ALGONA — Museums give us pictures of the past, showing off the history of the area.

Don Heupel is a firm believer that museums need to not only stay open, but must be protected.

Heupel is the current president of the Kossuth County Museum of Agriculture and Motorsports at the Kossuth County Fairgrounds. This museum is home to the Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame, one of the longest model train displays in the Midwest, and many other relics from Kossuth County’s historic past. Heupel works with a board and the curator to keep the museum running and thriving.

Heupel loves showing off his community’s past, but not even he can resist having special pieces that he holds closer to his heart.

Heupel said his favorite part about the museum is the model train display. A collection of “O-scale” trains owned and taken care of by Algona resident Arlen Benschoter.

“From what we know, it is one of the largest models in the Midwest,” Heupel said, “It’s cool to know that we can show off the work he (Benschoter) has done so it can get recognized.”

Heupel was enamored with Benschoter’s effort to keep this display up and running and said he could “watch it all day.”

Heupel is a hard worker and loves it when others are as well, but not many are able to keep up with him.

Members of the board praised Heupel for all the work he does for the museum. Being the president, he is in charge of conducting board meetings, renting out the 95-seat facility room, and overseeing all of the museum’s operations.

Curator of the museum, Ron Lohman, said Heupel is detail-oriented in his work and brings “a feeling of happiness wherever he goes.”

Members of the board also love working with him because of the help he offers.

“Working with Don is really easy,” Lohman said. “The way he helps me, he makes everything make sense.”

Heupel does his best to make sure that everything in the museum is running smoothly because of his love for his community and its history.

Heupel’s drive to run the museum comes from the great amount of pride he feels when he shows off his community’s history.

“I love showing off our great history,” Heupel said. “It makes me very proud.”

Heupel has a great love for his community, which compels him to show the world.

He continues to work hard to maintain the museum, even as he struggles with a battle against cancer. Heupel has been receiving treatment, which makes it difficult for him to meet with people face to face.

But luckily for him, he has support. The board works hard to help make his life easier so he can focus on the fight. Heupel is going to fight and refuses to let cancer slow him down.