Lying: Carl "Boom Boom" Hallberg
Kneeling (L to R): Jacob "Spiffy" Cowger, Tom "Kurtzie" Kurtz, Joel "Choo Choo" Weber, Tom "Doc" Boeckmann, Art "Artchee" Reusch, Rod "Frosty" Fry
Standing (L to R): Steve "Popcorn" Elliott, George "Hickory" Johnson, Harry "Happy Harry" Hograbe, Karl "Lollipop" Palmer, Richard "Pop Pop" Bradwell, Dennis "Stink" Wiley, Charles "Chuckles" Stuelke
Not Pictured: Tim "Sparky" Allen, Kenneth "Bumblebee" Barrett, R.J. "Polka Dot" Carson, Michael "Jackpot" Dennis, Lloyd "Tiny" Klever, Steven "Giggles" Lucas, Wayne "Korky" McDowell, Darryl "Iggy" McIntyre, Scott "Wiz" Minzenmeyer, Bill "Willy" Neubauer, Steve "Crackerjack" Nielsen, Wes "Stubby" Thoma, Denny "Trash" Wiley

The Jolly Jokers Clown Unit has just two purposes for its existence. Like most Shrine units, our purpose is to raise money for the patients at the Shriners Hospitals for Children and to have FUN!

The Jolly Jokers unit has traditionally been a leader in donations to the El Kahir Shrine Temple "Walk of Smiles" each year. These donations go to the "Transportation Fund" which provides transportation, lodging, and meals for the patient's family while their child is at the Shriners Hospitals for Children, mainly the Twin Cities Orthopaedic Unit, but also the Chicago Orthopaedic Unit and the Cincinnati Burn Unit.

Click Here for more information about the Jolly Jokers Clown Unit.

The Jolly Joker clowns are busy year 'round putting smiles on the faces of children of all ages. Shrine clowns are almost always seen at parades and at the annual Shrine Circus, but we also clown around, blow balloons, and do magic at many company picnics, hospitals, nursing homes, neighborhood parties, birthday parties, community celebrations, church banquets, schools, grand openings, and open houses.

There is no set fee or charge for a performance but a donation, payable to the Jolly Jokers, is requested to cover costs of balloons and handouts and to help support the world's greatest philanthropy, our children's hospitals. Donations may be given to a clown at the performance or sent to El Kahir Shrine Headquarters, 1400 Blairs Ferry Road NE, P.O. Box 10405, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52410-0405.

Click Here to schedule a clown performance.

The Jolly Jokers Clown Unit was organized on August 31, 1963. There were nineteen original members of the unit. The Charter Secretary of the group, Carl "Boom Boom" Hallberg, is the only remaining charter member. One of four clown units in El Kahir Temple, the Jolly Jokers has twenty-eight members ranging in age from 18 to those who think they are still 18!

Two members of the unit have served as international officers. Wayne "Korky" McDowell joined our unit on August 26, 1969 and was elected President of the International Shrine Clown Association for 1979. After serving his term as President, Wayne was appointed Liaison Officer of the I.S.C.A. to the Imperial office. Kenneth "Bumblebee" Barrett petitioned our unit on May 5, 1973 and was elected President of I.S.C.A. for 1984.

Two members of the Jolly Jokers have served as members of the Elective Divan of El Kahir Temple. Dennis "Stink" Wiley was the 2000 Potentate and Carl "Boom Boom" Hallberg was the 2001 Potentate.

Of the many Shrine events the Jolly Jokers has been connected with, one has special memories. In February 1975, the unit was proud to hold the Mid-winter Convention of the I.S.C.A. in Cedar Rapids.