Walker

“Our town, our people” is a weekly Q&A with a local resident who is active in the community. Have a suggestion for someone we should talk to? Email T-R news editor Emily Barske at ebarske@timesrepublican.com. 

Dex Walker works at the Iowa Veterans Home, currently working as a management analyst and serving as the executive assistant. He grew up in Marshalltown.

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: “I’m passionate about my family and community of friends, and contributing to the idea that each person we encounter has within them unique experiences and perspectives that can cultivate understanding and help us to grow both personally and collectively.”

Q: What community activities do you participate in?

A: “My wife, Andrea, is a proud educator and teaches third grade at St. Francis Catholic School, and by seeing first-hand the commitment their entire campus plays in the formation of well-rounded students, I’m very happy to donate both my time and resources toward their continued success. I assist at the House of Compassion. I’m also a proud Rotarian, and was formally inducted as a member of our local club just last week.”

Q: What do you enjoy about this community?

A: “There are a lot of very caring people here, and I get to experience this each and every day that I go to work at the Iowa Veterans Home. IVH has been referred to as ‘a gem hiding in plain sight’ and I couldn’t agree more. Working on a team in caring for our veterans has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life, and I wouldn’t trade the lessons they’ve provided to me for anything.”

Q: What changes do you feel need to be made in the community?

A: “I love our community parks and recreation areas. So, any money, time and effort spent to get more people outside and enjoying themselves will always have my support.”

Q: What advice would you pass on to young people?

A: “Seek out mentors, don’t be shy about it, and develop tenacity. Marshalltown is full of extremely talented leaders willing to share their valuable insight, from local business owners, to health care experts, to highly-skilled tradesman and community developers. I’ve been blessed to learn from them all. We all fail at times if we are truly trying to contribute to something great, but a quality mentor – one of mine is Mayor Joel Greer – coaches you not only how to succeed, but how to overcome adversity.”

Q: What is your favorite Marshalltown activity?

A: “I love going to the Farmer’s Market, where I can stroll around with my wife and kids.”

Q: What social activity or event would you like to see come to Marshalltown?

A: “I wish we could host RAGBRAI every single year, and I like to see Black Tire Bike Company full of customers.”