By Kevin Greer
Lakeside Communications Manager
Vern and Dianne Hartenburg aren’t the type of people who want to be recognized for what they do. However, it’s hard not to notice.
Vern can be seen working across the grounds with a rake, shovel or whatever it takes to help make Lakeside beautiful. If you’re craving a sweet treat, Dianne has you covered with a piece of bundt cake.
Vern and Dianne are not paid for their hard work. They are two of the many volunteers in Lakeside who just want to do something for the community.
“There are many people in Lakeside helping and doing things and welcoming people and extending hospitality,” Dianne said. “That’s what makes it work here.”
Dianne’s cake baking started just before the start of Lakeside’s Sesquicentennial season. During a trip to Florida, Vern and Dianne made a stop at a resale shop and she found a bundt cake pan for $2. When Vern asked why she wanted to buy it, she told him, “It’s the year of the bundt.”
Thirty years since she baked her last bundt, she was pulling them out of the oven on a daily basis. Dianne made over 100 bundt cakes with at least 90 different recipes, and she estimated about 2,000 pieces of cake were handed out.
She has baked bundts for the Lakeside United Methodist Church, birthdays and the Lakeside Women’s Club. Mostly, she makes them for people just walking or riding by the Hartenburg’s cottage, where they reside year-round. Several times there were 12-15 people gathered outside the home after Hoover Auditorium shows to get a piece of cake and ice water.
“We’ve had people who stopped by the cottage and never met them,” Dianne said. “It gives them a good warm feeling. They’re fun to bake and share and it’s brought me a lot of joy. It’s just been kind of unique.”
Dianne said she’s not in the bundt business and doesn’t sell them, but she has received some “payment” for her efforts. Lakesiders have dropped off bundt cakes of their own, in addition to gifts like Christmas decorations, recipe books, towels and other merchandise.
“It’s really gotten totally out of hand,” Vern joked. “You name it, it’s got something with bundts.”
Vern has volunteered 40 hours a week for the past couple of years ensuring that our gardens and parks are cared for.
“I start at 7:30 a.m. and go until 3:30 or 4 p.m.,” he said.
For several days in November, Vern spends most of his time on Walnut Plaza setting up all the Christmas decorations. It started about 20 years ago when the Dracketts purchased 30 garlands for the lampposts. Then Dave Hirsch from Lakeside’s Maintenance Team added a collection of “Peanuts” characters and the nativity scene. More Lakesiders stepped forward with decorations and the amount grows every year.
All the trees, lights, ornaments and props were donated by Lakesiders, and with help from other Lakesider volunteers, Vern is in charge of putting it all together. That includes the two three-hour days in the Fire Station making sure the decorations work and are in good condition. The volunteers also took a couple minutes to enjoy a bundt cake snack.
“This is a vintage homemade, homegrown Christmas celebration, and it’s typical Lakeside,” Vern said. “That’s what makes Lakeside’s Christmas very special.”
Thanks to the Hartenburgs’ volunteer work. They make significant contributions to Lakeside, but both downplay what they do.
“Everybody kind of finds their niche,” Vern said. “My bent is gardening and doing creative things with plants, stones, driftwood and stuff like that. That’s where I like to give because I enjoy it.”
Dianne added, “It’s fun baking and showing hospitality to Lakesiders. We’re not doing anything more than what anybody else is doing.”
The Lakesider newspaper would like to recognize Lakesiders for the volunteer work that goes unnoticed. If you would like to be recognized or know someone who should, send an email to [email protected] or call (419) 798-4461, ext. 331.
