Alan Goodenow Memorial Award

2020 Alan Goodenow Memorial Award for Outstanding Service goes to Lisa Tangeman

Lisa grew up in Warsaw and moved back with her husband Jay to raise their family. In the process, Lisa has made a huge difference in our small town. If I were to list every organization Lisa is involved in in our community, we would be here all night. So, here are just a few of her past and current volunteer ventures:

• Warsaw School Board Member
• Warsaw Soccer Club Founder and President
• YMCA Board Member
• Warsaw Sports Boosters Board Member
• Girl Scout Volunteer
• 4H Club Volunteer
• Kiwanis Club Volunteer

Her call to action to these groups is not just a simple yes warm body help.  Lisa will stay up all night perfecting what she is making to make sure it’s as perfect as can be for whomever or whatever group is being celebrated.

During her youngest child’s kindergarten celebration each child took a picture of what they wanted to be when they grew up. As you can imagine there were lots of fire fighters, cowboys, teachers and doctors but not Lisa’s daughter.  She proudly stated she wanted to be a volunteer just like her Mom when she grew up.  What a great accomplishment to teach a future generation that what really matters is to make the world a better place than how you found it.

Thank you, Lisa, for being a pillar in our community and someone whom we can always count on.

About the Alan Goodenow Memorial Award …

In a ceremony on March 31, 2005 the Citizen of the Year Award was renamed the Alan Goodenow Award for Outstanding Service to the Community to honor Mr. Goodenow for enriching the lives of so many Warsaw residents. 

In addition to his job at Primerica Financial Services, Mr. Goodenow was a dedicated coach for Warsaw’s soccer and wrestling teams.  He was an active member of the Warsaw Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors and was especially involved in organizing the annual Oktoberfest that was a favorite Chamber event for many years.  He had served in the US Army in Germany and was in the National Guard from 1981-2000.  He was a devoted husband; his widow, Charlotte Goodenow, accepted that award on his behalf and shared with those assembled that “Al was able to see great things in people.  He was always able to see potential, even when you couldn’t.”

This award is given annually to a Warsaw area citizen who has shown outstanding commitment and service to the Warsaw community.