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I consider it a distinct honor to announce the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award this evening to the late Mr. Delbert Sprunger, and also his lovely wife, Irene. When I married my wife Renee Sprunger in 1971, Delbert and Irene Sprunger immediately became one of my favorite aunts and uncles. I always admired their dedication and passion for the well-being and heritage of the city of Berne.
Delbert was born the fourth child of Clarence and Lorine Habegger Sprunger. As a young child, Delbert would always visit their next door neighbor, Mrs. Hami Pete (Abraham) Sprunger. It was there that he learned to speak Swiss, which would pay great dividends in the future. His father and uncle owned the Jefferson Garage car dealership on the corner of Jefferson and Water St. As Delbert grew older, he worked at the Jefferson Garage. Later, Delbert Sprunger began taking notice of a fair young maiden by the name of Ida Irene Zuercher, a daughter of a direct Swiss descendant couple who owned an accordion factory located close to where Berne Ready Mix is today. His neighborhood chats and Swiss dialogue lessons with Mrs. Hami Pete payed off as he won the approval of Chrigel Zuercher to receive Irene's hand in marriage. Delbert and Irene were married in 1946.
The young couple worked together magnificently as a well-run machine over a period of many years. As a former navy veteran of World War II, Delbert returned to the city he loved. Here he and his wife began their service to this community in many various ways. To their union, a son Erick was born. Rick and his wife Mary Jane currently live in California
The Sprungers' owned and operated the Musik House for 30 years. I am sure many of those present here this evening purchased their first musical instrument from them, and the excitement of that purchase. Delbert also tuned pianos for numerous years. In addition to their widely known business, they were quite active in their church, First Mennonite, and the community they loved.
Delbert was the Boy Scout Troop Committee chairman, president of the Mennonite Choral Society, president of the high school music boosters, and South Adams Arts Council. He was a member of the organizing Board for the Adams County Foundation and the Board for the Adams County United Way. He, along with wife, Irene served on the Swiss Days committee for 15 years and together, they were chairman for 3 years also.
Their knowledge and formal ties to our mother country Switzerland became invaluable over their many years of assistance. During the Sesquicentennial celebration, it was their work, efforts, and knowledge and brought the Swiss dignitaries to our community. I remember Irene schooling me on Swiss etiquette and dress. One item I will always remember is when she told me that lederhosen were Austrian and German, not Swiss, and that the Swiss looked down on that type of dress. Later, I was told at the Sesquicentennial by some Swiss dignitaries that under no uncertain terms the polka band would be featured in a Swiss national newspaper because of their lederhosen dress. But we were cool! We were schooled by the Sprungers' that this was a no no, and we were dressed properly!
The Sprungers’ kept in contact with those having Swiss roots outside of the city of Berne. They were involved as members of the Swiss Club, located in Cincinnati, Oh. Delbert and Irene donated an alp horn to the club many years ago. Because of their contacts, the Swiss Club in Cincinnati became a part of the numerous donors for our Clock tower. They also conferred with Swiss National Consulate located in Chicago, IL for various local to national opportunities.
I know everyone is aware of the Swiss Chalet float that the chamber uses for parades. That chalet is a replia of the Chris Zuercher home located in Switzerland, and was a gift to the city of Berne from the Zuercher family. Irene told me it was many years after the family had the replica of their Swiss home that she actually saw the home in person in Switzerland. She said it was as magnificent as she had imagined from the image built here. She asked her dad “why did you ever move to the flat lands of Indiana from such a magnificent home and mountain view?’ His answer was, "You can't eat scenery."
Following the building of the Swiss chalet float in 2002, Delbert, Irene, and others traveled to many parades in their Swiss costumes promoting the City of Berne and the Sesquicentennial with their accordions and yodeling. The float is a reality today again because of generosity of the Zuercher family.
I had the privilege to serve as President of the Berne Chamber of Commerce during some of the years Delbert and Irene served as the Executive Managers. At that time, we as a Chamber did not have an actual home as we do today. We would meet at the Palmer House once a month with the Rotary on Monday evenings, and then have a board meeting immediately following the joint meeting. Together, they continually raised the concern of the Chamber not having a permanent home. When they determined it was time for them to retire, they refused to do so until we, as a Chamber had that home. I remember them saying to the board many times, "If you want to be recognized as a first class Chamber, you must act the part". That, in their opinion, required us to have that permanent home and tourist center. This raised legitimate questions and concerns. 'Could we financially be able to perform such a task?' 'Can we really make this a reality?' Their persistence and vision eventually became a reality. For those of you who remember, our first home was the former Dr. Kruse office on Hendricks st, followed by the office on Main St, by Bixler Ins, and now our beautiful office in the former Berne Lumber building. All a reality, in a big way, with the dreams and visions of Delbert and Irene Zuercher Sprunger.
As time went on, health issues started to plague Delbert and Irene, especially Irene. However, one would never know that Irene had a very weak heart, along with other complications. Anytime you would ask her how she was doing, the answer was always, “GREAT”! Concerning her health, she was probably one of the best optimistic liars have ever known! In December of 2006, Delbert was struck with a very serious life threating abdominal aortic aneurysm. Though the outlook was very bleak, and followed by months of extensive rehab, he somehow survived from this aliment. He always said he needed to stick around for Irene’s sake. In 2006, the Sprungers’ celebrated their 60th anniversary. Irene passed away in 2009, and just last year Delbert joined his dear wife in eternity.
But the vision lives on! It was the wishes and generosity of Delbert and Irene, along with Rick and his wife Mary Jane that the chamber be the recipient of many Swiss artifacts flags, and costumes for future use.
In addition, it was the four Sprungers' wishes that a beautiful one of a kind linden wood 7 1/2 foot family heirloom clock be given to the Heritage Room at the Berne Public Library. This magnificent clock stood in their living room for many years. It was bought in Switzerland by the Sprungers in 1976. The clock took 6 weeks to carve and was made by Gottlieb Herschi, a native of the Schangnau, Emmental. Valued at over $30,000 the clock was shipped from Interlaken, Switzerland by ocean freighter via the St. Lawrence Seaway. This is an item everyone must see, and an awesome addition to the Heritage Room! What a wonderful way for the Sprungers legacy to live on for so many enjoy!
Thank you Uncle Delbert (and Aunt Irene) Sprunger for your vision, and never ending gifts of community service making Berne a better place to live! My father-in-law, Logan Sprunger will be accepting this award in behalf of the Sprungers', their son Rick, and daughter-in law, Mary Jane.
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