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Rudy and Joan Denes are this year's Ox Roast grand marshals
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 Rudy and Joan Denes
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(Posted Aug. 25, 2010)
For the 60th anniversary of the West Jefferson Ox Roast, the West Jefferson Community Association chose Rudy and Joan Denes as the parade grand marshals. This year's Ox Roast is Sept. 4-6.
Rudy was born to Hungarian immigrants and raised on a grain and livestock farm in Lorain County. He served in the U.S. Army and joined the Ohio Farm Bureau, serving in several capacities. The Farm Bureau transferred him to the southwest portion of the state, where he and Joan chose West Jefferson as their new home in January 1971. Rudy joined the American Farm Bureau as program director and policy coordinator. After 38 years of service, he retired in 1999. He is now the owner/operator of Denes Tree Farm.
When it comes to community service, Rudy is a busy guy. He has served as a Jefferson Township Trustee since 2002 and is a member of the Ohio Township Association, Madison County Chamber of Commerce and County Improvement Corporation. As a member of the West Jefferson Community Association, he has coordinated beef preparation and sales for the Ox Roast for the last 20 years and is a previous member of the Ox Roast Commissioners and Board of Trustees.
Rudy previously served as a member of the Madison County Hospital Board of Trustees. Both he and Joan are members of the hospital’s Keystone and Pillar societies.
Joan was born and raised in Buffalo, N.Y. Her father’s job transferred her family to Amherst, Ohio. She married Rudy on Oct. 13, 1962, and moved to LaGrange, Ohio, in Lorain County.
Joan worked many years in the dental and medical field prior to her retirement. She is co-owner of Denes Tree Farm.
Joan is extremely active in community service, too, serving as a member of several Madison County agencies, including the Board of Health, Chamber of Commerce, Workforce Development Board, Senior Board, Hospital Foundation Board, Hospital Auxiliary and Republican Women's Club. She also serves on the West Jefferson Business Council, was recently elected to the Republican Central Committee, and is a member of the Huntington Bank Board.
Joan has been active in the Ox Roast since 1973. She has served on the queens committee and in many other capacities. She has been in charge of the sandwich committee for several years and also heads up the little tots tractor pull.
Rudy and Joan have been active members of Saints Simon and Jude Catholic Church in West Jefferson since 1971. Rudy serves on the building and grounds committee and as a church lector. Joan is treasurer of the Women’s Guild and serves as a Eucharist minister.
Joan and Rudy are the parents of three children, Joe, Steve and Nancy and the grandparents of 12 grandchildren. Joe and his wife, Angie, reside in West Jefferson with their children Jordan, Riley, Landon and Ryan. Steve and his wife, Lori, reside in London with their children Taylor, Lindsay, Mitchell and Sarah. Nancy and her husband, Terry, reside in West Jefferson with their children Nicole, Travis and Natalie.
For more information about the West Jefferson Ox Roast, go to www.westjeffoxroast.com.
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 Rudy and Joan Denes, this year’s Ox Roast parade grand marshals, are surrounded by members of their family. The first group of three on the left includes Nancy, Terry and Nicole Sparks. The next group is Lori, Mitch and Steve Denes with Sarah, Taylor and Lindsey Denes in front. Rudy (wearing a ball cap) and Joan are next. The final group on the right includes Angie and Joe Denes with Ryan and Landon Denes in front. (Not pictured are Natalie and Travis Sparks and Jordan and Riley Denes.)
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