Mike Lichtensteiger

Mike Lichtensteiger has been involved with the Historical Society since about 2007 – some two years after his wife, Ruth, began volunteering to work on genealogy in the society’s library.

“We’d be here at activities and I’d see things that needed to be done and just started doing them – in the yards, landscaping and things like that,” said Mike.

Soon both Mike and Ruth were recognized for their time and effort. Ruth has since cut back on volunteering but Mike is going strong.

“Mike is another one of those unsung heroes who does things, primarily landscaping around the Village and library, in the background but wants no recognition for it. He is the type of person who can be counted to do something when asked,” said society President Bob Eggerichs.

Mike recently laid down mulch and tended gardens around the Colwell Chapel in preparation for a scheduled memorial service. But he doesn’t need an upcoming event to get to work. He cares for the landscaping based on
need.

“I work around the buildings – the bushes and flowers and so on. The city has a contractor that does the mowing although I spent quite a bit a time with a trimmer getting spots along the trees and buildings – weeding and cutting out dead stuff,” said Mike. “Sometimes I clean up if contractors haven’t done a good job.”

Why does he do it? “I grew up on a farm and I enjoy working outdoors. When you get things done there are results you can see.”

Mike makes his living indoors as assistant chairman of the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the Ohio State University. “I teach some of the system dynamics, electricity, and instrumentation courses,” he said. “I’ve been connected continuously with OSU since 1974 when I got out of the army and became a student.”

Asked what he likes best about the society, Mike said, “It is providing some perspective from that era for people to see.”

His wife, Ruth, is one of the people who has personally benefited from the society’s work. “My wife does genealogy because she had relatives here in Hilliard and she wanted to see what resources the society had. She has great-grandparents who used to go to the (Colwell) church when it was at its original location,” said Mike.

Ruth said she got a thrill when she found records in the library listing names of her relatives as members of the church.

Mike and Ruth live in Norwich Township. They have a son, Mark, and two stepsons, Brian and Christopher Laszlo.

Contributed by Rosemary Kubera