The Family Caregiver Blog

For some people, retirement means slowing down. For Peggy Gaines, it meant finding a new way to serve. After spending 31 years as an educator in the St. Joseph School District, Peggy could have easily settled into a quieter life. Instead, she became a volunteer with the American Red Cross and began a second chapter that would take her from house fires in Northwest Missouri to some of the largest disasters in the country and beyond. Today, Peggy Gaines is the August 2026 recip

Some people spend a lifetime building products. Bill Edwards has spent his building people. For more than 40 years, Bill has dedicated his career to Altec Industries, where he has become known not simply as a skilled welder, but as a teacher, mentor, and visionary. While many people count the years until retirement, Bill smiles and says he has no plans to retire at all. He still loves going to work because every week brings new opportunities to meet people and help them succe

At age 77, Ken Rosenauer continues to demonstrate what it truly means to age well—not by slowing down, but by continuing to serve others and make a difference in his community. Ken's impact on Northwest Missouri spans decades. A Vietnam-era Air Force veteran, longtime educator, pastor, community leader, coach, mayor, newspaper owner, Red Cross volunteer, and mentor, he has dedicated much of his life to helping others and strengthening the communities he calls home.