TOWN OF EL PASO – Longtime El Paso residents Curt & Judy Dumermuth have been designated the 2024 El Paso Days honorary citizens.

The pair built and designed their home 26 years ago on a bluff perched above the Rush River. The oasis on the hill is a welcome respite in a busy world.

Although their hometown is Fayette, Iowa, the Dumermuths called Ellsworth home for 18 years before taking up residence in El Paso. They moved to Wisconsin in 1983 when Curt began teaching math and physics at Ellsworth High School. He was also the head basketball and assistant football and track coaches for a number of years. Judy worked for Hines Insurance Agency with Jack Hines.

“Jack was always really good to me,” Judy said. “But I always wanted to go back and finish college. I went back late in my 40s and got my pharmacy license.”

After attending UW-River Falls for two years for pre-pharmacy, Judy graduated from the University of Minnesota as a pharmacist. She worked at Ellsworth Village Pharmacy before it was bought out by Pamida.

“I enjoyed it. I worked for 15 years and it was good to us,” Judy said. “I enjoyed the people.”

When she chose to retire, she focused her attention on her lifelong passion: Horses. She’s always owned horses, but currently two Tennessee Walkers and two Foxtrotter mules call their acreage home.

“I’ve had horses my whole life except when I was in college,” Judy said.

Daughter Jacy just finished her master’s degree and works in communications and acting in Los Angeles. Her husband is a script writer and actor; the couple have two children, age 18 and 15. Son Brent is an OBGYN at Allina Health in the Twin Cities. He and wife Mindy Armbuster have three children. All the grandchildren love to visit Grandma and Grandpa’s and ride the mules, play in the river and drive the golf cart.

Though Curt retired from high school teaching many years ago, he has taught math at UW-River Falls for the past 12 years. He said he’s supposed to be officially retired now, but Judy said he has a hard time saying no when he’s asked to return.

“I just really enjoyed working with kids and I enjoyed the competition part of sports, which was really big for me,” Curt said. “Trying to get kids to do the best they could in school and sports. I spent 50 years in education.”

The grandkids aren’t the only ones who believe their slice of El Paso is a special place. Judy loves the horseback riding land, for one.

“I just ride out my front door and head to the Eau Galle Rush River Sportsman’s trails,” she said. “Curt mows them al the time and helps get trees off the trails. Our neighborhood is wonderful. We have great neighbors. It’s a special little community, it’s a tight community. It’s a beautiful place. It’s just kind of its own little oasis. It doesn’t get any prettier than this.”

Having El Paso Bar & Grill in town was a lifesaver for her when she was finishing college and working as a pharmacist. They had a place to get dinner before heading to their new home to finish building it.

“It’s a really welcoming community. You meet new people all the time that have been connected with El Paso,” Curt said.

Their El Paso Days tradition has been inviting a huge group of people to their home for a potluck and parade viewing from their front yard on County Road G. 

“It’s been as high as 70 people for lunch here. It’s a potluck meal and we have a lot of people. Now we have 30-35,” Judy said.

Their annual potluck was one reason they were hesitant to accept the honorary citizens’ award. The title comes with a mandatory ride in the parade. They’ll just have to allow the party to continue without them until they return.

“We were told they can handle it if you need to leave for a little bit to go to the parade,” Judy laughed.

The Dumermuths also donate part of their land for parking and for the horse trailers attending the horse pull. Curt helps set up on Friday mornings and tear down on Mondays.

“It’s pretty impressive how many people show up for that,” Curt said. “They come up from all over to help set up. It’s a fun time.”

The Demermuths have also been active serving hungry customers in the English Lutheran Church food stand at the Pierce County Fair. Curt flips the burgers and Judy works in the kitchen. Small town celebrations are up their alley.

“It’s a touch of old-fashioned stuff and people really appreciate that,” Judy said. “They should all be commended (the El Paso Days Committee) for keeping that up for 37 years. It’s a little touch of nostalgia. A little bit of an oasis in the middle of frantic living.”

You can catch the Dumermuths in the El Paso Days Grand Parade at 2 p.m. sharp Sunday, Aug. 18.