Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NAPPANEE - The Nappanee Apple Festival announced Donna and Rick Persing as the 2026 grand marshals.
For more than five decades, the Persings have dedicated their lives to serving the Nappanee community through business, volunteerism, their church, and countless organizations that have helped shape the city they proudly call home, according to a provided news release.
Donna grew up in Fostoria, Ohio, and Rick spent his childhood in several cities throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania. The two met while attending Mount Vernon Nazarene College in Mount Vernon, Ohio, in 1974, and were married on July 26, 1975. The couple moved to Nappanee in 1975, where Donna worked at Harding’s Grocery Store and Rick worked with his father’s business at ELCO Manufacturing.
In 1980, Persing & Company Inc. was established and purchased by Rick in 1984. Together, Rick and Donna have built both a family and a legacy in the community they have proudly called home ever since, the release states. First through Persing & Company Inc. and then later Persing Tire & Auto Care Inc., the couple owned and operated businesses that served the community. Today, both are retired but remain actively involved in serving the Nappanee community.
The Persings have three children: Tami, Shawn and Brea. Their six grandchildren remain one of their greatest joys, and they enjoy traveling to cheer them on in sporting events throughout the year.
Service has always been at the heart of the Persings' lives. Since joining Nappanee Missionary Church in 1982, Donna has faithfully served in the church's two-year-old nursery class for nearly four decades. Rick continues to be an usher, and both are involved in the Acts 29 Sunday School Class. Both have served on various mission trips around the world.
Donna's commitment to the community extends far beyond the church, the release states. She has been a member of Nappanee Kiwanis since 2007, after years of volunteering alongside Rick, served as Indiana state president of Psi Iota Xi in 1998, continues to be the treasurer for the Nappanee Quilt Garden Committee and the Nappanee Chamber of Commerce. Her involvement with the Nappanee Apple Festival began in the mid-1980s as a volunteer before joining the Core Committee in the 1990s. She served as co-director of the 1999 Apple Festival and has served as festival director since October 2016. Donna also continues to volunteer throughout the community, serving as the NorthWood High School swimming announcer for the past 33 years and selling tickets at a variety of NorthWood athletic events.
Rick has also dedicated many years to serving the community. He was a part of the Nappanee Morning Kiwanis Club, served as president of the Nappanee Noon Kiwanis Club and has been actively involved with the Elkhart County Beagle Club and the United Beagle Gun Dog Federation, where he held several national leadership positions.
Donna and Rick Persing have made a lasting impact on Nappanee, the release states.
