ShawneeDispatch.com

Stewart Nelson describes how he and wife, Jean, got involved at Wonderscope Children's Museums in simple terms.

"She's got the people skills, and I know a hammer from a wrench," he said.

But the employees at Wonderscope know better; they say that the Shawnee couple has been an invaluable volunteer resource, with Stewart always ready to help put together and maintain exhibits and Jean doing everything from organizing other volunteers at Wonderscope to securing donations to spreading the word about the museum to fellow grandparents.

"Jean brings a tremendous amount of energy, a positive ‘can-do' spirit and an infectious smile to everything she does," said Ann Zimmerman, director of strategy of fund development at Wonderscope. "She is a true gift to Wonderscope and the Shawnee community."

But the Nelsons do much more than spending time at the children's museum; in fact, they have a sort of philosophy about volunteering, helping the community and meeting people. Both are semi-retired and say they felt a need to get out into the community in their free time.

"People who retire and have nothing to do, they just kind of languish," Stewart said. "We need something to do; we needed to be active."

With five grandchildren living close by and often coming over, it's no surprise that the Nelsons first ended up at Wonderscope six years ago.

"Especially when it's crummy weather and it's raining out, it's the logical place to go," Stewart said.

"It's such a neat place and it's such an asset to Shawnee," Jean Nelson added. "We were there so much we got to know everyone there, and they started asking us to help out."

Both say they have volunteered all their lives; in fact, Jean is something of a professional volunteer. Before the couple moved to Shawnee from Kansas City, Kan., nearly 10 years ago, Jean worked for the United Way of Wyandotte County as the director of planned giving, leadership giving and volunteer programs.

Stewart describes his wife as a former workaholic who is now a volunteeraholic.

"When she retired (from the United Way), they had to hire three people to replace her," he pointed out.

Jean is also certified in volunteer management through a program at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She says that anyone can and should volunteer -- it's just a matter of finding the right volunteer position for each person.

Though he retired from full-time teaching in 2001, Stewart still teaches one or two courses a semester at the Metropolitan Community Colleges two days a week. So in addition to his time at Wonderscope, Stewart delivers Meals on Wheels and cooks meals once a month at a food kitchen.

"He does things on a regular basis, and then there's me, who spreads it all out," Jean Nelson said.

Jean works part-time at Porter Funeral Home, a job that can require her to be at work on short notice. So Jean said she tends to do things that don't have a specific schedule. In addition to helping out Wonderscope whenever possible, Jean helps several organizations write grants and letters requesting donations. She is also a co-chair for the Kansas City, Kan., YWCA's individual gifts campaign and a member of the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce and the Shawnee Downtown Partnership.

The Nelsons have passed their do-good volunteer genes on; Stewart says one of their daughters has recently become a "volunteer fund-raising junkie." Like her parents, their daughter has found a way to volunteer that fits her schedule and personality.

"The apples don't fall too far from the tree," Jean said.

Both of the Nelsons marvel at the people they have met and the things they have learned through volunteering. They say they fell in love with the Shawnee community quickly, and they hope they can serve as an example to inspire others to volunteer.

"It makes you feel so good, and you get to know so many people," Jean Nelson said. "There's never a time when I've volunteered that I haven't gotten 10 times back what I've given."