Heinz Olk (1933 - 2024) was a mentor, role model, and friend to many in the German-American Society and the Omaha Sister Cities Association. Among his many other contributions, about 40 years ago he and Thomas Ringleb in Braunschweig, Germany started to lay the foundation for a student exchange program that would involve high school students and their families and would contribute to the official relationship in 1992. Each year, he recruited up to 20 families to host German teenagers in their homes and share their lives with them. Then he and other chaperones took the local teens to Germany to learn about that culture. Many of these families are still in touch. Some have sent each of their children in turn. Other participants have grown up and participated again by involving their own children. In just this one activity, Heinz enriched the lives of hundreds of people! He will be missed, but his inspiration will live on.
