BANK MURAL CREATED IN 2004
In 2004, Lincoln Art Center board members and volunteers created a new mural in a visible location in Lincoln on the side of what was then the Midwest Community Bank (now Citizen State Bank and Trust Co., 100 W. Lincoln Ave.). This partnership generated a fine example of public art that has endured the test of time in downtown Lincoln.
Joyce Fent and Joyce Harlow worked together to develop the concept for the mural. Members of the community were invited to have their silhouettes traced onto paper at the Lincoln Art Center, and all of the individual silhouettes were arranged on the bank walls into a colorful mural – a bright representation of the community.
Look closely at the shapes, and you can see many recognizable business and community peoples, and even if you didn’t know the particular individuals, you can see familiar characters – a student, a hairdresser, a cowboy, and even a beloved pet. For many in the community still today, there is someone recognizable on those walls.
The mural faded over time as to be expected, but twice, 10 years apart, it has been repainted with the generosity of grants and volunteer labor. The bright tribute to the community still represents a colorful welcome to the Lincoln community in 2025.
In effort to recognize all those who were a part of this special project from the beginning, we have attempted to list all the people featured in the mural below (although some have now passed on, some have different names, and some have grown from children into adults).
East Wall:
Rita Haring (Meier), Heather Simms, Tracy White, Rose Gourley, Nancy Knapp, Betty Crawford, Donna Kingan, Lois Kuchera, Barb Rathbun, Kris Stewart, Lleanna Wollesen, Vera Mae Anderson (O’Bannon), Tammy Dragone, Doris VonFange, Terry Lilak, Jo Wallace, Phyllis Vaupel, Barb Wolford, Glenn Stegman, John Baetz, Bree McReynolds-Baetz, Trevor McReynolds, Marion McReynolds, Vada McReynolds, Steve McReynolds, Digger Galen Liggett, Gary Hartzell, Del Vignery, Regina Vignery, Mariah Lyne, Katie Huskey, Albie Huskey, Darrick Webber, Anita Huskey, Carrie Lyne, Libby Huskey, Baylee Benien, Aaron Huskey, Addie Huskey, Archie Huskey, Kyle Zachgo.
North Wall:
Mike Weigel, Jay Core, Jackson Gabelmann, Keith Vestal, John Gabelmann, Joyce Harlow, Mildred Behrens, Roy Behrens, Judy Donley, Jill Money, Viv Shoemaker, Ronnie Nelson, Connie Street, Mike Street, John Vignery, Kenny Wacker, Randy Lohmann, Jean Rohrig, Janice JP Meyer, Jerry Jensen, Stanley Walker, Bret Kingan, Leon Kingan, Willie Knapp, Barb Wolting, Dan Metz, Roger Hayworth, Mona Wolting, and Skip Florence.
West Wall:
Diane Briscoe and her dog
Some of the volunteers who traced the silhouettes, painted the original mural, or helped repaint in 2014 or 2024 included:
Joyce Harlow, John Gabelmann, Mary Ann Stertz, Marion McReynolds, Bree McReynolds, Rose Gourley, Vicki Meier, Dennis Pittenger, Kae Hayworth, Kris Heinze, Jarrod Heinze, Kaitlyn Heinze, and Sloan McReynolds-Baetz.
Please let us know if you can think of anyone else involved or should be recognized and included on this list!
Another related interesting note: Featured inside the lobby of the bank is a multi-panel mural by local artist Julia Bland, depicting local people, homes, barns, limestone fence posts, livestock, and wildlife in four seasons scenes of agricultural activities from winter cattle feeding to summer wheat harvest.