Bob Wallen Bob retired from the DNR in 2001 after 31+ years of service. The world first met him in October of 1943 at the Holy Family Hospital in Manitowoc Wis. He attended St Boniface grade school and after 8 years, moved on to Washington Jr. High and then Lincoln High School where he graduated in 1962. In his youth, Bob was active in scouting and obtained the Eagle rank. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his dad and brother and visiting with family on a farm near Iola. After High School Bob attended the University of Wisconsin, Extension in Manitowoc for a year and a half and then moved to the Madison campus where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Natural Science-Education. For two years he worked out of the State Hygiene Lab on the University of Wisconsin campus assisting a doctor of veterinary medicine, in the Zoonotic section, who was doing research on California Encephalitis, a mosquito born disease that had shown itself in babies and young children living in rural areas of southwest Wisconsin. Bob went back to the University to gain an additional 20 credits in natural resources related
courses. In 1970, he worked as a seasonal employee at Blue Mound State Park. After only ten days on the job, he was offered a job at the Conservation Education Center located in Poynette, now named the MacKenzie Environmental Education Center. After a few seasons he applied for, and was awarded, the full time position of Natural Resource- Educator. Susan and Bob Bob and his wife Susan settled in the town of Windsor in 1973. It was conveniently located half way between Bob's job in Poynette and Susan's teaching position in the Madison elementary school system. Their son, Andrew, was born in 1967 (recently deceased) and daughter, Sara came along in 1971. Sara lives with her family near Francis Creek in Manitowoc County.
Andy and Bob, Hyde Park Andrew and wife Kirstie
As an educator at the MacKenzie Center. Bob worked to develop and maintain the museum exhibits and nature trails. He provided students and visitors with tours of the trails, museums and wildlife exhibit, planting prairies. He was also active in training student interns. In the early 1970's, Bob assisted with weeklong camps that were held at Wyalusing State Park. These camps provided school girls with conservation education and work experiences necessary to participate in the Department's Youth Conservation Programs. In 1975, the Department built an overnight facility at Poynette to provide students with the same opportunities presented at Wyalusing State Park. During the school year students would come for a stay of 2-3 days. Bob and the students' teachers provided conservation oriented experiences. Bob also developed and presented weekend workshops for teachers, and provided a Department presence at many statewide teacher conventions. Bob and Joel Stone, in 1988, developed a Maple Sugaring program for students and the public. The course was extremely popular and continues to this day with as many as 50 volunteers participating. During March Maple Month over 2000 students attend a two hour program learning the value of forests and trees, clean air, photosynthesis and how to tap for maple sap. They receive hands-on experience reducing the syrup to sugar. The season ends with a glorious Maple Fest attended by the general public.
Bob and his family at the Wallen Sugar Shack dedication MacKenzie Center, Poynette In retirement, Susan and Bob devote time to their daughter and her blended family of 7 children. The Wallens enjoy traveling throughout Wisconsin and the United States. They have been to Alaska many times to visit Bob's brother and sister and family. Bob and his brother photographed moose and camped in Denali National Park in the days when it was possible to enter the park after Labor Day, on your own. In 2006, Bob and Susan enjoyed a week in Costa Rica where they birded, fished and soaked in the hot pools of a stream heated by the Arenal volcano. In 2007, they visited Germany and Austria especially enjoying Wien and Salzburg.
Close Encounters of the Everglades Kind Zip Lining in Costa Rica
In his spare time, Bob takes care of their yard and garden, enjoys cooking, hunting and fishing. He occasionally volunteers for Madison Audubon, the DeForest Public Library and at St. Peter's, his parish in Madison. He is also very interested in photography. He enjoys photographing family, travel, doors, windows, rural scenes and buildings especially farms, barns, and silos. He has tried to master the computer while not being sent to the lower reaches for verbal outbursts of an unmentionable kind! Bob and Susan along the Mississippi Lansing, IA