McGrath was logical choice

When the Friends of the Library were looking for someone for whom to name a Lake Nebagamon library, they said, choosing Imogene McGrath was easy.

"I can't think of anyone more respected in this community than Imogene," said Kay Coletta, a Friends of the Library committee member.

McGrath was a long-time educator, teaching at both Solon Springs and Lake Nebagamon.

"I taught with Imogene for 15 years," said Dessa Foote, another committee member. "She was so involved and she loved the kids."

McGrath's interests were also focused on St. Anthony's Catholic Church and local politics.

"After she retired, Imogene faithfully attended every village board meeting," Coletta said. "As long as Imogene was in the audience, we knew the village board would behave."

Getting McGrath's blessing, said her daughters, was the biggest concern.

"She didn't like a lot of recognition," said Maureen McGrath.

"I thought she'd hate it, but it was a library," said Sue Enright. "She was pleased with it."

With McGrath, who died in December, teaching didn't stop at the end of the school day.

"She liked teaching kids to read -- all the grandkids, the neighbor kids, anybody who came over," Enright said. "She'd read with everybody."

The Nebagamon woman was also a founding member of the Kids in Nebagamon organization and started the cystic fibrosis fundraisers in the village.

"From the time you could walk, you were raising money for it," said her grand-daughter, Megan Kern.

McGrath had a flair for leadership.

"People didn't turn her down," Enright said. "She asked you to do something -- you just did it because she asked."

The Friends hope to open the library in the summer of 2008. It will be run by the group, with McGrath's grandchildren -- Kern and Philip McGrath -- as co-presidents. They may not be as persuasive as their grandmother, but they hope to carry on with the same philosophy she had.

"Anything for the children," Enright said.