As one might expect, it isn’t always easy to operate a windmill in a small town like Elk Horn. There is no lumberyard or hardware store. There aren’t many craftsmen with the time to help with maintenance or repairs, and the people most willing or able to help are stretched too thin. But one community member the windmill has counted upon time and time again still finds creative ways to contribute to our organization and help us grow: Gene “Beaner” Thomsen of Old Danish Workshop.

Gene’s woodshop is a hop, skip, and a jump from the mill. He might be in his 90s, but he’s still there almost every day, tinkering with reclaimed furniture or barnwood, carving out his signature wooden toys, or building a rustic birdhouse. He makes canes, crosses, dollhouse furniture, and decorations like wooden evergreens. Most are simple in design and capture the inviting energy of Gene himself. Perhaps the most interesting items you can find in his shop are his oven squirrels, which can be used to safely pull baking sheets out of the oven or prop the oven door open.

No matter how busy Gene keeps himself with his wood projects, he always makes time for others. Locals frequently rely on him to fix up damaged tables or chairs, outdoor benches, or whatever else might need a joint replacement or patch. He’s a Dane through-and-through, not only because his birth certificate is in Danish, but also owing to his tireless ability to help others.

The windmill has depended on Gene significantly over the years. Having access to his shop for something as simple as a missing nail or wood glue is a greater luxury than it might seem. Even now, he still offers his help with random wood projects whether it’s new shelves for the store or something a bit less routine. This year alone, Gene’s skillful hands helped us out with two unique projects.

The first was a shadow box to display a retired Danish flag. Earlier this year, with the help of some local high school students, we changed out the display cases inside the windmill. In doing so, we uncovered a moldy box that contained two 3x5 flags, American and Danish. These flags were the first to be flown outside the windmill in the 70s and had been presented to the windmill’s original Board of Directors by Senator Tom Harkin. Before that, the American flag had flown over the Capitol building. Displaying an American flag is straightforward, provided you can fold it properly, but displaying a Danish flag required some research. The Dannebrog is retired differently from an American flag. Rather than folded into a triangle, it is folded length-wise and rolled up, so that no white can be seen. Finding the correct box to display it was also challenging, and so we approached Gene about having one custom made. In no time at all he was done, and it’s displayed inside the windmill today.

The second project was just last week and another odd request. Now that we’re grinding in the windmill again, we’ve encountered newer problems that otherwise weren’t as much of an issue before. A major one is the overwhelming number of flies that trap themselves inside, and they die on every surface from the second floor up. We’re hoping the UV trap we installed last week helps with this issue, but we still had to deal with the problem at hand: how to seal the grain in the hopper when the millstones aren’t being used. Between sessions, this grain sits completely exposed, and this results to dead flies dying in the bin and being crushed into the flour. Just because there are bugs in peanut butter and chocolate doesn’t mean they have to be in our flour, too. So, we went to Gene again, asking if he could make a top for us that would help keep the bugs out but still match the aesthetic of the craftsmanship of our millstone casing and hopper. He had it done in a day.

If you plan to stop in Elk Horn soon, Gene’s shop is a must-see wonder. It’s filled with quality trinkets and crafts that couldn’t have been made by a kinder soul. He’s full of surprises, too, and loves keeping his visitors on their toes. Behind the counter you’ll see his custom rack for 50-cent coins sorted by year. He stocks them as mementos and surprises his unsuspecting customers by gifting ones with their birth years. Beyond his ability with a saw, Gene’s grace and thoughtfulness towards others has made him a treasure in our community. He is truly one of a kind and we’re proud to have him with us. He loves what he does, and we could not imagine our town without him.