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Barbara Jean (Lewis) Harkonen passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 6, 2018 in San Francisco, CA.

October 15, 2018

At the time of her passing, she was surrounded by her family in her home of the past 30 years. Her death marks the end of a rapid onset battle with lung cancer.

She was born January 28, 1949, in Whitewater, WI to Eri Junior Lewis and Jean Alice (Henderson) Lewis. She was the youngest of four children.

After graduating from Whitewater High School, Barbara attended Drake University. She lived in Denver, CO, Paris, FR, and Washington DC, before settling in San Francisco.

Barbara was an avid hiker, reader, and volunteer. She enjoyed swimming at Lauderdale Lake in the summer with her sister and exploring new recipes for family dinners. She was a member of two book clubs.

Douglas Howard Parker, age 89, passed away of natural causes, on Friday, October 5th, 2018 at Rainbow Hospice in Johnson Creek, WI.

October 15, 2018

He was born December 26, 1928, in Whitewater WI, and is the son of Benjamin and Luella (Schoechert) Parker. Doug was raised in Whitewater, WI, where he graduated from Whitewater High School in 1947. Immediately after high school, Doug became a member of the Home Guard, which then was changed to the Wisconsin National Guard. Member Headquarter Company, 3rd Battalion, 127th Infantry. Promoted to Sergeant T/5. He was honorably discharged in 1951. During this time, he attended the Milwaukee School of Engineering, graduating in December 1950 with a Technical Degree in Thermodynamics. His first job was with Lipman Refrigeration, Beloit WI, as a repairman, disassembling ammonia compressors for recycling, and eventually promoted to foreman then assistant to the chief engineer. He also worked with Fairbanks-Morse and Company, as a parts technical writer then service manual writer for diesel engines. The family then moved to Galesburg, IL, where he worked as a service manual writer and assistant department manager. Later, the family moved to Kenosha County, where he worked with Modine Manufacturing Company in Advertising and Sales Promotion. He was later transferred to an assembly line as a foreman, then to Wonder Lake, IL as an Assistant Factory Manager. 

In 1969, Doug started a career with State Farm Insurance. During his time with State Farm, Doug earned Legion of Honor, Agent of the Year and Traveling Millionaire. After more than 23 years of service, he retired from State Farm in December 1992. He thoroughly enjoyed his career as a State Farm Agent, especially in his efforts to help clients and associates and the friends he made along the way. After “retirement,” Doug and Winnie moved to Sun City West, AZ, where he started a new career as a real estate agent with Ken Meade Realty. He enjoyed hobbies such as photography, history, genealogy, and computer club. He also loved trains, travel, and visits from family and friends. After 21 years in Arizona, they moved back to Whitewater, where he spent time working on a couple of novels started when he was in Arizona. He and Winnie married in 1950 and celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary this year. He was very proud of his family and loved them dearly.

Marilyn G. Olm, 93, of Whitewater died on October 9, 2018.

October 11, 2018

Marilyn was born on May 19, 1925 in Menno, South Dakota to Frederick and Mabel (Christopherson) Rittershaus.  In 1947, she graduated from Lakeland College with a B.A. in Music and German, after which she received voice training at the New York Metropolitan Opera.  She was recruited by the renowned Westminster Choir at Princeton, New Jersey, and then spent much of her life as a featured soloist at churches and other concerts.

On June 15, 1948, she married the love of her life, Carroll Olm.  This past June, they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with their family.

One of the kindest, most selfless people you could ever meet, Marilyn infused her love into everyone she met and everything she did.  Her life was devoted to her family, friends, church, and the Fairhaven ministry.

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Dustin Reichwald
Editor-in-Chief since February 2018

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The Banner has been serving Whitewater, Wisconsin since August 1, 2006