In photo L-R Trish Gieseke, Michele Schroeder, Ruth Klossner, and Joan Blank  having fun after the Sertoma Club of New Ulm’s Service to Mankind Award banquet on Monday honoring Ruth Klossner. The four hold up the letters to Cows, which Schroeder said is a mnemonic for Klossner’s traits: “caring,” “outstanding,” “wonderful” and “selfless.” (Photo by Amy Zents)

NEW ULM — Ruth Klossner of Bernadotte received the Sertoma Club of New Ulm’s 2026 Service to Mankind Award on Monday at the New Ulm Country Club.

The award is the highest honor the Sertoma Club awards. It recognizes outstanding volunteer service and contributions to the community.

The annual banquet recognized Klossner for her volunteer work with photography, historical documentation, 4-H, church activities and other organizations in Brown and Nicollet counties. Klossner is also the Guinness World Record holder for the largest cow-themed collection.

Denise Fischer, Sertoma membership chair, served as master of ceremonies. Susan Fix, club secretary, gave the Sertoma greeting and toast. Pastor Ken Bentson delivered the invocation. Dinner was served at 6:30 p.m. Dessert featured a “Holstein-style cow” cake.

Michele Schroeder, a past recipient of the New Ulm Farm-City Hub Club’s Service to Agriculture Award (2018) and active member of the club, spoke about Klossner’s accomplishments.

Schroeder said Klossner documents community events and stays up past 3 a.m. to post photos. Schroeder put up a sign that spelled out the word “COWS” and used it as a mnemonic to highlight traits that define Klossner.

Schroeder cited traits such as “caring,” “outstanding,” “wonderful” and “selfless.”

“She is the Energizer Bunny with her level of energy to volunteer at events and post pictures on Facebook,” Schroeder said.

Schroeder said Klossner’s work as co-author of local history books on Nicollet and Lafayette and her longtime newspaper photography and writing.

Trish Gieseke, a longtime friend and fellow Bernadotte Lutheran Church member, spoke next.

“I’ve known Ruth for many years,” Gieseke said. “One thing that’s always stood out to me about Ruth is her willingness to show up. She’s everywhere. If there is a fundraiser, parade, church supper, school program or community event, chances are Ruth is there taking pictures before the rest of us even arrive.”

Joan Blank, also spoke, recalling how she connected with Klossner through the newspaper.

“I met Ruth at the Ledger in 1999. We began to see each other at Lion functions, many of which she would write about in The Ledger,” Blank said. 

“I became a district governor for Lions in 2012, and the Lafayette Lions benefited greatly from her coverage.”

Blank presented Klossner with a small ice cream truck, along with ice cream accessories, cartons of ice cream and waffle cones, all in honor of Klossner’s well-known fondness for ice cream and her extensive cow collectibles.

Mayor Kathleen L. Backer read a proclamation declaring May 18, 2026, as Ruth Klossner Day in New Ulm.

“Ruth Klossner is passionate about volunteering in this community,” Backer said in the proclamation. “She serves on countless organizations in this area: the Farm City Hub Club, the Nicollet County 4-H program, the Lafayette Lions, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Bernadotte Lutheran Church, and the Nicollet County Holstein Association to name a few.”

The proclamation highlighted Klossner’s photography at school events, fairs and community functions, and her Guinness World Record collection of more than 22,000 cow-related items displayed in her home museum.

Klossner spoke after receiving the award.

“I’m very, very honored to be part of it,” Klossner said of the past recipients. “Those people have made a lot of contributions to the community and I’m pleased to stand with them.”

Klossner grew up on a dairy farm near New Ulm and graduated from New Ulm High School. She credited her mother’s example of volunteerism.

“Through 4-H we did a lot of community service,” Klossner said. “But we never really talked about it being community service. We just did it.”

She worked 13 years in county extension with 4-H programs and spent decades as a newspaper correspondent and photographer.

“One of the best 30 years of my life was working in the newspaper,” Klossner said.

Klossner mentioned her involvement with the Lions Club and service during the 1998 tornado.

Family members and friends attended, including brother Harvey Klossner, niece Gwen Brey (wife of Darrel Brey) and Harvey’s friend Margie.

Schroeder said Klossner shares her time and talents and goes the extra mile. “She helps, volunteers, and keeps busy,” Schroeder said. “She has been known to say that she has ‘flunked’ retirement because she keeps so busy. There is no grass growing beneath her feet because she’s always busy giving of herself.”

Klossner said she plans to continue her volunteer work and photography.

The Sertoma Club of New Ulm’s major projects include Santa’s Closet, which provides toys, books, hats and mittens to children in New Ulm and Brown County who are less fortunate. The club also operates Safe Ears, providing hearing protection at the Brown County Fair demolition derby, and collects used hearing aids for refurbishment and distribution to those in need and also focuses on hearing-related initiatives in the community.

For more information about the Sertoma Club of New Ulm or membership, visit their Facebook page at [facebook.com/SertomaClubofNewUlm](https://www.facebook.com/SertomaClubofNewUlm) or contact Denise Fischer at 507-404-1000.