In this season of thankfulness, the Clear Lake Public Library is celebrating the life of H Milton Duesenberg. Our library family is grateful that H Duesenberg sat at our table for over 20 years.
On October 22, H passed from this physical world. But we rejoice that he lived and lived fully. He spent his days living out his passion for history by creating, curating, and sharing his research in the Clear Lake Public Library History Room. It is no small coincidence that history begins with H.
H got his start working at the library via a grant working in conjunction with Iowa State to restore an old map of Clear Lake. With the map restored the project was completed. However, there was still more history to maintain and organize. H, with Board Approval and the City’s blessing became a library employee. “The History Room hence forth became his domain,” said Aaron Ruggles.
We admired H for the wealth of knowledge he generously shared. Bri relates; “When I think about H, it’s hard to pick favorite memories because he truly made every day interesting at the library. He was a fountain of information and I often “scheduled” time in my planner to ask him a question as I knew it’d be at least an hour before I made it back to my office. But I learned so much from him during that time! When I think about staff meetings after I first started in 2017. He’d often come in near the end of the morning meeting to get coffee, claim he forgot there was a meeting that day, but always happy there were snacks and treats, almost always complaining that the microwave needed cleaning. I clean the microwave (and coffee pot) often now, giggling and thinking about H.”
Bri reminds me that my first lesson from a man I was in awe of was where to go to get coffee. First things first.
H was exacting in his methods and expected the same from others. As Carol recalls; “ H was always kind and gracious. His knowledge of Clear Lake and North Iowa was amazing! I enjoyed his wit and appreciated his wisdom. At the same time, he always let us know if there was something we needed to do, or should be doing, or should have done. Always in a stern but friendly manner. We could all take a life lesson from H.”
His passion drove him to save everything. Believe me- everything. Karen tells; “I remember the times he had me repair a book for the History Collection. We would talk and occasionally I would explain why a book was beyond repair. I miss those times.”
He was a true gentleman. The way he dressed and his demeanor stood testament to that. But he could not disguise the mirth dancing behind his wise eyes. Mim remembers; “On the days H worked at the library he would meander downstairs with a grin, a friendly greeting, or sometimes a sly comment, and an empty coffee mug to be filled from the staff coffee pot. One comment that amused me was when he would say that we have too many books at the library. He wanted more room for his history artifacts instead of more books.”
One day H was obviously happy to see Deb. He told her he hoped she was staying out of trouble. She replied absolutely not! His face crinkled with delight. The friendship that bounced between them was joyful!
“In the passing of H we have lost living history. We could always ask him nearly any question about Clear Lake and he would know it. Or have had firsthand experience. Now, that we don’t have him, we have to rely on his research and the room he curated within the library,” says Library Director, Aaron Ruggles. “H was methodical, and unrelenting,” Aaron recalls a presentation H was prepping for about music history in Clear Lake. “H found a question HE COULDN’T ANSWER. H couldn’t move on with writing the presentation until he got an answer to what a, ‘backbeat syncopated rhythm,’ was.” Aaron echoes the sentiments of the rest of the staff. H was a gentlemanly coffee drinker. Keeper of beyond repair things…and yes, you didn’t just wonder into the history room unless you had an extra, “at least, 40 minutes to spare in your day.”
All of this is how I choose to remember my mentor, my teacher, my friend. H was passionate about history because of the people whose rich lives and stories live on. Now H has become a jewel in Clear Lakes’ crown. His legacy sparkles brilliantly! As we carry his story (history) forward, we will make his life’s work more accessible online. As some things change, others remain the same. We will fondly remember the twinkly eyes we loved so well. And our microwave will be cleaner.
