A familiar face from Ottumwa will be returning to the community this weekend with a collection of poetry and artwork designed to bring a smile, encourage conversation and connect generations.
Larry Kilmer, who spent 38 years as a counselor and teacher at Ottumwa High School, is the author behind the poetry collection “Getting and Giving,” written under the name I.C. Remlik. Kilmer, a retired counselor from Toledo, Iowa, says the book was created to encourage people to slow down, listen to one another and explore their more sensitive side.
Kilmer believes poetry is meant to be shared and read aloud, especially between younger and older generations. His collection offers an opportunity for readers to enjoy the poems themselves and then pass them along to someone else.
Kilmer will be back in Ottumwa on Sunday, August 16, during the Midwest Ford Fest at Ottumwa Park. He will have copies of Getting and Giving available, along with plaques featuring Hawkeye, Cyclone and rustic themes.
For Kilmer, the event is also about reconnecting with the many people he came to know during his years at Ottumwa High School.
“I’d love to see my old friends,” Kilmer said.
Source: Information provided by Larry Kilmer.
Photo: Submitted by Larry Kilmer.
