heart, and Corky was passionate about all children. He wanted nothing more than to make a difference in the life of a child. He proved this many times as a founding member of the Friends of the Library. He was their first president in 2003 and took the lead again in 2007. Over the years the library was able to bring in entertainers and storytellers, buy puzzles, books and book bins. The Friends also purchased support items for the library. The list goes on and on.

Corky had ideas on how to raise funds for the library. "Corky was the Brat King," said Faye Wohlrabe, current Friends board member. "From the very first book sale and brat fry we had in September of 2003, he took on the grilling job. He even built the grill himself!"

After a few years, The Friends of the Library were able to fund the after school movie licensing fee and incentive prizes for the summer reading programs. One year they ordered dollar bills in a sheet from the U.S. Treasury and the children were allowed to cut off a crisp, new dollar bill when they accomplished their goals. "That was a big hit with the readers," said Connie Zolkoske, current Friends president. "We had our biggest participation that summer." Corky and his wife, Diana, purchased the library's subscription to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal for years.

Zolkoske said it has been a big blow to the entire library not having Corky around. "He was the idea guy. He'd get so excited about raising money and putting it to good use for the kid