A meritorious citizen of Našić
Našice would not be the same without this diligent and versatile history professor.
Josip Waller was a history professor, museologist and versatile social worker whom Našice will never forget.
He was born in Virovitica, where he spent his childhood and completed his primary education. He studied in Zagreb, and after finishing his studies, he got a job as a professor at the Našice grammar school. Then Josip became actively involved in the life of his community.
He was active in the Scouting organization, and will soon participate in the founding of the Krndija Mountaineering Society. He is especially deserving of his activities and work in the Native Museum of Našice, where he was the president of the Commission for Preparations at its foundation, and soon became its first director.
Josip also participated in the founding of the Museum Association of Eastern Croatia. Along with being involved in the community, Josip continued to work as a high school history teacher all this time. He tried to carry out various activities with the students and educational staff of Našić schools.
Until his retirement in 1999, he organized many exhibitions in the local museum and researched the local past. He served as a member of the Museum Council at the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia.
During his life, he participated in the administrations of many local societies and organizations, and was among the founders of the Historical Society in Našice. He collaborated in the publication of the Našić and Osijek anthologies, the Glasnik of the Museum of Slavonia and Baranja and many other newspapers.
In his rich career, Josip did not forget about his native Virovitica. He researched Virovitica history, wrote about it and published works. He was the chief editor of the Našice photo monograph and one of the founders of the Matica Hrvatska branch in Našice.
Josip was one of those responsible for restarting the Hinko Juhn Art Ceramics Colony after the Homeland War, and he was also actively involved in the work of the organizing society Memorial of Dora Pejačević.
As a longtime collaborator of Radio Našice, he published articles related to local history. His love for art is also told by the fact that he was a member of the City Music of Našice, and he was particularly distinguished as being responsible for the renewal of the work of majorettes.
For all these successes and achievements, not even three lives would be enough for someone, while Josip did it all in one. As a thank you for the outstanding work and effort in the development of the local community, the City of Našice awarded Josip the City of Našice Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously.
