People at the heart
May 13, 2026John and Colleen Buckley
For John and Colleen Buckley, the draw of Newaygo County always comes back to one thing: the people.
“It’s all about the people,” said John, who is president and CEO of Gerber Federal Credit Union. “There’s an energy here from people wanting to make things a little better than they were yesterday. There are things going on here. Local people get it.”
John grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and Colleen is from Holton where both of her parents were teachers. “I never imagined I would be back,” she shared with a smile. However, she and John were living in Cadillac when the career opportunity at the Credit Union came along. They have been here ever since.
“For me, it’s home,” said Colleen. “It’s a great place to be from.”
The Buckleys love their peaceful community, its caring people, and the beauty of nature all around them. They also like that it has been easy to pursue their interests and get involved here.
“It’s easy to plug in and get involved in what we like to do,” said John, who is a longtime Rotarian. Both he and Colleen also serve on local boards.
Being involved and giving back comes naturally. “It’s how we were raised,” said John. “Our parents showed us that this is how you act in community.”
“It’s not a question of if we give, but how we give,” added Colleen. “And when we looked for a way to give locally, there was no question we would partner with the Community Foundation. They make it easy.”
The Buckleys have included the Community Foundation in their estate plan as one more way to do their part in supporting the community they love.
“Everybody has the opportunity to make a difference,” said John. “And it doesn’t have to be a big thing. Every little bit moves us one step farther.”
