Serving Those Who Served: A Heart for Veterans, A Legacy of Service

If you’ve attended a recent Mountain Resource Center (MRC) Veterans event, you’ve likely noticed something special waiting on the lunch table. Alongside the salads, fruit, and side dishes sits a warming pan filled with Lisa Rothenberger’s famous homemade elk meatballs.

Veterans know the tradition well. One by one, they make their way to the kitchen, eager to enjoy a meal that has become a staple at these gatherings. What makes these meatballs so special isn’t just the recipe—it’s the story behind them.

A former vegetarian, Lisa now hunts annually to help feed her family, prepare meals for Veterans events, and donate meat to local food pantries. During the last several years, Lisa and her husband, Stu, have donated more than 500 pounds of wild game to local food pantries; including Mountain Resource Center and Lifebridge. Their contributions help provide healthy, organic, protein-rich meals to individuals and families throughout the community.

“It’s not about hunting,” Lisa explains. “It’s about giving back and keeping the circle of life balanced. If I can help feed families and support my community, that’s what matters.”

Her commitment to Veterans is deeply personal.

Lisa’s father was drafted into the Army at just 18 years old and went on to serve in the Army Reserves for nearly 30 years while also performing as a saxophone player in the military marching band.

“He was my Veteran,” Lisa says proudly.

When her father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Lisa remodeled part of her home so he could live with them during his final years. Later, when his care needs increased, he entered a newly opened VA hospice facility where Lisa spent countless hours volunteering alongside the nurses and staff who cared for him, over 1000 hours to be exact.

“My favorite days were Sundays,” Lisa recalls. “I could take some of the gentlemen down to chapel when they couldn’t get there on their own.”

Her father passed peacefully with Lisa holding his hand—a moment that continues to inspire her commitment to serving others.

Today, one of Lisa’s greatest joys comes from simply sitting and listening to the Veterans she serves.

“I get so much back from hearing the Veterans share their stories,” she says. “It transports me back to those conversations around the kitchen table with my father, whom I miss dearly. Listening to their experiences, their humor, and their memories keeps a part of him close to me.”

The values her parents instilled in her continue to guide her today.

“Be humble. Be kind. Treat everyone with respect. Kindness goes a long way.”

Those values are evident not only through Lisa’s volunteer work but also through the support of her employer, RE/MAX Alliance. The company proudly supports community initiatives and Veterans events, providing flexibility for Lisa to participate and contribute to causes that matter deeply to her.

For this year’s Armed Forces Day Open House, Lisa spent hours in the kitchen preparing more than 150 elk meatballs and 10 pounds of pasta while listening to the jazz music her father loved.

“It was my way of honoring him,” she says.

Adding to the celebration, RE/MAX Alliance generously donated an assortment of patriotic-themed door prizes in classic red, white, and blue. The gifts brought smiles, excitement, and a little extra fun to the event while demonstrating the company’s ongoing commitment to those who have served our country.

The combination of good food, meaningful memories, community support, and heartfelt appreciation made the day truly special for everyone in attendance.

Mountain Resource Center is grateful for Lisa’s dedication, her family’s legacy of service, and RE/MAX Alliance’s continued support of our Veterans. Together, they remind us that honoring those who served can happen in many ways—through a meal, a conversation, a volunteer hour, or a simple act of kindness.