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THEISEN, Leo A. "Jim"
THEISEN, Leo A. "Jim." (Dubuque, Iowa, Apr. 3, 1934-- ). Theisen attended LORAS COLLEGE in the mid-1950s and immediately began working for his parents at their family store, formerly called Theisen Battery and Electric, today known as THEISEN'S HOME-FARM-AUTO. The store which his parents began by 2003 had grown into a 13-store chain and increased in business by 300 percent in the last fifteen years. (1)
A member of ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER CATHOLIC CHURCH, he served on its vocation committee. He was a Eucharistic minister, past member of the finance committee, and former president of the church's school board.
Active in the community, Theisen served as a director of AMERICAN TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK and Mid-States Distributing Company. As president of the BOYS' AND GIRLS' CLUB OF GREATER DUBUQUE, he oversaw its creation in 1998. In 2003 he was the incoming president of HOSPICE OF DUBUQUE. Theisen was a member of the steering committee of America's Promise, a youth-based organization being organized and a former ambassador of the DUBUQUE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Theisen chaired the Agricultural Committee of the DUBUQUE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE and annual appeal of WAHLERT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL. In 2003 he was recognized for his leadership in establishing the COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER DUBUQUE.
Theisen's commitment to the community was often recognized. He was selected by the Dubuque Jaycees to receive the Gil Chavenelle Award (1997), the Boys and Girls Club honored him with the Chuck Spahn Award (2002), and the Association of Fundraising Professionals awarded him its Philanthropist of the Year award (2003). In 2008 he received the Loras' Distinguished Alumni Award for Outstanding Professional Achievements and Contributions made to Loras College. Theisen was the 2003 recipient of the FIRST CITIZEN AWARD.
In 2020 the Theisen family pledged $1 million towards an endowment fund for the DUBUQUE AREA CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER.
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Source:
Kittle, M. D., "Theisen Exudes True Spirit of Giving," Telegraph Herald, January 1, 2003, p. 1