Lion Spotlight: Dave Wignes
Some people lead from the front. Others quietly become the reason things get done. For more than 20 years, Dave Wignes has been one of those people for the La Crosse Lions.
Dave joined the Lions Club over two decades ago because he wanted to give back to the community. Since then, he’s done exactly that — serving as Club President five times, Zone Chair twice, and helping lead countless projects, fundraisers, and service events throughout the La Crosse area.
After retiring from a 32-year career at Western Technical College, where he served as Bookstore Manager and Receiving Manager, Dave found a new passion through Lions vision screenings in local pre-schools and elementary schools. For Dave, helping identify vision concerns early for children is one of the most meaningful ways Lions can make a lasting impact.
“This vision screening of young kids can uncover issues early in life and can have a profound effect on the later success of those kids.”
While Dave jokes that computer skills aren’t his strength, people certainly are. Whether he’s organizing projects behind the scenes, anticipating problems before they happen, or simply connecting with the public during events, Dave brings warmth, humor, and reliability to everything he does.
Over the years, he has helped with:
- Brat Barns
- Music in the Park
- Ride for Sight rest stops
- White Cane Days
- Ground Hog Dinners
- Easter Egg Hunts
- Salvation Army Bell Ringing
- Rotary Lights setup
- State & District Conventions
- Euchre Tournaments
- Diabetes awareness projects
- Oktoberfest Heritage Night
One of Dave’s favorite memories was the wildly popular Oktoberfest Heritage Night partnership with Dave Edwards and the Ranison, serving pumpkin and green apple shakes, malts, and ice cream during four hours of organized chaos that Lions members still talk about today.
Though Dave prefers working in the background rather than the spotlight, his dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2012, he received the Melvin Jones Fellowship — one of Lions Clubs International’s highest honors — a recognition that came as a complete surprise to him and remains one of his proudest moments as a Lion.
Today, Dave is also helping plan the 2028 District Convention coming to La Crosse and continues to believe strongly in the future of service organizations.
“There will always be a need.”
Thank you, Dave, for 21 years of leadership, service, humor, and heart. The La Crosse Lions — and this community — are better because of you.
