Photographer: Duane Tinkey
They’ve run companies and the state government. They’ve raised millions of dollars for nonprofits. They’ve treated cancer patients, mentored up-and-comers, raised families and volunteered for worthy causes. They’ve climbed some of the tallest mountains in the world.
Whatever their areas of expertise or passion, each of the seven women and men featured on the following pages have made a lasting and powerful impact on Greater Des Moines. Their contributions have helped build a city the rest of us are proud to call home.
Every year at dsm, we honor a new class of Sages Over 70 and are proud to share their stories both here in print and at an awards ceremony. This year’s event was held Nov. 12 at the FFA Enrichment Center on the Des Moines Area Community College campus in Ankeny. (View the full event here.) As always, proceeds from the event support the Sages Over 70 fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, for grants to address some of the community’s most pressing needs.
So go ahead: Keep reading to hear from this year’s Sages in their own words. You’ll be amused by their humor, inspired by their experiences and enlightened by their wisdom.
The world needs more Sages
Writer: Jann Freed
Did you know more Americans turn 65 each day than are born? And by 2030, there will be more people over 60 than under 18? This generation of “elders” in the developed world is “the longest lived, wealthiest, healthiest, most highly educated and largest percentage of elder population in history,” said John Izzo, life coach and author of “The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die.”
After listening to his TEDx talk, “The Defining Moment for a Generation-in-Waiting,” I interviewed him for my podcast “Becoming a Sage.”
He explained how we are facing significant challenges: a warming climate, a growing income gap between the rich and everyone else, widening wars in Europe and the Middle East, and ongoing differences among various generations. These challenges cause anxiety for everyone, but the current generation of elders has the time, talent, wealth and political clout to influence how the world addresses them.
Throughout history, elders in cultures around the world were relied upon to think about the future, pass on their wisdom and make critical decisions as good ancestors for future generations. The best example is the Seventh Generation Principle, a Native American idea that suggests that decision-makers “should consider the potential benefits or hardships that would be felt by seven future generations.”
Izzo framed the critical question for elders like this: How do you want to continue to contribute to the world?
We talked about how the focus of life after 50 often shifts from one’s ego to one’s ability to contribute in new ways. He described how midlife has been extended in two directions. He coaches people in their 30s and 40s who have made a fortune by starting a business and selling it. Now they’re asking questions people usually ask in their 50s and 60s: What am I going to do now that I’ve made a living? What am I going to do with my energy, time, talent and treasures?
In Foster Group founder Jerry Foster’s book, “LifeFocus: Achieving a Life of Purpose and Influence,” he notes that as people age, they often choose one of three paths: indulgence, indifference or influence. Indulgence is focused on consuming and accumulating. Indifference is about not knowing what to do. Influence is about generativity, making the world a better place.
Richard Leider, the author of “The Power of Purpose: Find Meaning, Live Longer, Better,” writes that his research found that for many elders, “meaning is more important than money, and significance is more important than success.”
As a baby boomer, Izzo generalized that many of his fellow boomers were involved in making social change and challenging norms that helped society make some necessary shifts. He explained how “some of us sold out and got caught up in the ‘consumer dream’ of materialism and wealth accumulation.” The latest research from Age Wave indicates that most boomers feel it’s more important in their next life chapter to be “useful” rather than “youthful.”
In conclusion, Izzo encouraged elders to channel their wealth, talent and wisdom to reinvent and solve societal problems. “Almost all people over 50 naturally move into the phase in which they think about how their kids are doing and how their grandchildren will do. It is time for this generation to expand their sphere of concern. While most older people are concerned about their ‘tribe’ succeeding in the future, they need to realize their tribe won’t succeed if the globe doesn’t succeed. Elders should reinvent themselves and help create a better society. Traditional wisdom is that as people become older, they get more conservative — protecting what ‘I’ have. We need them to think about protecting what ‘we’ have.”
The world doesn’t need this generation of elders to turn inward. We need them to become sages by using their wisdom to open their hearts and turn outward to make the world a better place. n
Jann Freed, Ph.D., is a leadership coach, speaker, 2024 Business Record Woman of Influence and a certified Sage-ing Leader through Sage-ing International. She writes about nonfinancial aspects of retirement for Forbes.com, and her latest book, “Breadcrumb Legacy: How Great Leaders Live a Life Worth Remembering,” is available in stores and online at jannfreed.com.
