2016 Oktoberfest Maple Leaf Parade Marshal – Brad Quarberg
The 2016 Maple Leaf Parade Marshal grew up in Buffalo County, graduated from Mondovi High School and came to UW-La Crosse to play with the then-Marching Chief and study mass communications. He graduated in 1985 and later joined the university Public Information Office. Thirty-two years later he is still on the job and now serves as its Director.
Our new marshal is also no stranger to Oktoberfest. For twelve years he was part of the parade committee, helping line up units for both the Torchlight and Maple Leaf parades – so in a sense, he already is a “parade – marshal.” Later he served on the festival’s board of directors, including its president in 2001. His knowledge of Oktoberfest also contributed to the creation of “The Fest of Times,” a history of the first 50 years of our festival, working alongside Duane Moore and Florence Aliesch.
Outside of Oktoberfest our new marshal has served the greater La Crosse Community through leadership positions with the Great Rivers United Way, Troop 18 of the Boy Scouts, Junior Achievement and La Crosse Day at Miller Park. He has been part of Valley View Rotary since 1999 and has served Rotary International on the club and district levels. He has been involved with the La Crosse Area Synod of the ELCA, and is currently a member of the Vision Board of English Lutheran Church, where he and his family are active members.
Currently our marshal is on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity, Bethany-St. Joseph Corporation, and the La Crosse Public Education Foundation. He is also an officer with the Logan High School Parent Organization and Logan Band Parents. In 2015 he was elected to a three year term on the Board of Education for the School District of La Crosse
Our new Maple Leaf Parade Marshal has been married for 24 years. He and his wife, Gail, are the proud parents of two children … Nicolas, a 2016 Logan High graduate and currently a freshman at UW-Platteville; and Merideth, a junior at Logan High School.
Our 2016 Maple Leaf Parade Marshal … Brad Quarberg.