By Mary Owen
Kevin Rubel is just a bit shy about sharing his long list of volunteer accomplishments, but his fellow Moose Lodge members are not.
Their admiration for Rubel, a founding member and governor for the past two years of the Stayton Loyal Order of Moose #2639, led them to nominate him for Stayton’s First Citizen. The award is given for outstanding volunteer community service on numerous occasions for an extended length of time.
“We believe Kevin Rubel is certainly deserving of this honor,” said Warren Kilby, who served as the lodge’s first governor when it was founded in 2005, in nominating Rubel for the honor.
Rubel, 48, has lived in Stayton his entire life. He is married to his Stayton High School sweetheart, Connie. The couple has a grown daughter, Stephanie, 25. Rubel is the co-owner of Dale’s Auto Body in Stayton.
“Thanks largely to Kevin’s leadership, the lodge has a membership of over 170 and is known throughout the area for its numerous contributions to the community,” Kilby wrote, speaking for the entire lodge. “Not only does Kevin direct and organize community services for the lodge, he also physically participates in almost every community service activity.”
Rubel is well known around town for his cooking abilities at various area events.
“We have a large barbecue that we take places, and I enjoy doing it,” he said.
During the past five years, Rubel has put his cooking skills to the test at Stayton’s Fourth of July festivities, the Stayton employees’ picnic, the Stayton Library and Santiam Park dedications, Police Safety Day, and other occasions.
“I really enjoy meeting people at these events,” he said of what motivates him to volunteer.
But cooking is not the only gift he offers. He donated a dozen stuffed animals to five emergency services to be given as needed to children in crisis. He has given supplies to the Stayton Library summer program and to local schools; worked numerous hours picking up trash on East Santiam for the Adopt-a-Road program; helped collect hundreds of pounds of food for the Stayton Community Food Bank; and has even swung a hammer for Habitat-for-Humanity’s Stayton projects.
Special Olympics, Salvation Army, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Sublimity Harvest Festival, Lourdes Charter School and Oregon Fish and Wildlife are all organizations that have benefitted from Rubel’s time and hard work.
“We usually don’t turn down a request for help,” said Rubel modestly, referring to the Moose Lodge. “We try to do what we can.”
His fellow Moose commend Rubel for always having “a smile on his face and a friendly work to all.”
“Through his example, Kevin has inspired many people in and around Stayton to participate in community service activities,” Kilby said. “He is clearly a role model for other citizens of Stayton to follow, and has earned the respect of the community and its leaders.”
Rubel said he will be out their cooking or doing whatever else needs done for as long as there is need.
“I was surprised,” he said of taking First Citizen honors. “It makes you feel good to be appreciated for all the hard work you do.”
