Gordon and Beverly (Peterson) Dukerschein were born and raised on dairy farms in Glen Flora and have spent their lifetime in Rusk County. We were fortunate to have parents who valued community and were very involved in church, 4-H, the Glen Flora Community Club, school board and more. For more than 45 years, we owned and operated Artisans, Inc., our second-generation apparel business. In 2018, we retired and formed an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, selling the business to our employees, ensuring that it would continue to provide area jobs.
We have lived in the same home for almost 30 years, where we produce maple syrup, raise Christmas trees and manage hardwoods and red pine plantations. Retirement allows us to spend more time with our three children and seven grandchildren, travel and pursue our hobbies.
We created a Donor Advised Fund through RCCF because we believe in Rusk County; its people, natural beauty and its potential. We have been blessed along the way and want to do what we can to ensure that there will be support for the nonprofits that align with our personal beliefs well into the future. During our lifetime, we are able to make the decisions on where the money will be granted each year, and then feel comfortable that after our passing, the RCCF grant committee will follow our guidelines and pattern of giving, always looking for new opportunities that may present themselves.
We value life and prefer to support causes that benefit children, families, veterans and the elderly. Previous grants have supported local libraries, ambulance and fire service, churches, schools, abuse and homeless shelters and the pregnancy resource center. Because of the power of endowment, each year the amount available to grant grows, so the support to local nonprofits will also.
