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National Pride in Foodservice Week is February 5th-9th. Pride in Foodservice Week applauds nutrition, foodservice professionals and other members of the dietary team. Recognition and gratitude are well deserved for people who work in these fields. Wagner Community School has twelve foodservice professionals that deserve recognition for all that they do to provide and prepare good school lunches for the staff and students. Wagner’s foodservice professionals are Dave Tolliver, Kathy Leibel, Denise Efta, Sandra Mills, Kathy Winckler, Carolyn Kocer, Robbin Cuka, Lexie Youngstrom, Mary Ann Rucktaseschel, Joni Soukup, Irene Sully and Jan Martin.

The WCS foodservice team is made up of two cooks, two bakers, two salad bar/prep people, four dish room people and one person in charge of the tables in the main commons area. Most days the foodservice team serves 450 breakfast and 950 lunches. They also have 450 children that get a fresh fruit or veggie snack daily.

Dave Tolliver

Dave Tolliver is the Foodservice Director for the Wagner School District. He began working for the school as a foodservice professional 15 years ago. Dave originally started working for the school after a good push from his friends and family. Dave’s work day starts at 5:15 a.m. and ends around 3 p.m. His favorite part of the work day is at 5:15 a.m. before the hustle and bustle of the day begins when the rest of the morning staff arrive.

Dave really enjoys being able to take a favorite recipe of his or one that he or another staff member comes across and change it to make it meet the child nutrition guidelines of low sodium, whole grain and within the calorie requirements that the school has to abide by.

Dave has been cooking since 1986. He has two sister and three brothers, lots of nieces and nephews and now many great nieces and nephews. When Dave is not working, he enjoys his early afternoons off hunting, fishing and golfing.

Kathy Leibel

Kathy Leibel has been with the WCS foodservice team for the last 34 years. She originally joined the team because of the excellent benefits that the school offers and being able to work around all the wonderful children. Kathy’s work day begins at 6 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. The best part of Kathy’s work day is when she gets to see the kids go through the lunch line. All of their smiles definitely make a person’s day. Kathy does not have a personal favorite lunch that the school makes; she just loves it when she knows the food is enjoyed by the kids.

Kathy and her husband, Richard, have a son, Chris, and a daughter, Jenny. Chris is married to Jenna. Jenny’s long-term partner is Kevin. Kathy and Richard have three grandchildren Keely, Mylie and Gage. When Kathy is not working, she enjoys camping, and road tripping with the girls.

Denise Efta

Denise Efta has been working for the WCS foodservice team for the last 31 years. Denise first started working for the school in the foodservice department after learning about an opening and seeing what a great opportunity it would be. Denise’s work day begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m. The favorite part of Denise’s work day is lunch with the Prestige Girls and Our Girls. It is always a lot of fun and filled with interesting conversations. Denise enjoys working the dining room and being able to talk to the teachers and kids. The hugs she receives everyday are a great bonus. Denise enjoys cooking all kinds of different meals and has been cooking in some capacity for the last 50 years.

Sandra Mills

Sandra Mills has been a part of the WCS foodservice team for the last 27 years. She originally took the position in foodservice because it allowed her to be around and interact with staff and students. Sandra’s work day begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. Sandra’s favorite part of her work day is getting to see the kids as they go through the lunch line. She enjoys cooking and works as the dishwasher on the foodservice team.

Sandra is married to John Mills. They have five children and eight grandchildren. When she is not busy working, Sandra enjoys spending time with her family and doing Diamond Art projects.

Kathy Winckler

Kathy Winckler has been a part of the WCS foodservice team for the last 14 years. She worked at the school in a different capacity for three years before moving to the foodservice department. She original took the position as she was already a part of the WCS staff and it was offered to her and she thought why not give it a try. Kathy’s work day begins at 6:00 a.m. and ends at 2:00 p.m. Kathy’s favorite part of her work day is getting to talk with the pre-schoolers.

Kathy has been cooking in some capacity for the last 50 years especially as a homemaker before starting to work for the school. She enjoys being able to try new recipes. Kathy has two children, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. When not busy working at the school, Kathy enjoys crocheting.

Carolyn Kocer

Carolyn Kocer has been a part of the WCS foodservice team for the last 12 years. Carolyn originally started working for the school after Bev Beeson had told her that the school needed help in the dish room. Carolyn’s work day begins at 11:30 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. The best part of Carolyn’s work day is getting to be around all of her amazing co-workers. She enjoys cooking the pasta meals that the school offers the most. Carolyn is married and between her and her husband’s children they have a blended family of ten children. When Carolyn does have free time, she usually spends it doing yard work.