Bobbretta Brewton
Growing up, Bobbretta Brewton loved listening to her father’s stories of building bridges and roads while he was in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He often took young Bobbretta and her siblings on summer road trips to see the projects he had helped create.
Fifty-some years later, when her daughter Ayana Williams signed up for service in the AmeriCorps, the CCC’s modern counterpart, those happy memories flooded back and inspired Brewton. In her 70s, Brewton became the third generation in her family to volunteer for the organization.
It was a natural choice at that stage in her semiretirement. She had always wanted to build on the legacy of her parents, and the new project offered an outlet for another lifelong passion: supporting families in need.
“Family is at the core of everything I’m trying to do,” Brewton said. “I value what I had as a kid, which is a strong family, strong church connection, strong schools and a good education.”
Brewton’s role as an educator and community activist began as a child,
when teachers channeled her intelligence and energy toward assisting her classmates. Later, she served as a teacher and administrator in Des Moines Public Schools for nearly 20 years, a professor at Des Moines Area Community College and a leader at several local nonprofits.
“My dad always told me I was born to be a teacher,” she said.
Today, Brewton continues to draw on those experiences as a VISTA volunteer at Children and Families of Iowa, where she connects struggling families with support services they need to thrive.
“These are activities and roles that are not high-profile but absolutely vital to securing a safety net for the most vulnerable,” Brewton’s former colleague Bery Engebretsen said. “The programs she established are still operating today, by her successors.” — Mathany Ahmed
Highlighted achievements
- Inducted into the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame in 2009.
- Recognized by her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, for more than 40 years of sisterhood and commitment to the organization.
- Received special permission from Washington, D.C., to continue her work as a VISTA volunteer beyond the typical five-year term.
Her advice
“Even though the challenges facing our community, like homelessness and education, are complicated, their solutions don’t have to be. Life really can be simple if you do your best to listen to others, especially the ones on that corner you’re afraid to go to now. Go where your compassion is.”
“It’s the same advice my mom and dad gave us: Don’t say you can’t. Don’t think poorly. Be grateful for yourself and also thank God for your well-being.”
“God has a plan for you. You are here, and you’re here for a purpose.”
Community voices
“Her own personal history, especially her early years in Des Moines and college, is as remarkable as her professional success. She has had to navigate many things that most successful people are not challenged to do. The title of ‘sage’ is most appropriate.” Bery Engebretsen, MD, chief visionary, Primary Health Care Inc.
“Dr. Brewton has helped foster the networks, relationships, ideas, experiences and credibility to make a real difference in the community. … She has a unique approach that is fostered by her ability to make people feel comfortable and welcome with a warm, caring spirit.” Rev. Dr. Jonathan B. Whitfield, Corinthian Baptist Church
Richard Deming
You might recognize Richard Deming from the multitude of professional and charitable organizations he is involved in. Or maybe he’s your doctor. Anyone who’s met him knows his calming aura and friendly demeanor makes everything feel like it will be OK.
As a student, good grades came easily to him and he loved learning. He majored in chemistry at South Dakota State and added a double major in microbiology, because why not? “I thought microbiology was fun,” he laughed. After graduation, he attended Creighton University School of Medicine on a Navy scholarship.
At his internal medicine internship in San Diego, he learned to scuba dive and trained in undersea medicine. At his residency in San Francisco, he was drawn to the field of radiation oncology because it challenged him in all areas of thinking. “When you’re taking care of cancer patients, there’s a bit of philosophy, theology and psychology,” he said. “I could use both my left brain and right brain.”
When Deming finally settled in Des Moines in 1989 as a radiation oncologist, he wasn’t sure he’d stay. “It was too overwhelming to think that this decision I was making was for the rest of my life,” he said. Luckily for Des Moines, he stayed.
When he was unsure about staying, he intentionally avoided connection. “I would leave on weekends to see other friends elsewhere. My first true engagement with the community was at the YMCA. My best friends now are the people I first met by going there. We call ourselves the Y Rats,” he said.
Engaging in the community ultimately fostered his immense love for it and everyone in it. Friendships led him to philanthropic commitments. Philanthropy branched off into advocacy work to improve health care policy. He believes caring for a patient means caring for the community as a whole, too. His success comes from his compassion for others. — Hailey Evans
Highlighted achievements
- Founded Above + Beyond Cancer, a nonprofit that supports cancer survivors and those touched by cancer by promoting recovery and healthy living.
- Received the Surgeon General’s Award for Scholastic Achievement, the Navy Achievement Medal and the Outstanding Undersea Medicine Physician Award, all while serving in the U.S. Navy.
