Scholarship established by family through Allamakee Scholarship Fund, Inc. in honor of Walter “Red” Rixen and Dr. James Rixen
Rixen Scholarship established ... Debbie Rixen, left, and Allamakee County Community Foundation Coordinator Betty Steege, right, complete the paperwork to establish a scholarship endowment with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque to benefit Allamakee Scholarship Fund, Inc. The “Red” Rixen and Dr. Jim Rixen Scholarship will be awarded for the first time to a graduating Waukon High School senior at this year’s Senior Awards Program scheduled for May 14 at Waukon High School. Submitted photo.
The family of Walter “Red” Rixen and Dr. James Rixen, father and son, will continue to honor their memory and legacy of community support with a new endowed scholarship being made available to Waukon High School graduating seniors. The “Red” Rixen and Dr. Jim Rixen Scholarship will be first distributed at this year’s Waukon High School Senior Awards Program through the Allamakee Scholarship Fund, Inc.
Walter “Red” Rixen was born in Harlan and served in the U.S. Army during WWII. He began his teaching and coaching career at Waukon High School, where his 1953 and 1957 Waukon Indian football teams played to undefeated seasons. After completing a Master’s degree in Administration at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), Red went on to be a school principal at St. Ansgar, for many years at Grinnell High School, and also at Davis Elementary. He and his wife, Helen, retired back to Waukon.
Their son, Dr. James Rixen, was born in Waukon, attended grade school for a time at Waukon and graduated from Grinnell High School. After Optometry College in Chicago, IL, he returned to Waukon and joined Dr. Frank Norden in practice and later joined Gundersen Eye Clinic in Waukon. He and his wife, Debbie, raised their three children in Waukon, all of them graduating from Waukon High School.
Both Red and Jim were active in the community and were strong supporters of school and community activities. The family is pleased to establish this endowed scholarship in their honor to assist Waukon High School students as they continue their education. The scholarship will be presented at the Waukon High School Senior Awards Program May 14 and will be among many other endowed family scholarships from the community being awarded to Waukon High School graduating seniors.
