Iowa Great Lakes Shrine Club

IOWA GREAT LAKES SHRINE CLUB- History

 

The Iowa Great Lakes Shrine Club has been a part of Abu Bekr Shrine since the 1960’s.

The Members of the Club are from a broad area; including towns in the Lakes area, northwest Iowa and even from other States. 

 

• The Club has performed on motorized vehicles since the early 1970’s originally with small mopeds manufactured by the Puch Company and the parade unit was known as the “Puch” Patrol.

•  In 1991 the club made a switch in parade units to a miniature “Indy” style go cart and the name was changed to the “Mini-Indys”.

• In December of 2024 the club voted to sell the Mini Indy cars and make a move to our current Polaris EFI 150 Rangers parade units. First actual parade with the new units was on  a Saturday June 6th, 2026 at the “Good Ole Summertime” parade held in Sibley Iowa, celebrating America’s 250th Birthday

 

The Iowa Great Lakes Shrine Patrol has performed in local parades, all over the Midwest and Canada winning many awards while raising funds for kids, Shriners Hospitals and has held various social activities through the years as well.

 

Misc History Notes: Provided by Harold & Sonny Fronk

Frist parade with in the early 70’s St Patrick’s Day Emmetsburg Iowa. They loaded the 6 bikes in Jim Jacksons trailer. Riders Jim Jackson, Harold Fronk, Dewey Dreves, Bob Bryan, and Bill Holiday.

 

Competition in Midwest, Central States, Kansas City (stayed/camped in Madison), Omaha, Sioux City, Regina (stayed in Moose Jaw), Winnipeg (we camped), Rochester, and Sioux Falls. Unit won 1st place in Regina with Captain Charlie ending up in the hotel pool in Moose Jaw (with clothes on) as part of the celebration.

 

Some of the initial funds raised to start and fund the club were done by collecting and selling of scrap iron.

 

Updated 5-27-2026

 

J.W. VanDer Sluis

Club Secretary

 

*Sources: History from current Web Site, current members, previous write ups, Harold & Sonny Fronk & Abu Bekr