- Named the 2016 Volunteer of the Year by the American Cancer Society.
- Honored by the renaming in 2021 of the MercyOne Richard Deming Cancer Center.
- Climbed Machu Picchu, Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Everest Base Camp.
His advice
“Because we don’t live forever, today is valuable.”
“It’s not a selfish thing to learn what brings you joy.”
“Understand that every road has bumps. Take those bumps and learn from each one. The universe will unfold exactly as it should, and these bumps will allow you to learn what you’re capable of doing. Don’t be afraid of the bumps in the road of life. Any suffering you may experience along the way is temporary.”
Community voices
“He is a friend and mentor to many. A teacher. An inspiring orator. A leading physician and so much more. Dr. Deming inspires others to believe they can achieve more than they thought possible.” Shannon Cofield, president, MercyOne Des Moines Foundation
“His deep love for humanity is palpable.” Adreain Henry, president, Mercy College of Health Sciences
“If there was one word I’d use to describe Dr. Deming, it would be selfless. He is a true philanthropist and compassionate champion.” Kristi Knous, president, Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines
“Dr. Deming has certainly brought immeasurable joy to our community.” Marty Martin, president, Drake University
Connie Isaacson
Connie Isaacson’s fingerprints are all over Central Iowa, thanks to her work on capital campaigns for a slew of nonprofits. The impact spans the fine arts, advocacy groups and more, including a world-class skate park.
Isaacson said that assisting over 70 organizations in 15 years through her consulting business has meant making fundraising seem less daunting to people. She said the process doesn’t have to be scary or overwhelming. “If you have two qualities, you can be very successful,” she said. “The first quality is, are you passionate about the mission of the organization? And second is, do you like building relationships? Because fundraising, at its core, is building a relationship with somebody and then sharing the good news of the organization about which you’re passionate and asking them to help support it, too.”
That’s just one piece of the fundraising puzzle that Isaacson emphasizes in her book “The FUNdamentals of FUNdraising.” If relationship work is the “art,” then the “science” is the process work of events, solicitations, engagement opportunities for prospective donors, and more.
Community leaders rave about Isaacson’s inspiration before and during fundraising efforts and about the results they see in the end. She is quick to give credit to the leaders she’s counseled and to the generosity of local donors: “Des Moines, for our smaller city size, is an incredibly generous community,” she said. Her work is meaningful, she said, because of the indispensable contributions that nonprofits in all sectors, supported by volunteers and philanthropy, deliver to society.
Isaacson grew up on a north-central Iowa farm, to which she credits her ethics of working hard and giving back to the community. She started her professional career as a nurse and raised five children. “I just think succeeding at home first will help you succeed in every other avenue of your life,” she said. — Nicole Grundmeier
Highlighted achievements
- Reinvigorated a stalled capital campaign to help build the nation’s largest skate park in downtown Des Moines.
- Has guided 13 nonprofits to raise approximately $80 million in capital campaigns through her consulting business.
- Raised $14 million for the
- Des Moines Art Center endowment as its development director.
- Spearheaded a $15 million fundraising campaign as the development director for Blank Children’s Hospital.
Her advice
“Learn something new every day and help someone every day.”
“Gratitude is one of the most stabilizing factors in any person’s life.”
“Do your best to succeed at home first, and don’t confuse your career with your life.”
Community voices
“Connie exemplifies success in whatever she takes on: a capital campaign, leading a board of directors in strategic planning, supporting her husband, Dick, her five children and their spouses and 18 grandchildren, or leaving the perfect May basket at a friend’s door.” Laurie Betts Sloterdyk, director of development, Mind and Spirit Counseling Center
“Our city is better today in large part because of the work that Connie Isaacson has done in helping individuals and organizations see their potential and realize their vision.” Michael Egel, general and artistic director, Des Moines Metro Opera
“What I admire most about Connie are her communication skills and her ability to have difficult discussions with donors and volunteers regarding various aspects of campaigns.” Christine Hensley, retired councilmember, Des Moines City Council
Gerry and Mary Lou Neugent
As two big-city kids — Gerry from Milwaukee and Mary Lou from suburban Chicago — the newlywed Neugents said they would stay in Des Moines for only three years, while Gerry was attending Drake University Law School.
“Well, it didn’t turn out that way,” Mary Lou said. “It was meant to be that we stay here. … We were afforded so many wonderful opportunities here in Des Moines that we simply would not have had in a city like Chicago or Milwaukee.”
