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WHO: Eugene Keppers, 78
WHAT: Retired farmer, now a crossing guard on the corner of Margaret and Fenwick for Flynn Elementary School
LIVES: Eau Claire’s Eastside Hill
IN THE CITY: “Since 1972. Before that I was a farmer in River Falls.”

Now is the time of year when that you finish your gift shopping and then – THWAP! – suddenly remember people like your mail carrier and garbage man. People who are easy to forget, but often deserve a little something for their efforts throughout the year. Well we thought we’d interview one, and instantly Gene came to mind. We know him as a famously kind crossing guard, who gives the kids candy during holidays, drives a PT Cruiser covered in Packers decorations, and infamously goes “all out” with holiday decorations at his home. 

What place considers you a regular?

I suppose Perkins, I go there. And Grizzlys. Once and a while I’ll go to the airport. We just had our Christmas party [for area crossing guards] there. 

What frustrates you about the Chippewa Valley?

Quit having accidents on the corner [of Margaret and Highland]. Someone had an accident and smashed up my flower bed.

Favorite local festival?

Festival in the Pines. We always went to that. Not this year, but the last four before that. 

If you could eat one meal from an area restaurant for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Steak from Grizzlys. I also like their cheesy hashbrowns. 

Describe your last encounter with the police department.

After the car accident on my corner, my flower bed was all ruined. I called down there, and asked if they knew about the accident. ‘Yeah,’ they says. ‘Is something wrong?’ I said to them, ‘Well my flower bed got run over.’ They says, ‘Oh, we don’t have anything here about a flower bed.’ I don’t know how they couldn’t have seen it. I told them to have the cop who was here call me when he got in. So he does, and I tell him, and he says he doesn’t know anything about the flower bed. I says to him, ‘I don’t know how, you had to have walked right by it.’ He told me to take some pictures and bring them down to get insurance money for it, so I have to do that.” 

What Oakwood Mall store do you find yourself frequenting most often?

The Kitchen Store. I get my glasses done out at Vision World, too. 

Who is the greatest Wisconsinite of all-time?

Aaron Rodgers. We’re real big Packer fans here.

If you could magically add one store, restaurant or shop to the area, what would it be and why?

I’d like to see a Denny’s. Denny’s wants to come in, but they won’t let them. ... They were going to have a Denny‘s come in on the corner by Kohl‘s, but that Asian restaurant [Jade Garden] came in instead. 

Favorite part about your job?

Letting the little ones across, my little kids. I like Halloween, Valentines Day, and Christmas a lot. I’ll bring a bag of candy bars and give them to the little guys, and they enjoy that. They like crossing at my corner. I get a lot of them on Halloween. Usually I get 24 candy bars, last year I only had one left at the end. I’ll have to get a lot more next year, because they’ll be there.

Do the same kids come everyday?

Oh yep, every morning and every night. I have three little ones that come every day and they say, ‘See you tonight!’ and ‘See you tomorrow!’ every time. I really enjoy that part of my job.

So you like working with kids?

That’s what makes my day. When they come and say ‘Hi.’ One little fellar came for Halloween in the car – in the summer they walk, but when it gets cold more get picked up, but they still stop and talk to me for a bit – well, this little fellar looks into my bucket and see’s that I have another candy bar in there, and he asks, ‘Can I have another one?’ I couldn’t say no. They’re just so dog-gone cute.

You’ll be moving to Altoona soon. Are you going to continue to work as a crossing guard?

Oh yeah, I’ll be there. I’m not giving up until I get too old. Rain or snow, I’ll be there. As long as I can do it, I will do it.