Ken & Patty Cutts: Individually and together, they have shaped the Cedar Valley

That’s the motto of Ken Cutts, 82, and Patty Achey Cutts, 80. The couple was nominated by more than a dozen community members to receive the The Courier’s Eight Over 80 award.

Their contributions, whether individual or together, have immensely shaped the Cedar Valley for the better through organizations like the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church’s food pantry, the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, the Guernsey Foundation, Rotary Club, House of Hope, the Boys and Girls Clubs, Youth Art Team, Friends of the Family and many more.

Nominators say it is not just the number of contributions, but their “love in action.”

“To me, their impact is not in the long list of things they have built, organizations they have supported or gifts they have given,” Karin Rowe said. “It is their desire and ability to love the people in this community in a deep and genuine manner.”

At the same time as their retirement from the local area education agency, they faced a tragedy no parent wants to experience.

“Our careers in education were wonderful, but that’s like 20 and 30 years behind us, so from there we retired after, unfortunately, our daughter Ellen died,” Patty said. “And once that happened, you know, you figure out, what are we going to do next?”

Ken got involved with the Rotary Club and was asked to come on a trip to Nicaragua as part of the “Children of the Dump” initiative, where they provided education to children living amongst garbage heaps.

During his trip, Ken had an epiphany.

“We couldn’t do anything about our daughter's death,” he said. “But, in fact, I called Patty from Nicaragua and I said, ‘You know what? We can do something about this.’”

That Nicaraguan project led Patty to gather a group of women to sew diapers and menstrual supplies for children and women there, and now in Uganda.

“So that project, you know, from one connection, it’s just led to a lot,” she said.

Twenty years later, the couple has not stopped lending their talents and dedication.

They are the honorary campaign chairs for the food bank’s expansion project. But the couples’ start at that organization began humbly after Ken went to Executive Director Barb Prather asking for something to do, to which she replied, “Of course.”

“I said, well, this will be great, because, you know, I have a doctorate, I can do some writing for you, I can do some tours, I can talk and give speeches, I could make pamphlets,” Ken said. “And she looked at me and said, 'You’d make a good truck driver.' It was the best thing that every happened to me.”

With that job, Ken delivered food to NEIFB’s partnering food pantries and sites across 16 counties.

“Ken and Patty exemplify leadership in our community,” Prather said in her nomination. “They do it quietly and generously in so many ways. This is just one example.”

The desire to help fight food insecurity expanded beyond volunteering at NEIFB. The couple founded a food pantry at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in 2019. It provides meals to about 40 families twice a month.

“Their willingness to step forward and help build new resources has provided stability and support for many families,” nominator Abby Turpin said. “Their approach is grounded in humility, consistency and a willingness to serve wherever they are needed.”

The couple’s love of helping others, especially children, began when they were school teachers. Patty taught at Hansen Elementary School while Ken taught high school English in Ottumwa before working at the AEA where they ultimately met.

“When we were school teachers, you never know how that kid’s going to turn out,” Ken said. “Most of these boards and commissions we’ve talked about here, it’s working directly with people who are in need or projects that need to get done, and you can have an immediate effect. There’s no delay.”

Despite their obvious contributions and leaving an impression on multiple people, they were surprised they were nominated for the award.

“We’re very, very humbled, just shocked, amazed,” Patty said. “Questioning (being nominated) makes you reflect on why did people, or what do others see in you. That’s a hard question because you just do it to do it.”