Age: 67

Address: Freeborn

Livelihood:

retired financial worker for the Department of Human Services

Family: husband, Dale; seven children; 15 grandchildren

Interesting fact: She loves to mow the lawn and tend the garden.

When residents of the Freeborn area decided in 2008 to organize an auction to benefit the Fifth District Eagles Cancer Telethon, they put everything together in about five weeks and raised about $12,000.

For 2009, organizers got busy in February for the event that would be held on Nov. 28. This year’s event raised $28,000.

Jeanette Ladlie chairs the event and she’s no stranger to the Eagles Cancer Telethon. She has been an active member of the Eagles Auxiliary for 19 years, serving in all the chairs and as president of the organization. What’s more, she lost her first husband to cancer at age 46.

“We need to find a cure,” she said. “We’re making progress.”

Ladlie said the board of directors of the Freeborn Area Cancer Auction wants to make the auction an annual event.

“I have a marvelous committee,” Ladlie said.

She’s quick to credit the Jim and Donna Beckman family, owners of TB3’s in Freeborn, for the success, as well as the many individuals, donors and those who came to the auction.

Jan. 5: Cancer soup and dessert supper, 4 to 6:30 p.m., Albert Lea Eagles Club

Jan. 8-9: Geneva Cancer Auction

Jan. 9: Cans and Cash for Cancer, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Albert Lea Eagles Club

Jan. 13: Hot dish and salad luncheon, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Albert Lea Eagles Club

Jan. 15-16: Geneva Cancer Auction

Jan. 16: Cablethon, Albert Lea Eagles Club

Jan. 16: Jail and bail, noon to 4 p.m., Albert Lea Eagles Club

Jan. 16: Dinner by menu, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Albert Lea Eagles Club

Jan. 16-17: 56th annual Eagles Cancer Telethon in Rochester

All events are open to the public.

Ladlie said the committee’s aim, in gathering items for the auction in an economically challenging year, was to have more items that are useful to people, yet raise money for a good cause.

There was a raffle for a John Deere Gator and $200 cash. There were many baskets, five hogs, a quarter beef, a 40-inch flat screen television set, quilts and other handmade items, a half-hour airplane ride and many more items on the auction.

State Rep. Robin Brown donated her yellow jacket in 2008, and it sold for $300. The high bidder donated it back to the auction for this year, and it raised another $550.

“That’s been a good event for us,” Ladlie said of the jacket auction.

Freeborn resident Rich Honstad, a cancer survivor, provided the entertainment, karaoke.

The auction was supported by individuals and businesses not only in Freeborn, but also in Winnebago, Blue Earth, Easton and Wells , Ladlie said.

For years, the Albert Lea Eagles had held a cancer auction in Albert Lea. “But we decided it was time for a change,” Ladlie said. “We all help each other out and make it work.”

She added that organizers of the Geneva Cancer Auction have also been very helpful.

Ladlie said she will be helping out with the upcoming cancer telethon events at the Albert Lea Eagles Club. And soon after that, planning for the 2010 Freeborn Area Cancer Auction will begin.

“We’re already looking to make next year a two-day event,” Ladlie said.

“All the people I work with have fun doing this and take pride in this,” she said. “It makes a difference.”