Two Retired Foresters Now Volunteer to Plant Dubuque Trees

After four decades as Dubuque's city forester, most people would call it quits. Steve Pregler had other plans.

Pregler retired in 2016 after 42 years with the city's parks department, passing his role to Tom Kramer. But instead of hanging up his work gloves, he joined the board of Dubuque Trees Forever, a nonprofit founded in 2017 to support tree planting and care across the community.

Kramer followed the same path. After retiring as city forester in 2022, he joined the organization as president of the board of directors.

Now the two friends spend their retirement doing what they've always done: getting trees in the ground and teaching others to do the same. When city staff lack time to plant purchased trees, Dubuque Trees Forever mobilizes volunteers ranging from Scout troops to local business employees to plant dozens in just a few hours.

Before each planting event, Pregler and Kramer teach participants how to properly plant and care for trees so they'll thrive for decades. "Steve is a walking tree encyclopedia," says Laura Roussell, the organization's executive director and founder.

Pregler also writes a blog called "Steve's Corner" on the nonprofit's website. His posts explain the science behind trees and offer practical advice on protecting them from damage.

Kramer works closely with Roussell on the Hill Street Orchard, transforming a vacant city lot into a fruit tree orchard with pollinator gardens. His decades of experience knowing where every city tree stands makes him invaluable to the partnership between the nonprofit and municipal government.

The Ripple Effect

The impact goes beyond the trees themselves. By training community volunteers in proper tree care, Pregler and Kramer are creating a network of informed citizens who can care for Dubuque's urban forest for years to come.

Their volunteer work fills critical gaps in city services while building community connections. Scout troops learn environmental stewardship. Business employees bond while giving back. Residents gain beautiful, healthy trees that will provide shade and clean air for generations.

"I am so grateful that they are willing to share their expertise with us," Roussell says. "They gave many years to the city as employees, and now they volunteer to give back to the city they've served."

After spending their careers nurturing Dubuque's trees, these two friends prove that retirement is just another chapter in a lifetime of service.