Robbin Cuka

Robbin Cuka has been a part of the WCS foodservice team going on the ninth year. Robbin originally took the job with the school because she enjoys working with food and people. Her work day begins at 5:30 a.m. and ends at 1:30 p.m. The best part of Robbin’s work day is the first couple of hours smelling the homemade bread as it bakes and lunch time when she gets to serve the students and staff.

Robbin really enjoys making bread and cookies. As a mom and homemaker for the last 44 years, Robbin has been cooking for a very long time. She also worked at Booms from 1986 until 2000 and worked with youth baking in 4H.

Robbin is married to Mark and they have five children. Their oldest son is Craig. Terry (TJ) is married to Jenna and they have three children Jersie, Jurnie and Maximus. Jeremy is married to Carisa and they have three children also Carsen, Isabelle and Connor. They have two daughters Michelle and Gina. Gina is married to Andrew and have Kinzley, Madelyn and Sawyer. When Robbin is not working, she enjoys gardening, reading, Suduko, and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Lexie Youngstrom Lexi Youngstrom has been a part of the WCS foodservice team for the past five years. Lexi took the position at the school because she thought it would be a good opportunity for her and has really enjoyed her co-workers since starting. She enjoys being able to joke around and talk with her co-workers. Lexi’s work day begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. She enjoys staying busy and focusing on the tasks at hand while she is working. Lexi works in the dish room and helps keep the pot and pans clean.

Lexi is the daughter of Bill and Suzette Youngstrom. She is their youngest daughter and has three sisters Megan, Chelsey and Brianna. Lexi is a wonderful aunt to her nieces, Aaliyah and Kirah, and nephew, Isaiah.

Mary Ann Rucktaeschel

Mary Ann Rucktaeschel has been a part of the WCS foodservice team for the last four years. Mary Ann took the position with the school because of the wonderful benefits and being able to work with the children. Mary Ann’s work day begins at 6 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. The best part of her work day is being able to see and interact with the students. Their smiling faces make a person’s day complete.

Mary Ann enjoys cooking dishes that she knows are a big hit with the students. She has been cooking in some capacity on and off for the last 30 years.

Mary Ann has two daughters, Kala and Kari. Kala is married to Joe. Kara is married to Chad. Mary Ann is the grandmother to four granddaughters Kennedi, Aspen, Calli and Lenox with another granddaughter due to join the family in April. When Mary Ann is not busy working, she enjoys reading, crocheting and spending time with her granddaughters.

Joni Soukup

Joni Soukup has been a part of the WCS foodservice team for the last year. After retiring from her previous job of 12 years, she decided that she wanted a part-time job. Joni really likes working at the school because they do their jobs quickly and efficiently. She loves her work environment and having Dave as a supervisor is great because he is the one that makes all of this happen. Joni’s work day begins at 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The best part of Joni’s work day is when her grandson, Windsor, says “Grandma” when Joni is doing dishes. They both look at each other and smile. Joni does not do any cooking in her job capacity; she only works in the dish room.

Joni is married to Joe Soukup and they have two sons Joey and Jamie. Joey is married to Kristen and they have two sons Charlie and Oliver. Jamie is married to Charlene and they have three children Clarah, Windsor and Willow. When Joni has free time, she enjoys reading, watching her grandchildren in their school and sports activities, and helping her son with his business.

Irene Sully

Irene Sully has been a part of the WCS foodservice team for the last six months. She chose to start working at the school because she wanted to embark in a new line of work as a baker. Irene starts her day at 6 a.m. and her day ends at 1 p.m. Irene’s favorite part of her work day is seeing all the kids as they come through the lunch line and being able to enjoy all the yummy food that the kitchen makes.

Irene’s job on the WCS foodservice team is baking. Daily, she makes the buns and bread that are served to the students and staff. This job is the first time that she has really cooked. In her free-time, Irene enjoys work, and babysitting.

Jan Martin

Jan Martin is the most recently added team member to the WCS foodservice team. She has been a part of the team for the past month. Jan’s day begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. The best part of the work day for Jan is being able to see the kids as they come through the lunch line. Seeing their smiles and getting their hugs just makes her day even better. Jan works on the salad bar.

Jan is married to Butch Martin. They have a very big blended family. Jan has four children, two sons and two daughters. She has two daughter in laws, and one son in law and 11 grandkids. Butch has three sons, two daughters, a step-son, all their spouses, twenty grandkids, and one great-grandson.