Their children, Gerard II and Elizabeth, grew up spending summers with Mary Lou, who was a classroom associate and administrative assistant with the Diocesan Catholic Schools for nearly 25 years.
Gerry worked at several local law firms, including Wimer, Hudson, Flynn & Neugent, before joining Knapp Properties in 1993. The late Bill Wimer influenced the couple’s decision to stay in town, Gerry said, which allowed them to witness downtown’s “incredible renaissance.”
”There’s just an incredible service mentality here,” Gerry said.
Mary Lou describes herself as a “hands-on type” in the community. In helping resettle an Afghan refugee family, she connected with Habitat for Humanity.
Gerry used his organizational and collaborative skills to contribute to a range of companies and organizations, from American Equity Investment Life
Insurance Co. and the Greater Des Moines Partnership to the Des Moines Playhouse. He also served on the Des Moines Public Library Foundation board and championed the fundraising campaign for the downtown library.
“He truly has a servant’s heart,” Mary Lou added. “I think that comes out in the fact that he’s very well regarded in the community. I think he builds a coalition no matter what direction he goes.”
For the Neugents, the future looks like saying “yes” to new opportunities and planning for the financial legacy they want to leave in the city they made their home. — Sarah Diehn
Highlighted achievements
- Together, they are currently co-chairing Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity’s $10.5 million capital campaign.
- Mary Lou has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity for more than 10 years, including serving on local and international projects and the board.
- Mary Lou was named the Association of Fundraising’s Professionals’ Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser in 2017; Gerry received the same honor in 2022.
- Gerry chaired a United Way campaign in 2019 and received the United Way Tocqueville Society Award in 2020.
- Mary Lou served on the Marquette University Alumni Association’s board of directors from 2017 to 2024, including a term as president.
Their advice
Mary Lou said, “Be generous with your time, be generous with your heart and be brave. Find something you’re passionate about and it will lead you to an opportunity to serve.”
During a recent trip, Gerry told his son, “Make sure you save time to work for others. Give back to the community because it does improve your own mental health when you’re helping people.”
On using influence in the community, Gerry said, “When you achieve some level of success, you have a duty to speak out and to weigh in on issues. Anybody can do that, but I think when you get to be old and you have some gravitas and some history, and if you have a reputation of integrity, you can use your position to influence … because you have credibility. That’s a powerful tool to use — and to use wisely.”
Community voices
“The couple’s care and commitment to service has made our community a better place. Their record of paying their civic rent is beyond incredible. I have known them for 45 years, and throughout that time, I have always been impressed by how much they care about our community.” Suku Radia, retired CEO, Bankers Trust
“Gerry and Mary Lou embody the true essence of philanthropy and civic responsibility. Their generosity, leadership and tireless dedication have not only strengthened numerous organizations but have also inspired others to give and serve.” Mary Sellers, president, United Way of Central Iowa
Dave Roederer
Dave Roederer retired as director of the Iowa Department of Management in 2021, capping off nearly 40 years in state government. By then, he could map all of its nooks and crannies and understood, better than anyone, precisely how much each of those nooks and crannies cost to build and maintain.
His career includes stints in the departments of public safety, criminal justice and commerce, as well as Iowa State University’s economic development office and research park.
Roederer traces his interest in public service to the Cuban Missile Crisis, when his family in Mount Pleasant followed the news on TV. “Watching the intrigue between Kennedy and Khrushchev, I just found that fascinating,” he said.
He studied at the University of Northern Iowa, with a “terrific” political science professor named Erma Plaehn, and landed his first job at the Iowa Department of Public Safety. “I was so fortunate to start in an entry-level position in state government,” he said. “Down the road, having been through all the levels, you just learn so much, right? It’s so helpful.”
He gradually racked up experience across the state government and managed a few statewide political campaigns over the years. But he always preferred policy over politics.
Roederer learned some lessons about both from his wife, Johnston mayor Paula Dierenfeld, which helped him understand how statewide policies can affect big and small cities very differently. He read the fine print. He crunched the numbers. He kept on learning, learning, learning.
When he started his career, he often wondered, “How do you figure out this government thing?”
“I think I was asking the same question the day I retired.” — Michael Morain
Highlighted achievements
- Served on more than 16 public and private boards and commissions, including the team that advised on Iowa’s congressional and legislative redistricting.
- Served as a member and president of his parish council, for a church of 1,400 families.
- Managed several successful political campaigns, including a Polk County schools referendum in 1999.
