Prospera Credit Union Early Founder Sylvester Gavinski Passes Away, Legacy Shaped Over Seven Decades

APPLETON, Wis. – It seems fitting that all four of Sylvester L. “Gavy” Gavinski's children are lifelong members of the credit union the movement veteran served at all of his adult life. Gavinski, one of the early founders of Prospera Credit Union, passed away on Jan. 18 at the age of 92 leaving behind a legacy of what many consider to be a sincere passion for the industry's cornerstone philosophy of people helping people. The Menasha, Wis. native worked for George Banta Publishing Company (now Banta Corp.) in the same town for 47 years. At the age of 20, he, along with several other Banta employees, formed Banta Credit Union in 1934, which served only company workers up until 1975 when it expanded to a community charter. In 1998, it changed its name to Banta Community CU and in 2002 became Prospera CU. It now serves more than 14,400 members and has $157 million in assets. Besides being a co-founder and member for 63 years, Gavinski also served on the board and as chairman of the CU for 44 years. He retired in 1991. “Here's a guy who showed up every day and even after he retired, he would check in every few days to make sure we were following the rules,” said Ken Eiden, president/CEO. Eiden had known Gavinski for more than 20 years and recalls his reaction to a new payday lending program Prospera launched with Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin last May. “He said `I am so proud of this credit union because it continues to carry out the mission the (movement) was founded on,' ” Eiden said. “ Coming from him that was a wonderful comment and insight into what he valued.” Gavinski saw the credit union go through a myriad of changes including expanding to several counties, the opening of more branches and introducing an array of innovative products and services. He wasn't too happy when the credit union dropped “Banta” from its name but eventually understood why the change was necessary, said Tom Gavinski, one of Gavinski's sons. No surprise that dad's love for the credit union involvement rubbed off on Tom. He has served on the board at Associated Health Care Credit Union in St. Paul, Minn. for 12 years and as its chairman for the past four years. “My father's experience clearly led me in that direction,” said Tom, who is vice president of patient financial services at Allina Hospital & Clinics, Minnesota's largest health care system. “We've all had Christmas Club accounts (at Prospera) since we were real young. Three of my siblings have been members for more than 50 years. It'll be 50 years for me too this year.” The elder Gavinski never wavered in reminding the credit union to reach out to those shut out by other financial institutions, Tom said. “His view was the credit union was there to serve the members and not the profits, so to speak,” Tom explained. “He wanted (the CU) to help people that had difficulty getting loans from banks and also how to save and accumulate wealth.” When Banta Corp. celebrated its 100 year anniversary a few years ago, Gavinski provided much of the memorabilia he had kept over the nearly seven decades he had been affiliated with Prospera, Eiden said. Items such as passbooks going back to 1934 and minutes recorded at some of the CU's first board meetings were on display. “This man knew Roy Bergengren!” Eiden exclaimed. Bergengren is considered one of the premier pioneers of the movement in the United States having helped start CUs around the country. In addition to his employment at Banta, Gavinski also served as a Winnebago County Supervisor for 10 years and on the City of Menasha Planning Commission and Insurance Board. At Gavinski's funeral, which was held on Jan. 21 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Menasha, Eiden and his wife were moved beyond words to see what his “mentor” included in the open casket: a plaque with the names of all that had served on Prospera's board and the gavel Gavinski used at board meetings. “Judy, his oldest daughter, said to me at the funeral that outside of his (immediate) family, the credit union was the one thing he cared about,” Eiden said. “He was sincerely a great contributor to our organization.” Gavinski is survived by four children, Tom, Judy, Mark and Thomas, seven grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and a brother, Norman. His wife Ester of 67 years, passed away in 2002. He was preceded in death by two infant daughters, a granddaughter, three brothers and three sisters. In lieu of flowers, a memorial was being established, according to the family. Tom said his dedication to the credit union spoke volumes. “Someone who spent that much time there showed that he was committed to the movement,” he said. “Dad made it clear to me to never close my account there.” -

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