Forever LincolnWay: Building on a strong foundation

Ed and Linda Duesing have a decades-long history of high-impact community service – and they can trace it all back to a single moment. 

“When we were first married, we had two little kids and Ed was in the Air Force. We had nothing. We rented furnished apartments. We owned two cribs and a washing machine to do the diapers,” says Linda. “One year at Christmas we were given a wagon full of toys and groceries.” That act of kindness stayed with Ed and Linda, inspiring them to help others, whether in their family or their community. 

Inspiration struck most recently when the Duesings made a contribution to the Forever LincolnWay campaign, helping the LincolnWay Community Foundation build a fund that will support rural communities in Clinton County for generations to come. 

Forever LincolnWay is part of the Community Foundation’s Small-town Dreams Initiative, which is empowering towns across Eastern Iowa to build their capacity to address future challenges and opportunities. Those selected leverage a $100,000 challenge grant from an anonymous donor and build a $450,000 endowment that will pay out every year to support community-building efforts. In the process, local leaders gain the skills to organize a successful capital campaign as well as assess and respond to local needs. 

DeWitt has been more than a home to Ed and Linda for nearly 50 years. The community and the schools have provided support and opportunities for their son, Mike, who has Down’s Syndrome. Those years of caring were on Ed and Linda’s minds when they made their gift. “Moving to DeWitt was the best thing we ever did for Mike,” says Linda. The couple has volunteered for many local boards and councils and are strong supporters of numerous local organizations, including the Community Foundation. 

The Small-town Dreams Initiative helps communities channel the type of generosity the Duesings experienced to create vitality and achieve what is important to them. Grants have already been made to support organizations providing essential services and resources to rural communities across Clinton County. 

"It’s not just us. It’s not just one bank, or one church, or one family. There are many people here helping take care of one another," says Ed.

Three of the Duesings’ four children still live in DeWitt, and many of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren are also in the area. Those generations will be the beneficiaries of Ed and Linda’s legacy of generosity, and with the Forever LincolnWay Fund, others have the opportunity to make the same impact – today, tomorrow, and forever.