As an avid fisherman, Holly Neumann sought to bring the opportunity of that sport to those people who may have disabilities – especially older veterans – with the installation of a fishing pier at Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Iola on Wednesday, Aug. 26. For her, the pier represents “unity and opportunity”.
“Not only can it serve as a way to bridge the gap between the younger generations and the Veterans of our community, it will also allow people of all ages to enjoy it for years to come,” she noted.
She personally raised the $25,000 to make that vision of a 20-foot-long gangway leading to a 10’x20’ surface. She worked with Supreme Docks & Lifts on the project, which was recently installed on Lake Iola. Neumann notes that Tony Nellis was fantastic to work with. He advised her on the best products to use, answered permit questions, and installed the pier with his employee, Reed.
“A fishing pier can make a powerful and lasting impact on a community by creating connection — to nature, to one another, and to shared history. More than just a structure over the water, a pier becomes a gathering place where relationships are built, and memories are made,” she emphasized.
“It provides accessible outdoor recreation for people of all ages and abilities, encouraging healthy activity and time spent outside. Families can fish together, grandparents can teach grandchildren patience and skill, and veterans can share stories in a peaceful setting. These simple moments strengthen community bonds and preserve local traditions.
A pier also offers a quiet refuge. In a busy world, having a safe, scenic place to reflect, grieve, celebrate, or simply sit in solitude supports emotional well-being. For many, water has a calming effect, and a dedicated public space ensures that comfort is available to everyone,” she wrote.
As Holly noted, this fishing and viewing pier will create memories, strengthen relationships, and give a lasting sense of community.
Other small things that still need to be done include a shoreline ramp, a second bench, and installation of the donor plaque.
Neumann plans to dedicate the pier in the near future.
Donors
This Veterans Memorial Fishing Pier honors all those who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States. Made possible through the generosity of dedicated donors, it stands as a lasting tribute to the courage and sacrifice of our veterans and a place of reflection and gratitude for the freedoms they preserved.
Donors who stepped up to make this project a reality include the following:
Emerald: 5000-$9999: Waupaca County Opportunities and Krause Foundation.
Platinum: $2500-$4,999: Community Insurance and Rotary Club of Waupaca
Gold: $1000 – $2499: Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Faye Wilson Realty, Jon & Bonnie Beyer, Norseman Snowmobile Club, Anthony and Holly Neumann, Iola Lions Club, Wolf River Riders, Farmers State Bank-Waupaca, and Iola Winter Carnival.
Silver: $500 – $999: Norman Ehrenberg, Roger & Patricia Olson, Gregory Loescher, Amherst Telephone, I-S Chamber of Commerce, Premier Bank, Sentry Foods of Iola, Eugene Knutson.
Bronze: $100 – $499: Leroy Borth, Waupaca Foundry, David Harper, Clifford & Sally Mishler, Charles Nordness, Anthony Hawke, Neal & Mary Folz, Douglas & JoAnn Lytle, Neuville Motors, Wayne & Sheila Luck, Mark & Ann Forseth, Glenn & Jaci Tetzlaff, Ronald & Marlene Netzler, Earl & Yvonne Lukaszewski, Sons of Norway, Dr. James & Rebecca Maus, Hoffman Planning Design & Construction Inc., Melum Marketing, Central Wisconsin Electric Co-op Trust, Stern Insurance Agency Inc., Kielblock Sawmill LLC, Thomas & Ila Sanders, David & Georgine Demling, Hilltopper Alumni Association, Silver Lake Lanes Inc., Judith Schroeder, and Alice Brzycki.
Quartz: $99 and below: Too-Dars Diner LLC, Gordon & Alice Peterson, Linda Sheveland, Arana Khan, John Fossum, Donavon & Lanna Langdok, and Dixie Anderson-Premier Bank.
Plaque Sponsor: Waupaca County Opportunities.
