It seems everywhere you turn in Owatonna, you're bound to run into Gail Zollner.
The running joke in her household is there is always somewhere to go, something to do, and somewhere to be. The "semi-retired" is constantly busy, and it has become no surprise that people view her as a sudo-mother.
Especially because, like most mothers in the world, Zollner doesn't do what she does for recognition; it's simply ingrained in her DNA.
"Retire? Nah — I can't sit at home," Zollner laughed as she recalled her 2021 retirement from the graphic design department at Federated Insurance, where she had spent her entire 35-year career. "I have a busy brain … I am happy 'doing,' happy being involved. It's just what I do."
And what she does? It's a lot, ranging from church activities to involvement in the local arts community to giving a hand to the local figure skating club, not to mention her hours upon hours upon hours of 4-H leadership.
And she has been doing it all so long that she can't help but giggle when trying to figure out when or how it all got started.
Building the foundation
Zollner first moved to Owatonna with her family when she was only 6 years old, noting her parents, Harry and Joyce Betterman, found their "forever home" new Trinity Lutheran Church.
With an artistic mother, Zollner said she grew up watching her mom construct wedding dresses — at least a dozen in her lifetime — as well as fill their home with music.
"We got to do one thing, and I wanted piano lessons," Zollner recalls. "We had this piano in the basement, an old upright, that we painted blue and rubbed off with black."
From second to eighth grade, Zollner said took lessons to help her learn the basics as well as some popular songs. At the time she claimed she "didn't need Beethoven." That was until she became an adult, and decided she was ready to play again.
Today, that same piano Zollner learned to play on sits in her living room after he paid to have someone refurbish it. She can now play Beethoven, church music and a variety of other tunes, thinking of her mother when music fills the air.
Aside from the artistic and musical nature she developed from her mother, Zollner said her "stay busy" mindset was inherited from her father, an Army veteran who worked in the drafting department at the Owatonna Tool Company, a place Zollner has fond memories of growing up, looking over his layouts and designs. He also was involved in a variety of recreational leagues, such as tennis and bowling, and had a passion for gardening and being an all-around "handyman," including remodeling houses and building wooden toys.
Her parents also loved to dance, chartering the Steele Steppers Square Dance Club.
Between their variety of interests and Zollner taking many trips up to her paternal grandparents' farm in central Minnesota, she claims she was born with 4-H in her blood, despite never being a member herself.
"I grew up in 4-H without ever having 4-H," she laughed.
The foundation growing up is what prepared her and her husband, Mark Zollner, to enroll her daughters, Becca and Lilly, into 4-H when they were old enough, an obvious choice after watching the girls fall in love with "Cow Camp" through Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) via Owatonna Community Ed.
Joining the "Pratt Commandos" 4-H club, Zollner's summertime schedule quickly revolved around all things 4-H. While her girls were still a part of the program, she jokes she was able to "fend off" becoming a leader as she was already so busy being involved in their projects.
"We basically would show up and live at the fair," she chuckled.
Now that her kids have grown out of the program and she has taken on the role of club leader, teacher and overall volunteer, when the Steele County Free Fair rolls around each year, she still lives there for the full week.
'It just keeps happening'
After she no longer had her own children enrolled in 4-H, Zollner was invited to an organizational meeting for the Pratt Commandos, "just to see what it was about."
"That was seven years ago — I'm slowly working toward becoming just a volunteer again," Zollner laughed.
Luck would have it, many of Zollner's volunteer opportunities seem to happen by her agreeing to attend a meeting and then her becoming an integral part of the organization or group.
When one of her daughter's wanted to take a go at figure skating, Zollner joined the board of the Owatonna Figure Skating Club, volunteering to make their show graphics. When she attended a Steele County American Dairy Association meeting, she left a volunteer and continues today as a board member and "princess coordinator" — most recently helping Afton Nelson with her competition at the Princess Kay of the Milky Way pageant.
When she retired from Federated, the leaders at Trinity Lutheran Church helped if she could fill in a couple mornings a week as a teaching assistant for the preschools. Already volunteering in a number of ways at the church, and not wanting to be a sit-at-home retiree, Zollner was happy to say yes. Two years later that turned into a long-term substitute position for the month of January, and by the end of the year they asked if she would be willing to take on a classroom full time.
"It just keeps happening," she said between chuckles. "I am in my career 2.0."
But for anyone who spends any time with Zollner, it is clear the decision to be involved in so many ways, giving herself to others, is what makes her happy. During the interview for her feature, Zollner was interrupted multiple times by small kids who had her as a teacher, a 4-H leader, or have encountered her in the numerous other ways Zollner volunteers, wanting to say hello and embrace the woman.
"I am paid in hugs," Zollner said, beaming with emotion as she waved goodbye to two small girls who approached her in the coffee shop.
Lasting impact
It's not just the kids, either, who are forever drawn to Zollner after interacting with her once. The adults she works alongside, whether in a volunteer or recreational capacity, also keep her close to their hearts.
"I love her — it's honestly hard to put into words what she means to me," said Holly Jorgensen, one of Zollner's many friends she has met through community involvement.
The two women first encountered one another through the Little Theatre of Owatonna — another area of the community Zollner is heavily involved in as a volunteer — when their daughters were in a show together. As the kids became friends, the adults naturally followed suit, and soon they were starring in shows alongside one another as well.
"We spent a lot of time in the green room together, especially during musicals, practicing the dance routines, and Gail would help me a lot," Jorgensen said, noting she does not have a dance background where Zollner does. "She's so patient, and always right there, ready to help regardless if you ask."
Their friendship expanded beyond backstage, with Jorgensen being one of many people to dub Zollner as "everyone's mom."
"She is someone you can be silly and goofy with, just like a mom, but yet she is caring and compassionate, just like a mom," Jorgensen said. "We have had a lot of those tough or heavy conversations. Gail is the type of person who lifts others up all the time."
As Jorgensen's own nonprofit, Let's Smile, continued to expand over the years, it was natural for her to reach out to her friend to ask for help in spreading awareness for the children's dental health program, targeting underinsured and uninsured families.
"If Gail is available, she is always more than willing to help," Jorgensen said. "She makes a great smile fairy. She is so friendly and engaging with the kids and truly helps spread smiles."
But once again, Zollner said this is just how she is, it's just how she is wired.
"I will do this, all of this, as long as I can," Zollner said, as she maneuvered past the school supplies the Quilting Club — another volunteer group she is a part of and simply "forgot" to mention — will be donating this fall. "A lot of kids don't know how to sew, but I can teach them. There's no play this fall [at LTO], so I figured I could teach a Community Ed. class."
She will actually be teaching several classes, including sewing, paper origami, and small clay sculptures at the Owatonna Arts Center, where she volunteers as a graphic designer for their newsletter.
"She does such a variety of different things, and just like everyone's mom — or the mom everyone wants to have — she is teaching like skills," Jorgensen said. "She is making a very lasting, very powerful and positive impact on her community."
And as Zollner puts it herself, that is just what makes her who she is: a woman determined to turn every gathering into a warm, welcoming space. With a heart as big as her smile, Zollner's caring nature and selfless acts make her the glue that holds a community together.
She may never seek the spotlight or accolades, but what mother ever truly does?
Local News
Comments / 0