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June 2019
VOLUME 1 | NO. 11
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Kittok humbled to be Citizen of the Year
GABE LICHT
Editor
Joe Kittok has been volunteering in his home-
town of Delano since he was a teenager.
“My earliest recognition is that I rode on the
hood of a car in the (4th of July) parade, and I
was holding a sign of some kind,” Kittok said. “ .
. . The carnival used to hire young people to sell
tickets for the rides. I did that for several years. I
was 14, maybe.”
In recognition of his many years of volunteer
service, the General Federated Women’s Club of
Delano recognized Kittok as Citizen of the Year
at a banquet April 27.
Kittok’s service
“When I got back from the service in 1971, I
worked with Al Fink making popcorn in the
grandstand, at fi rst with the Athletics, and then he
drafted me to work the 4th of July,” Kittok said.
That same year, Kittok became a member of the
Delano Sportsmen’s Club.
“At that time, we were building a new club-
house,” Kittok said. “I helped with the framing
and fi nishing of the clubhouse.”
He continued volunteering and, about 20 years
ago, he was elected to be secretary.
“Since then, I’ve been secretary, president, and
I’ve been treasurer since about 2007,” Kittok
said.
One of his missions was to improve communi-
cations between the club and the public.
“At fi rst, I put my phone number on all signs and
literature, then I forwarded calls to my cell phone,
so I could answer calls right away, rather than hav-
ing to listen to another message machine,” Kittok
said. “This way, I can answer right away, make
some notes, and we’re on our way.”
He gives his wife, Jan, credit for lining up 50-
plus volunteers to man the club’s bingo stand dur-
ing the 4th of July.
The celebration is a big part of his life. He has
been a member of the 4th of July Committee for a
Delano Citizen of the Year Joe Kittock is pictured with his wife, Jan.
number of years, and recently joined the steering
committee.
He has been involved with the local Catholic
parish throughout his entire life. His level of in-
volvement increased after a 1989 retreat, which he
called life-changing.
“The message of the retreat was, ‘We’ve all been
blessed and should use those blessings . . . and
abilities to help the church and the cause of Jesus
Christ,’” Kittok said. “Before that, I was kind of
in a holding pattern. I was fi lled with information,
Senior
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but not knowing what to do with it.”
His involvement increased and he went on to the
University of St. Thomas in 1997 to become a dea-
con. He was ordained in 2000.
“I don’t get compensated for being a deacon,”
Kittok said. “I’m a volunteer helper to the bishop,
assigned to my home parish, and I help there how-
ever I can. It’s been very fruitful for me. I get to
meet wonderful people of like mind, and we all
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