Hello, Sierra friends.
Joe Bronnert, Vice-Chair of the Sierra Club Winding Waters Group and Sierra Outings Leader passed away Tuesday, September 20th one week before his planned "City Hike and Winding Waters Group Fundraiser". Although he was 85 years old, he died suddenly and it was very hard on us. We take comfort in knowing that he did not suffer and that he has joined his wife, Kay who preceded him in death 5 years ago.
I met Joe only a few years ago when he answered an invite to the Sierra Club, Winding Waters Group party at Tipton Lakes community center. Our local Sierra Club Group was searching for new members in the area to join us in our conservation efforts and leadership roles. Joe answered the call. His life long partner, Kay had recently passed away. His sister, Lois from St. Louis had been active as a Sierra Club member and was involved in the Merimac River victory saving their rivers from being dammed into a reservoir and Lois had bought Joe a Sierra Club membership 35 years ago. The Winding Waters Group was glad to meet Joe and we quickly appreciated his leadership skills. Joe assisted and taught students and other Sierra Club members in stream monitoring for water and soil conservation, he took rigorous training in Sierra Club Outings Leadership and first aid, he Weed Wrangled the most invasive of plant species and helped to provide native plants to our community for the protection of pollinators. As well as being an engineer, Joe was a farmer years ago near Anderson Falls and he understood the importance of water and soil health.
Joe was a relevant and cherished member of the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter Conservation and Outings Committees and he was Vice-Chair of the Winding Waters Group. He loved to hike, he took pride in testing our streams in Bartholomew and Decatur Counties to protect our waterways and he enjoyed interacting with the youth of St. Bartholomew Catholic Schools in protecting pollinators and promoting healthy waterways in Indiana. Joe was my friend and although I met him only 5 years ago, I feel lucky to have gained his perspective during this volatile political climate. I am overwhelmed with the loss of my friend but he made a positive impact everyday he was on this Earth. Rest well my very good friend and your fellow Sierrans will carry on this important work.
Julie Lowe, Winding Waters Group Chair and Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter Chair