Doak is named ‘Iowan of the Day’

GRUNDY CENTER – Over the last several decades, Grundy Center resident Mary Doak has more than made her mark on the community.
Whether it was as an employee at GNB Bank, where she worked for nearly 30 years, or as a volunteer in the community, spending time with children at the elementary school, or working countless hours to fundraise for the hospital, Doak has always been willing to go above and beyond for her hometown.
With her dedication and passion for bettering the city of Grundy Center, Doak has been instrumental to the establishment of Main Street Grundy Center, the Grundy Center Preservation Commission, and the Grundy Center Historical Society – all through volunteer hours. She was also a key player in creating the Pop-Up Museum at the annual Felix Grundy Festival, and the Magical Forest that lights up the courthouse lawn each Christmas.
Now, Doak’s hard work and dedication will be recognized at this year’s Iowa State Fair, where she will be named an ‘Iowan of the Day.’
The ‘Iowan of the Day’ program is sponsored by the Blue Ribbon Foundation, and aims to recognize Iowa's most outstanding individuals, who display dependability, integrity, hard work and sense of community.
Each year, 10 Iowans are recognized – and this year, Doak is one of them.
Those who have worked with her on any number of projects she’s been involved in agreed that there is no doubt Doak is deserving of the recognition.
“It’s a pleasure working with Mary,” said Patti Martens, who works alongside Doak as a member of the Historical Society. “She has a big heart for her community and the people in it. Mary is the engine to a project. She is the one that gets things rolling. She is a relentless recruiter of local talent and knows how to utilize her resources. She has been involved in numerous community projects over the years including our aquatic center, movie theater, as well as the pop-up museum to name a few. These places and events bring families together and give residents of the area a sense of great pride.”
For the full story, see this week's Grundy Register.