Fremont Kiwanis Club History
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.
Kiwanis' motto is "Serving the Children of the World." The original motto was "We Trade". A new motto of "We Build" was adopted during the 1920 International Convention and represented Kiwanis for more than 80 years. The Fremont Kiwanis club is committed to evolving young leaders by sponsoring many service clubs within the school system and community. The club was chartered on November 20, 1920 and turned 100 in 2020.
The Fremont AKtion Club was formed in 2010 to provide a platform of service opportunities to the Fremont Community. Joy McKay serves as our Kiwanis advisor and Dawn Styskal is staff coordinator for this group.
The Circle K Club at Midland University are college age students with faculty and Kiwanis advisor, Nick Schreck, there to support the club of young leaders.
The Key Club at Fremont Senior High School are community-minded students with Ryan Olson as faculty advisor and Lon Olson as our club advisor.
Builders Club at Johnson Crossing and Fremont Middle School is an active group of 5th - 8th graders under the leadership of Brent Harrill and Todd Niehaus, staff advisors, with Emily Wageman serving as Kiwanis Advisor.
The K-Kids Club at Grant Elementary School are active 1st- 4th graders with the help of faculty advisor, Julie Muller and Diane Brown as the Kiwanis advisor.
The K-Kids Club at Deer Pointe Elementary School are active 1st- 4th graders with the help of faculty advisor, Jason Chicoine and Diane Brown as the Kiwanis advisor.
The Fremont AKtion Club was formed in 2010 to provide a platform of service opportunities to the Fremont Community. Joy McKay serves as our Kiwanis advisor and Dawn Styskal is staff coordinator for this group.
The Circle K Club at Midland University are college age students with faculty and Kiwanis advisor, Nick Schreck, there to support the club of young leaders.
The Key Club at Fremont Senior High School are community-minded students with Ryan Olson as faculty advisor and Lon Olson as our club advisor.
Builders Club at Johnson Crossing and Fremont Middle School is an active group of 5th - 8th graders under the leadership of Brent Harrill and Todd Niehaus, staff advisors, with Emily Wageman serving as Kiwanis Advisor.
The K-Kids Club at Grant Elementary School are active 1st- 4th graders with the help of faculty advisor, Julie Muller and Diane Brown as the Kiwanis advisor.
The K-Kids Club at Deer Pointe Elementary School are active 1st- 4th graders with the help of faculty advisor, Jason Chicoine and Diane Brown as the Kiwanis advisor.
The K-Kids Club at Linden Elementary School are active 4th graders with the help of faculty and Kiwanis advisor, Ryan Mulliken.
Kiwanis was founded in Detroit in 1915, expanded into Canada in 1916 and became independent as a volunteer service organization in 1919.
Kiwanis was founded in Detroit in 1915, expanded into Canada in 1916 and became independent as a volunteer service organization in 1919.
The downtown Omaha Kiwanis Club was chartered on February 13, 1919, and the Lincoln Capital City Club was chartered on March 21, 1919. These were the first clubs in Nebraska. A year later, the Lincoln Club sent a delegation to Fremont and organized a group of businessmen resulting in a charter for the Fremont Kiwanis Club on November 5, 1920.
M.C. Rathburn was the first president of the Fremont Kiwanis Club and began with a membership of 50 prominent businessmen. Serving as the club's first secretary was Cassius Reynolds.
Since its beginning, our club has been recognized for its leadership in the Nebraska and Iowa District. Two of our past members have served this District as Governors: Dr. William Zimmerman in 1939 and John G. Hansen in 1945. Twenty four of our members have served as Lt. Governors.
One of our longest serving member, James L. "Jim" Paulin, joined our club on June 3, 1953, and was a member until he passed away in April 2016. Jim has honored our club by setting up a scholarship foundation for Fremont High School and Midland University students.
Our first female member is the Rev. Dr. Nicki McIntyre who was inducted into Kiwanis on January 21, 1988. Not far behind Nicki is Karen Nuding who joined in October of that same year and was elected as our first female president in 1994.
Mel and Joey Schwanke faithfully mailed our weekly newsletter the BUZZ since 1958. Emily Wageman is currently serving as our BUZZ editor and publisher.
Fremont Kiwanians have been instrumental in forming other Kiwanis Clubs and growing membership throughout the eastern Nebraska area. They helped charter the York Club in 1940, West Point in 1967, Fremont Golden K in 1979, Midland University Circle K in 1986, Bergan Catholic Key Club in 1999, Wahoo Kiwanis Club in 2001, Fremont High Key Club in 2003, Fremont Builders Club in 2003, Grant Elementary K-Kids in 2002, Fremont Aktion Club in 2010, Deer Pointe (formally Clarmar) Elementary K-kids in 2019 and Linden Elementary K-Kids in 2025.
M.C. Rathburn was the first president of the Fremont Kiwanis Club and began with a membership of 50 prominent businessmen. Serving as the club's first secretary was Cassius Reynolds.
Since its beginning, our club has been recognized for its leadership in the Nebraska and Iowa District. Two of our past members have served this District as Governors: Dr. William Zimmerman in 1939 and John G. Hansen in 1945. Twenty four of our members have served as Lt. Governors.
One of our longest serving member, James L. "Jim" Paulin, joined our club on June 3, 1953, and was a member until he passed away in April 2016. Jim has honored our club by setting up a scholarship foundation for Fremont High School and Midland University students.
Our first female member is the Rev. Dr. Nicki McIntyre who was inducted into Kiwanis on January 21, 1988. Not far behind Nicki is Karen Nuding who joined in October of that same year and was elected as our first female president in 1994.
Mel and Joey Schwanke faithfully mailed our weekly newsletter the BUZZ since 1958. Emily Wageman is currently serving as our BUZZ editor and publisher.
Fremont Kiwanians have been instrumental in forming other Kiwanis Clubs and growing membership throughout the eastern Nebraska area. They helped charter the York Club in 1940, West Point in 1967, Fremont Golden K in 1979, Midland University Circle K in 1986, Bergan Catholic Key Club in 1999, Wahoo Kiwanis Club in 2001, Fremont High Key Club in 2003, Fremont Builders Club in 2003, Grant Elementary K-Kids in 2002, Fremont Aktion Club in 2010, Deer Pointe (formally Clarmar) Elementary K-kids in 2019 and Linden Elementary K-Kids in 2025.
Our club also co-sponsored the Drury, New Zealand, Kiwanis Club in 1989.
Dave Christensen, current member, has been a Kiwanian since 1956 and was featured in a District video when the Fremont Club turned 100 years old on November 6, 2020.
