John and Carmen Gottschalk

John Gottschalk joined the Omaha World-Herald in 1975 and oversaw its conversion to the era's modern technology. In 1980, he was named vice president and guided the company's acquisition of suburban weeklies and other subsidiaries. In 1985, he was elected president and chief operating officer. And in 1989, he succeeded Harold W. Andersen and became the fifth publisher of the newspaper – retiring as publisher in 2008.

An inductee in the Omaha Business Hall of Fame and the Nebraska Press Association Hall of Fame, Gottschalk was recognized in 1994 for his civic leadership and philanthropy by being named as the 98th King of Aksarben.

Well known for their support and involvement in the Omaha community, before his death in 2024, John and his wife, Carmen, dedicated themselves to philanthropy, often quietly supporting charities – including United Way of the Midlands.

In 2008, they created the Carmen and John Gottschalk Fund within the United Way of the Midlands Endowment with an initial grant of $150,000. With the creation of this fund, the Gottschalks asked that its earnings be used to provide an annual Tocqueville Society gift in perpetuity to UWM.

This generosity is still supporting UWM's work and will continue to make an impact in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro for generations to come.