The Chippewa Area History Center opened in early 2023 and quickly became a local gem, where visitors immerse themselves in the community's rich history and take in special events. The Chippewa Area History Center Endowment Fund will ensure this tourist destination and community asset thrives for generations to come.

"We knew this wonderful, new, non-profit community jewel would need continual financial support," said Bob Hogseth, a founding member and past board president of the Community Foundation, and current History Center board member. He and his childhood friend, Clancy Hatleberg, started the fund through their shared interest in local history and deep appreciation for their hometown.

"Chippewa Falls is a town full of neighbors," said Clancy, who divides his time between his homes in Seattle and on Lake Wissota. "We would send our daughters back here for the summers, where everybody looks out for everybody's kids. It's just wonderful."

Bob and Clancy grew up together as neighbors on the city's "west hill" in the 1950s and '60s. After high school, they went their separate ways. They wouldn't reconnect until 55 years later. After college, Clancy entered the Navy and Bob launched his career in financial services. Bob's journey brought him and his wife, Donna, back to Chippewa Falls, 17 years after high school graduation, where they raised their three children. After 20 years in the service, Clancy returned to the area with his wife, Susan, to work at Cray Research until changes in the supercomputer industry moved the company, and the Hatleberg family, to Seattle.

In retirement, they surprisingly became neighbors once again, this time on Lake Wissota. They choose to live here for a reason.

"I could live wherever I want, but I stay here because I love it," said Bob. "It's a great quality of life. We both know the new History Center enhances that quality. We're happy to support it by jointly establishing this new fund."

Thanks to Bob's prodding, Clancy is featured in an exhibit at the History Center. As a Navy SEAL, Clancy was part of the Apollo space program at NASA and was the detachment commander and decontamination officer for the recovery of the module that brought astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins back to earth. Most of the memorabilia associated with this historic moment is in the Smithsonian Museum in our nation's capital. Fortunately for the community, Clancy's personal collection, and his contributions to history, can be experienced right here.

Gifts to the Chippewa Area History Center Endowment Fund support gallery exhibits, archives, the genealogy library, theater, educational programs, maintenance and future innovations for community enjoyment.