Greve carries on a legacy of volunteerism
Austin Greve Age: 37 Position: Production, accounting and social media specialist for The Guttenberg Press Birthplace: Guttenberg Residence: Guttenberg
By Caroline Rosacker
Austin Greve, production, accounting, and social media specialist at The Guttenberg Press, was born and raised in Guttenberg. The 37-year-old is the sixth generation of his mother’s family to live in Guttenberg. He attended St. Mary’s School through the eighth grade and graduated from Guttenberg High School in 2001. Following graduation he attended NICC in Peosta, studying computer networking.
Greve has been an employee of The Guttenberg Press since 2000, and a part-time office clerk at Rausch Petroleum since 2003.
Community volunteer
Greve has a long history of volunteering countless hours of his time and talent for the betterment of his community. His passion for genealogy and history have aided in preserving Guttenberg’s German heritage.
Greve became a member of Guttenberg’s volunteer fire department in 2003. He commented, “Fred Schaub, who was the Fire Chief at the time, asked me to join the fire department. I always had an interest in emergency services. My late uncle, Jim Hansel, was an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with the Guttenberg Ambulance Service for many years.”
Greve’s civic-minded family has faithfully served the fire department since 1882. Greve told The Press, “Joseph Kirch, the first fire chief, was the first in my family to serve Guttenberg on the fire department. For the next 133 years, 14 of my family’s descendents were department members in addition to some of them serving on the city council.”
Greve also serves his community as an elected member of the Guttenberg city council. He is just starting the second year of his second four-year term. Greve shared his inspiration for running for city council. “My desire was to serve my community in a different way than I already had been. My great-great-great-grandfather was one of the first mayors of Guttenberg, and my aunt served on the city council for several years,” he noted.
As a city council member, Greve has had to make some tough decisions. He said, “It is difficult when you have to vote on something that you know – which ever way you vote— you will upset someone.”
Greve showed an early aptitude for computers while in high school and helped with the school’s web page design and management, computer repairs, and served as a yearbook advisor. He was the recipient of KGAN’s first “Golden Apple - Cool Kid in Education Award.”
In the past, Greve was a member of the Civic and Commerce Club and was elected to the group’s board of directors. He was on the planning committee for the Stars and Stripes parade two years in a row; a member of the Grand Excursion committee in 2004; and co-chair of the 2014 Guttenberg RAGBRAI committee. He was manager of Guttenberg’s Cable Channel 6, a local access channel, where he managed advertising accounts, and videotaped special events.
Greve is currently the secretary/treasurer for the Guttenberg Heritage Society; secretary/treasurer for the Clayton County Firemen’s Association; and Vice President of Clayton Ridge Dollars for Scholars.
Since the pandemic Greve has stepped forward and is recording St. Mary’s Church services weekly, so members can worship through Facebook and local Channel 6.
A past business associate, fellow civic volunteer, and friend of Greve spoke favorably about his dedicated spirit, cheerful attitude, and ability to juggle a demanding full schedule, saying, “He is never impatient or rude with a request from one of his many constituents.”
Greve concluded, “I enjoy living and working in Guttenberg. Everyone knows and looks out for each other in small communities. I have a connection to Guttenberg – my family has been here since 1849.”