- Helped design Saudi Arabia’s national law enforcement agency while living in Riyadh from 1979 to 1982.
His advice
On conflict: “Try to keep it from being personal. I’ve always tried to bring humor into it, as much as I possibly could, just to keep the temperature down.”
On saying “no”: “You just try to explain it the best you can.”
On negotiating: “It helps to know the personalities, to know what trips people one way or what means a lot to others. Also, if someone’s having a hard time on a personal issue, a child or a parent who’s sick, I kind of factored that into it. They have more important things to worry about, so give them some slack.”
Community voices
“David has played an important role in so many organizations by bringing his expertise and commitment to make things better for the people of Iowa. … He has shown many younger people how to navigate the political scene in a responsible and caring way.” Connie Boesen, mayor of Des Moines
“When we were in the heart of tough budget issues, or in the midst of political discourse, or maybe just tired at the end of a long day, David lightened our day with a humorous quip, taking the edge off. Everyone needs a David Roederer in their life.” Terry Branstad, president of the World Food Prize Foundation and former governor of Iowa
Rich Willis
A bus ride in Detroit more than 50 years ago changed Rich Willis’s life. His father, Bill Willis, a Chevrolet dealer in Delaware, was invited to the Motor City for a factory dealer relations event. During the GM-guided city tour, Bill sat next to Cadillac dealer Chuck Betts from Des Moines.
At the time, Rich was a sophomore at Simpson College, so naturally, his dad mentioned it. “And Mr. Betts says, ‘If he’s ever looking for a part-time job, have him come see me,’” Rich said.
The younger Willis made a phone call to Betts, which turned into a two-hour conversation, a job at the dealership and a loaner car to drive between the Simpson campus and work. “I started washing cars for him, and as I tell people, I’m still washing cars today,” Willis said.
He never left the Betts dealership. In 1988, Rich began a multiyear deal to buy the company from the Betts family. It was final in 2000, but not before Betts and Rich started the city’s first Lexus franchise.
Betts Auto Campus was renamed Willis Auto Campus in 2008. What was founded in 1947 as Betts Cadillac-Oldsmobile now comprises nine brand franchises, a 26-acre campus and nearly 450 employees.
Willis credits much of his success to executive mentors throughout his career: Suku Radia of Bankers Trust, as well as Dan Houston and the late Barry Griswell, both of Principal Financial Group.
He also learned from Rudi Thill, who taught history and German at Grand View College and offered Willis room and board for $25 per week so he could stay in Iowa during his summer breaks from Simpson.
“I’m blessed to have the work ethic of my father and the background that gave me,” Willis said. “The mentoring that Chuck Betts gave me laid the foundation for what we have today.”
Rich lost his first wife of 33 years, Judy, to cancer in 2009. He married Kim Willis in 2012 and has two sons and six grandchildren. — Mike Mendenhall
Highlighted achievements
- Helped establish a sponsor partnership known as the Willis Broadway Series with Des Moines Performing Arts.
- Received, with his wife Kim, the United Way of Central Iowa Tocqueville Society Award in 2019.
- Inducted into the Iowa Business Hall of Fame in 2018.
- Received the Robert D. Ray Pillar of Character Award in 2014.
- Served on various boards for Simpson College, Blank Children’s Hospital, UnityPoint Health – Des Moines, John Stoddard Cancer, IMT Insurance, Principal Charity Classic, Boys and Girls Club of Central Iowa, and the United Way Campaign for Central Iowa.
His advice
“Work hard. Be honest. Be kind to the customer. Treat them like you would want to be treated, and that’s what will bring you and us repeat customers over and over again.”
On developing trust with customers: “Reputation is all you got. … You cannot control it other than by constantly having people who care, who treat people kindly, who treat people like they’d treat a guest in their own home.”
His people-driven approach to leadership, in one word: “Partnership.”
Community voices
“Rich knew that with opportunity comes responsibility, and as his career grew, so did his desire to serve the community. His dealerships — and more often than not, Rich personally — serve a staggering 100-plus nonprofits. We’re fortunate to count Rich as a member of our board.” Rob Kretzinger, president and CEO, and Sophia S. Ahmad, vice president of philanthropy, WesleyLife
“Rich is an amazing role model. He has been a mentor to many, including myself. Rich has taught me how to lean into a charitable life and a life of making things better for others. I am eternally grateful for his inspiration and for all he has done in Central Iowa.” Matt Sokolowski, chief operations officer, Willis Automotive
