Cedar Valley 50: Westminster Christmas dinner an annual tradition - Insurance News | InsuranceNewsNet

InsuranceNewsNet — Your Industry. One Source.™

Sign in
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Home Now reading Newswires
Topics
    • Advisor News
    • Annuity Index
    • Annuity News
    • Companies
    • Earnings
    • Fiduciary
    • From the Field: Expert Insights
    • Health/Employee Benefits
    • Insurance & Financial Fraud
    • INN Magazine
    • Insiders Only
    • Life Insurance News
    • Newswires
    • Property and Casualty
    • Regulation News
    • Sponsored Articles
    • Washington Wire
    • Videos
    • ———
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Contact
    • Editorial Staff
    • Newsletters
  • Exclusives
  • NewsWires
  • Magazine
  • Newsletters
Sign in or register to be an INNsider.
  • AdvisorNews
  • Annuity News
  • Companies
  • Earnings
  • Fiduciary
  • Health/Employee Benefits
  • Insurance & Financial Fraud
  • INN Exclusives
  • INN Magazine
  • Insurtech
  • Life Insurance News
  • Newswires
  • Property and Casualty
  • Regulation News
  • Sponsored Articles
  • Video
  • Washington Wire
  • Life Insurance
  • Annuities
  • Advisor
  • Health/Benefits
  • Property & Casualty
  • Insurtech
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Editorial Staff

Get Social

  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
Newswires
Newswires RSS Get our newsletter
Order Prints
August 26, 2014 Newswires
Share
Share
Tweet
Email

Cedar Valley 50: Westminster Christmas dinner an annual tradition

Pat Kinney, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa
By Pat Kinney, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

Aug. 27--WATERLOO -- Bob Brown has a passion that's gone on for more than 30 years. He's gotten away with it with the help of about 60 to 70 people, including his wife, Judy.

Actually, it's her passion too.

It's the annual free Christmas Day dinner at Westminster Presbyterian Church that the Browns, the church and a cadre of volunteers have put on since 1981.

And several hundred people each year are grateful.

"I'm extremely possessive of this. I have such a passion for it," said Brown, now in his 80s. He knows the work someday must be passed on but wants to continue as long as he and Judy can.

"So many people look forward to it. That's their Christmas Day," and a holiday tradition with many. It is open free of charge to anyone who will be alone at Christmas for whatever reason.

"To me, there'd be a lot of lonely people if we didn't have it," said Brown, a retired Waterloo insurance agent and former Waterloo Chamber of Commerce board chairman and Waterloo City Council member.

"I don't think we have any idea, (of) the people out there that are still struggling," said Brown, who serves on several human service agency boards. But more important than that, people need companionship on Christmas.

"I think it's economic, but I also think people need to be around other people. I can't imagine on Christmas Day, sitting by yourself someplace." For example, "you might have family, but you're not together, they're far away." That's a reason to come.

"We don't know the background," Brown said. "For example, a couple that's had a divorce," Brown said, where the former spouse has the children, leaving one parent alone. "You need to be down there, with other people," at the dinner, Brown said.

The dinner has only been canceled once, in 2009, due to an adverse weather forecast.

___

(c)2014 Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (Waterloo, Iowa)

Visit Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (Waterloo, Iowa) at www.wcfcourier.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services

Wordcount:  335

Advisor News

  • CFP Board appoints K. Dane Snowden as CEO
  • TIAA unveils ‘policy roadmap’ to boost retirement readiness
  • 2026 may bring higher volatility, slower GDP growth, experts say
  • Why affluent clients underuse advisor services and how to close the gap
  • America’s ‘confidence recession’ in retirement
More Advisor News

Annuity News

  • Ameritas: FINRA settlement precludes new lawsuit over annuity sales
  • Guaranty Income Life Marks 100th Anniversary
  • Delaware Life Insurance Company Launches Industry’s First Fixed Indexed Annuity with Bitcoin Exposure
  • Suitability standards for life and annuities: Not as uniform as they appear
  • What will 2026 bring to the life/annuity markets?
More Annuity News

Health/Employee Benefits News

  • Dueling pressures push employers to reinvent their benefits strategy
  • Ga. Dems criticize Senate challengers for end of insurance subsidies
  • Open Forum: Is that the way the ball bounces?
  • Democrats criticize Georgia US Senate challengers for end of health insurance subsidies
  • ICE is using Medicaid data to determine where immigrants live
More Health/Employee Benefits News

Life Insurance News

  • Guaranty Income Life Marks 100th Anniversary
  • Delaware Life Insurance Company Launches Industry’s First Fixed Indexed Annuity with Bitcoin Exposure
  • Suitability standards for life and annuities: Not as uniform as they appear
  • Looking at Medigap supplements
  • What will 2026 bring to the life/annuity markets?
Sponsor
More Life Insurance News

- Presented By -

Top Read Stories

More Top Read Stories >

NEWS INSIDE

  • Companies
  • Earnings
  • Economic News
  • INN Magazine
  • Insurtech News
  • Newswires Feed
  • Regulation News
  • Washington Wire
  • Videos

FEATURED OFFERS

Elevate Your Practice with Pacific Life
Taking your business to the next level is easier when you have experienced support.

ICMG 2026: 3 Days to Transform Your Business
Speed Networking, deal-making, and insights that spark real growth — all in Miami.

Your trusted annuity partner.
Knighthead Life provides dependable annuities that help your clients retire with confidence.

8.25% Cap Guaranteed for the Full Term
Guaranteed cap rate for 5 & 7 years—no annual resets. Explore Oceanview CapLock FIA.

Press Releases

  • ePIC Services Company and WebPrez Announce Exclusive Strategic Relationship; Carter Wilcoxson Appointed President of WebPrez
  • Agent Review Announces Major AI & AIO Platform Enhancements for Consumer Trust and Agent Discovery
  • Prosperity Life Group® Names Industry Veteran Mark Williams VP, National Accounts
  • Salt Financial Announces Collaboration with FTSE Russell on Risk-Managed Index Solutions
  • RFP #T02425
More Press Releases > Add Your Press Release >

How to Write For InsuranceNewsNet

Find out how you can submit content for publishing on our website.
View Guidelines

Topics

  • Advisor News
  • Annuity Index
  • Annuity News
  • Companies
  • Earnings
  • Fiduciary
  • From the Field: Expert Insights
  • Health/Employee Benefits
  • Insurance & Financial Fraud
  • INN Magazine
  • Insiders Only
  • Life Insurance News
  • Newswires
  • Property and Casualty
  • Regulation News
  • Sponsored Articles
  • Washington Wire
  • Videos
  • ———
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Editorial Staff
  • Newsletters

Top Sections

  • AdvisorNews
  • Annuity News
  • Health/Employee Benefits News
  • InsuranceNewsNet Magazine
  • Life Insurance News
  • Property and Casualty News
  • Washington Wire

Our Company

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Meet our Editorial Staff
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Write for INN

Sign up for our FREE e-Newsletter!

Get breaking news, exclusive stories, and money- making insights straight into your inbox.

select Newsletter Options
Facebook Linkedin Twitter
© 2026 InsuranceNewsNet.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • InsuranceNewsNet Magazine

Sign in with your Insider Pro Account

Not registered? Become an Insider Pro.
Insurance News | InsuranceNewsNet