It took over a decade, but Jim Vereecke finally accomplished what he set out to do. Last month, the Kewanee Park Board voted to induct his mother into the “Baker Park Golf Wall of Fame.”

Vereecke admits the road was a bumpy one. He had reached out several times to the park district but couldn’t get anyone to share his enthusiasm. His mother, Marge Vereecke, has a long history with the park district. She, along with other well-known Kewanee golfers, Dot Larson and Helen Stull, started the first Women’s Golf League back in the late 50s or early 60s, he said.

“It was a tough thing just playing golf for women, especially playing at Baker,” he said. “I was always very proud of that.”

Marge’s list of accomplishments are long. In addition to helping organize the women’s golf league, she was Baker Park’s Women’s Champion in 1974. In 1976, Marge was the Helen Stull Tournament Low Gross Champion. In 1982, she was the Women’s City AM First Flight Runner-Up. In 1984 and 1985, she was the Baker Park Senior Women’s Champ and in the 1990s, she earned three more titles, including the City Tournament Women’s Senior Champ in 1999.

Mr. Vereecke left town soon after high school and went off to see the world, settling in the San Francisco area. He would visit occasionally, but his Kewanee contacts were limited so when he decided to try to get his mother recognized, he hit some roadblocks. Luckily, he still had a close childhood friend in Kewanee, Rene Verstraete. When he reached out to his friend, that’s when progress was made.

Verstraete said he and Vereecke go way back. They both grew up on the north side and have remained friends all these years. There is nothing he wouldn’t do for Jim and the feeling, he knows, is mutual.

Verstraete sat down and formatted the information that his friend provided him about Marge’s accomplishments, included a photo of Marge, and sent a letter to the park board president, who at the time, was Andrew Verstraete. He figured that having the same last name as the board president might carry some weight.

In his letter, Verstraete asked the park board to consider adding a plaque for Marge at the 19th Hole restaurant. “Marge was a great person who many in Kewanee remember affectionately. She passed away some time ago, but I think it a deserved and fitting tribute to her memory and the legacy to have her honored in this way,” his letter stated.

But it would take about 18 more months before Verstraete’s letter would find its way into the hands of the current park’s director, Andrew Dwyer. Dwyer was forwarded the letter and he emailed Verstraete, promising to bring the matter up at a park board meeting. But several months went by and there was no action. Verstraete continued to follow up every few months and when he learned his letter got lost, he sent it again.

Then a conversation with his dear friend, TD Welch, would propel the matter forward. Welch met Jim Vereecke. And Vereecke and Verstraete explained to Welch what they were trying to do. Welch is board chair for The Kewanee Voice, and friends with Paula Kapacinskas, the vice-chair of The Kewanee Voice, as well as a park commissioner. Welch filled in Kapacinskas on the goal of getting a plaque up on the wall of fame. Kapacinskas reached out to Rene Verstraete and the matter finally reached the park board, but it would take several more weeks for Commissioner and Board President Steve Brackett to verify Marge’s accomplishments.

On August 17, the matter was included on the park board agenda and the board unanimously approved Marge’s induction. At this month’s park board meeting, Jim Vereecke will be there to accept the plaque.

Jim, who moved back to Kewanee this year, said he is excited that his goal was finally realized, but it took some help from his friends. Before his mother passed away in 2010, there was a movement to induct his mom into the wall of fame, but she refused. Vereecke said his mom was the most self-effacing woman he has ever known but as her son, he is grateful that her accomplishments will be included among the other Kewanee golf legends and that she will be remembered for her achievements and contributions to the Kewanee Park District.

“I am overjoyed that this is happening,” he said.