By KENNY KEANE, Globe staff reporter
June 12, 2003

SPIRIT LAKE - Fifteen years ago, a brain stem stroke confined St. Mary parishioner Jerry Stukey to a hospital bed. Since then, he has spent much of his time learning almost everything one could know about a computer.

"He can answer any question about the computer," said Jerry's wife, Judy. "That's what his main thrust is. His mind is excellent, but his muscles in his body don't work like they should.

"He challenges himself to learn the computer. They were barely invented before he had his stroke, but he has challenged himself to learn all these computer skills while he's been in the hospital bed."

The knowledge and skills Jerry gained from studying the computer for so long led to an opportunity for him to still be an active member of his parish despite being homebound.

About eight years ago, the Knights of Columbus from St. Mary Church, Iowa Great Lakes Council No. 5043, needed some help with putting together their monthly newsletter.

"At the time, Jerry's nurse was Kim Ingwersen, and her husband, Mark, became the grand knight," Judy said. "Neither one of them really were very adept on the computer. Of course, Kim knew Jerry was, and so she suggested to Mark that Jerry could help him with the newsletter."

Back then, Jerry said the council bulletin, or newsletter, was no more than "minutes on a page," and the Ingwersens were not satisfied with the quality of the bulletin.

"I suggested that we could do it on my computer," Jerry said. "Thus, the Knightline newsletter was born. It has been revised and improved every month. Since my inability to partake in Knight activities, it has been my privilege to compose and publish the Knightline newsletter for six of the past eight years."

The only reason Jerry has not completed this task for eight consecutive years is because the previous grand knight created his own newsletter. For the last two years, the current grand knight, Dick Kibbie, has welcomed Jerry's services in creating the newsletter.

"He's a computer wiz," Kibbie said. "We have a committee responsible for putting the bulletin together, but just like everyone, some are traveling or some are not always available. So I relied on Jerry.

"We couldn't have gotten it out without him. He's the one who put it together for us. Every month he was there and just did a terrific job. He sure made me look good."

Kibbie was so impressed with Jerry's work - especially the color - that he chose to enter it into a competition at the KC state convention.

"It didn't win, but to me - of course I'll admit I'm biased - I thought it was the most attractive letter out of all I've seen throughout the state," Kibbie said. "He's responsible for everything in that letter except the text. He designed it, and it really is an attractive bulletin.

"I've gotten a lot of comments from the other Knights who have come up to me and said they really appreciated what a good job he's done. He's just a very important part of our council, and he's going to continue to be."

Judy said she and her husband know that the Knights appreciate Jerry's work because when the couple moved into a handicap-accessible house this winter, the Knights were right there to help them move.

"They were in force, came to help us pack up and move our stuff up here, and we really appreciated that," she said. "That showed that the Knights appreciated what Jerry did for them, too."

Kibbie said the monthly newsletter is typically one to two pages in length. However, with Kibbie completing his tenure as grand knight at the end of this month, June's newsletter will be extended to three pages, including the grand knight's farewell letter.

"It's just been terrific what he's done," Kibbie said. "I myself would have no idea how to construct it as good as he did. He's doing this all voluntarily. We tried to help him monetarily, but he refused. He said that's his contribution to the parish. Boy, it's been very valuable."

Jerry said his wife has been the most valuable component in helping him with the newsletter.

"This, of course, has only been possible with the assistance of Judy, my wife of 42 years, without whom I would be nothing," he said. "Creating the bulletin has been my way to make a small contribution."