Jim Willems to Serve as Autumn Leaf Grand Marshal

The Grand Marshal of this year's Autumn Leaf Festival parade is a man well known about town, a local fixture that greets you with a firm handshake and warm smile. This year Jim Willems has been chosen as the Grand Marshal of the parade. Jim is known not only for his lederhosen and horse-drawn carriage, but also for the many committees and organizations he has served on in Leavenworth. From acting as president of the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club and Projekt Bayern, he has also been a member of the Royal Bavarians and has been Christmas lighting chairman.

            Jim came to the area with his family in 1978 from Whatcom County and has been an active member of the Leavenworth community ever since. With all the activities and groups that Jim has been involved with over the years and his otherwise active lifestyle it's hard to imagine that he is actually retired, but that is how he describes himself. After working for Chevron Oil Company for 38 years, Jim retired more than 20 years ago. Though some people's idea of retirement might be to kick up their feet or take up golf, Jim has decided to stay busy by keeping active in community organizations.

            Perhaps Jim's real claim to fame is his prized horse-drawn carriage that he will be riding on as Grand Marshal in the parade. Jim has been driving his horses and carriage in every parade since 1997, except for two years. His impressive carriage is drawn by four Haflinger horses that he keeps at his beautiful 120-acre ranch in Brender Canyon. Haflingers are a popular breed for pulling carriages, known for their sturdiness and are often used in high Alpine terrain. Always a crowd favorite, Jim brings his horses and carriage to the Autumn Leaf and Oktoberfest parades. Years ago on a trip to Germany Jim purchased four harnesses, in the hopes of acquiring four horses. Even though it ended up taking him 17 years, he did achieve his goal and now the four harnesses he brought from Germany all those years ago can be seen on the parade route each year on his four proud Haflingers.

            With all that he has done in the community and for the community you would think that Jim would want to kick up his feet and enjoy his retirement, but he shows not sign of slowing. Having served in the Army from 1963-1969, Jim's whole adult life has been about service in one way or another. Jim never meets a stranger and seems to know just about everyone in town. With all the committees he has served on, clubs he has been a member of and positions he has held he admits he's done just about everything, but he's never been a Grand Marshal