Tribute: He chose to make a difference

Tony Greenwell looked like any ordinary man his age, but Tony was far from ordinary. “Larger than Life” might be a more accurate description. He was a quiet, stoic man, but he had a heart of gold, a contagious smile, and always a twinkle in his eye that made you wonder what he had been up to.

Tony had a love for the outdoors and all that it encompassed. But rather than take advantage of what nature had to offer, Tony chose to make a difference. He devoted much of his life advocating for nature, conservation, environmental protection, and wetland preservation. He was an Indiana Master naturalist, a 45-year member of Ducks Unlimited, and a board member for the Friends of the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge.

Covid-19 has left many of us with dampened spirits, and longing for something to fill the void created by this virus. Rather than regret the things we can no longer do, we can, like Tony, choose to make a difference. Tony loved spending time at the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge. He could be found wandering the trails with his canine companion, both taking in all that the natural world had to offer.

His handiwork, found all over the Refuge, reflects how Tony chose to make a difference. There is a tree trail, there are sign-in boxes, numbered trail signs, benches, and bridges. Trails were trimmed, grass was mowed, and invasive species were removed. Tony didn’t just limit his time to building, fixing things, and general maintenance.

He was also a friend and mentor to many of the volunteer interns who came from all over the country to work at the Refuge.

Tony passed away after battling cancer for several months. Even in death, he chose to make a difference. His “Celebration of Life” was held in Oakland City, IN, not far from his beloved Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge. Those attending the celebration were invited to walk the trails and see what a difference Tony chose to make.

In lieu of flowers, donations were directed to the Friends of the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge. Money received will be used to rebuild a bridge on one of Tony’s favorite trails.

We may not all have the talents and skills that Tony had, but we can all be like Tony in some way. Go outside, take a walk, soak in the natural world that surrounds you, and let it calm your body and uplift your soul. Take time to advocate for the natural world and a healthier planet. Volunteer.

There are many places like the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge where you can enjoy nature and volunteer at the same time. We all can choose to make a difference. There is no better time than now to start.

(Tony Greenwell, 71, of Evansville, IN, passed away on July 11, 2020.)

Nancy Gehlhausen
President, Friends of the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge