Edward “Ed” A. Ritter, 95, of Whitewater passed away on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at the Rainbow Hospice Inpatient Center in Johnson Creek

Edward “Ed” A. Ritter, 95, of Whitewater passed away on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at the Rainbow Hospice Inpatient Center in Johnson Creek.

Ed was born on January 28, 1925, on the family farm in the Town of Lincoln, Forest County, Wisconsin, son of Ray and Clara (nee Patzke) Ritter. He was baptized and confirmed in St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Crandon. Ed graduated from the Crandon High School in 1942. During World War II, he served in the army, discharged as a Staff Sgt., and later in the Army Reserve, discharged as a 2nd. Lt.. In 1955 he married Joan Malchine, Wind Lake, in Norway Lutheran Church. Together they had three sons: Michael, Phillip, and Stephen.

He was a long-standing active member of First English Lutheran Church where he taught Sunday school and 7th grade confirmation for many years, served two terms on the church council and as president of the congregation, and served one term on the Church Synod Council. He was a member of William Graham Post 0173 American Legion, Whitewater, past member of Kiwanis Breakfast Club of Whitewater, and member and officer of the former Kettle Moraine Poultry Club and the Whitewater Gourmet Club.

Ed received his BE degree from Whitewater State Teachers College and his ME degree from Marquette University. While attending college he was an active member of Chi Delta Rho (state) and Delta Kappa (national) social fraternities and Pi Omega Pi (undergraduate) and Delta Pi Epsilon (graduate) scholastic fraternities. Thirty-seven years of his life were devoted to education: seven years at Rochester, Wisconsin where he taught business education and English, thirty years with the Whitewater Unified School District where he taught business education and served two years at the first Business Manager of the district, and many years with Gateway Technical College evening program where he taught adult classes of accounting. During his teaching career, he was an active member of the Whitewater, Wisconsin, and National Education Associations, and the Wisconsin Business Teachers Association. Upon retirement in 1987, he became a member of the Wisconsin and the Walworth County Area Retired Educators Association, serving for thirteen years as treasurer of the County group.

His other interests were poultry and furniture refinishing. Since moving to the little farm on South Franklin Street, Ed had raised thousands of bantams, standard chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese. Hatching eggs and baby chicks were sent to fanciers throughout the United States and birds were exhibited at the Wisconsin State Fair and at various Poultry Shows.

Ed is survived by his sons, Michael Ritter of Whitewater, Phillip (Karin) of Menomonee Falls, Stephen (Camille) Ritter of Muskego; seven grandchildren, David, Nicholas, Bryan, Jacob, Bryce, Theodore, Lauren; sisters-in-law, Donna Hanson, Doris Malchine; many nieces and nephews-in-law, cousins and friends.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Joan; his first wife, Linda (nee Bjorstrom); his parents; sister, Margaret; father-and mother-in-law Johnalbert and Esther Malchine; brothers-in-law Donald Hanson and John Malchine.

Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. on February 22, 2020 at First English Lutheran Church in Whitewater, with Rev. Steve Hanson and Rev. Jerald Wendt officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of services. Burial with military honors will be at Hillside Cemetery in Whitewater following services.

Memorials can be made in Ed’s name to First English Lutheran Church.

The Nitardy Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

American Legion Kitchen/Bar & Banquet Room Related Items Auction on Mon., 2/10 (Updated)

Complete Business Liquidation
American Legion Post 173
292 S. Wisconsin Street
Whitewater, WI
Monday, February 10, 10:00 A.M.

Viewing Begins at 8:00 A.M.

NOTE: Building has been sold. (Clarification: The American Legion will continue to exist, but they can no longer afford to maintain their building.) All kitchen, bar and banquet hall related items will be sold Absolute! Majority is clean and in good condition.

Kitchen/Bar Related:  Vulcan 10 4 burner gas stove, Grate top gas grill, flat top gas grill, Frymaster deep fryers, Tru Temp and Delfield freezers, Crosley & Blue Air refrigeration units, True & Adv. Edge unit (needs work), GE freezer, Conserver dishwasher, Scotsman ice maker, Hobart food slicer, Matco food prep table, Duke warming table, Seco salad bar, (2) stainless food prep tables,  stainless prep tables, stainless sink (4 basin), stainless serving carts, (4) stainless bar sink, Avantco cooler key, neon bar lights and signs and much more.

Banquet Room Related:  Tables (+/- wood top-metal frame, 18+/- plastic top-metal legs,13 round wood top tables,  (37) metal folding chairs, (276+/-) cushioned chairs, (18+/-) bar stools, (170+/-) 9″ circular plates, lg. qty. of other dishware-coffee cups-water glasses & more, (8) security cameras and controller, (11) exit lights, 20 ft. straight bar, lg. horseshoe shaped bar, storage bar cabinets, qty. of ceiling tile, (15+/-) wagon wheel light chandeliers, Proficient auto brand speakers and much more.

Miscellaneous:  Hoveround-Rascal-Amiga-Jet 3 elec. mobility chairs and much more.

Pictures/Details at www.badgerstateauction.com

Terms: 10% Buyer’s Fee when paying with Cash or Check. 5.5% Sales Tax. All other types of payment will be an additional 4%. MasterCard, Visa and Discover are welcome. All sales are final and must be settled for on day of sale. Not responsible for accidents or misprints if any. Once sold, items are your responsibility. No warranties or guarantees granted unless otherwise stated on sale day. All announcements on sale day take precedence over any prior verbal or printed material.

For Further Information Contact:
BADGER STATE AUCTION & REAL ESTATE LLC

BOB JOHNSON – AUCTIONEER
REGISTERED WISCONSIN AUCTIONEER #800
REGISTERED ILLINOIS AUCTIONEER #441000422
4128 HWY KK MILTON, WI
(608) 868-2199

Tracy F. Campbell, 55, of Whitewater, passed away Friday, January 31, 2020 at Fort Atkinson Health Care Center

Tracy F. Campbell, 55, of Whitewater, passed away Friday, January 31, 2020 at Fort Atkinson Health Care Center.

Tracy was born on March 15, 1964 in Lake Geneva, daughter of Lawrence Richmond and Margaret (Cervantes) Marcuson.

Tracy enjoyed bowling in leagues and playing softball but she loved her grandchildren more than life itself.

Tracy is survived by her daughters, Amanda (Patrick Cromwell) Pete and Caitlin Rieck both of Whitewater; grandchildren, Tristin and Riley Pete and Charlotte Lou Diehl; step grandchildren, Seaira, Carina and Calila Cromwell; father, Lawrence (Rosemary Blank) Richmond; brothers, Larry (Heather) Richmond, Craig (Theresa) Richmond; sisters, Marilyn (David) Kuester and Zena Whyte; step brothers, Todd and Troy Blank; step sisters, Tammy Nicholson and Rhonda Hamburg; husband, Steve Campbell and many cousins, nieces, nephews, family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her mother and stepfather, Margaret (Don) Marcuson; sister-in-law, Linda Richmond; cousin, Oscar Long and uncles, Louis and John Cervantes and Paul Padilla.

A memorial visitation will be held on Sunday, February 9, 2020 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dunlap Memorial Home, 604 S. Main St, Fort Atkinson.

Memorials may be made to the family.

A special thank you to Linda Eppers for everything you have done to keep mom with us for as long as she was.

www.DunlapMemorialHome.com

Former UW-W Chancellor Kopper Spent Fall Semester on Family and Medical Leave

Per an article posted on gazettextra.com on February 4, Beverly Kopper, who resigned from her position as UW-Whitewater Chancellor in December, 2018, and retired from the university effective January 5, 2020, “spent most of the fall semester on paid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act, according to records the university released Tuesday.” The records were released to The Gazette five months after it filed an open records request.

For the article in The Gazette, click here.

Hwy 59 Single Vehicle Crash Claims Life of Whitewater Resident (Updated)

Per a media release from the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, on Monday, Feb. 3 at approximately 6:34 p.m. deputies were dispatched to Highways 59 and KK in Lima Center Township for the report of a single vehicle roll over crash. The initial investigation indicated that the vehicle, driven by a 20-year-old female of Whitewater, was eastbound on Hwy 59, apparently at a high rate of speed. The vehicle came upon another vehicle traveling the same direction, and abruptly swerved to the left to avoid a rear end collision, entering the north ditch where the vehicle rolled an unknown number of times. The driver, who was not wearing her seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle.

There were a total of four occupants in the vehicle. The driver, along with two passengers, a 19 year old male and an 18 year old female, were transported to Mercy Hospital. A fourth passenger, a 19 year old male, was not transported. At the hospital the driver was pronounced deceased. The three passengers, who were wearing seat belts, sustained non-life threatening injuries. Deputies stated that it did not appear that alcohol was a factor in the crash. The Rock County Reconstruction Team will be conducting an investigation. The driver’s name has not yet been released pending notification of the family.

2/5/20 – Update: The woman who died in the crash has been identified as Sterling H. M. Espinoza, 20, of Whitewater, the Rock County Medical Examiner’s Office announced.

Binggs Farmstead Restaurant Opening in Former Saxes’ Lonestar Location

Saxes’ Lonestar looked like this — but the building looks different now!

The “For Sale” sign finally came down several months ago at the former Saxes’ Lonestar Inn, and there have been rumors that remodeling was taking place in preparation for a new restaurant. Sure enough, Binggs Farmstead Restaurant has announced that it will be opening on Sat., 2/8 at 5 p.m. Business hours, per their website, will be: Mon-Thurs. 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Fri/Sat 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. The location is N416 Twinkling Star Road (at Highway 12).

You may get a peek at their menu at their website: click here.

Lakes Drawdown Update Draws Crowd

Approximately 60 people attended an update on the Lakes Drawdown at the Municipal Building on February 1. The speakers were Cameron Clapper, City Manager; Eric Boettcher, Parks and Recreation Director; and Heidi Bunk, Water Resources Management Specialist with the DNR. In March of last year, 150 holes were drilled in order to determine the sediment levels in the lakes. The drawdown started with Cravath Lake on July 8, and by September 10, Cravath had fallen 3.5-4′ and Trippe Lake, 2.5-3′. Unfortunately very heavy rainfall occurred on September 12, leaving the lakes at above normal levels. The drawdown continued until mid-October, resulting in Cravath’s level being 3-4′ below normal (compared with a goal of 5-6′) and Trippe being 2.5-3′ below normal (versus a goal of 6′). Additional drawdowns will occur in the spring.

The primary goal of the drawdown is to eliminate as many invasive plant species as possible, with the expectation of improving the health and appearance of the lakes, as well as to reintroduce recreational opportunities. It is also hoped that it will be possible to deepen the navigable channels through dredging, which would occur in early 2021. Dredging, however, is an extremely costly process, and it will not be known until this fall what is realistic financially. Additionally it is not yet known where the dredged material would be taken.

Photos were shown exhibiting the positive results of lake drawdowns at School Section Lake near Dousman as well as at Little Muskego Lake. Although Whitewater can also expect positive results, the outcome will be significantly dependent on the amount of precipitation in coming months, with drier conditions being desired. Heidi Bunk indicated that the goal is that this coming summer the lake bottom will become cracked with “Mars-looking cracked sediment.” The cracks allow oxygen to enter the sediment, resulting in bacteria consuming organic material.

A number of residents with lakefront properties had questions about shoreline restoration, which may require permits from the DNR. Many of them also had concerns about the geese population, which was described by some as the largest ever seen during the winter. It appears that some migratory geese have chosen to remain in the area, taking advantage of the availability of fish. It was indicated that it’s very difficult to make long-lasting reductions in the geese; however, approaches such as oiling of eggs and geese roundups can have some success. The planting of tall vegetation near the shore will discourage the geese from going onto properties.

After the lakes are refilled there will be revegetation of desirable species and restocking of fish. It was acknowledged that it’s unfortunately likely that drawdowns will be required approximately every 7-12 years. Silt coming from upstream will continue to fill in the lakes. It is hoped that improved agricultural practices along streambanks will help to address this concern.

Additional updates will be provided as the project progresses.

For the nearly 1.5 hour video of the presentation click here.

For Frequently Asked Questions click here and go to the bottom of the page.

For an article in The Gazette on February 2, click here.

Free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Clinic Returns to UW-W

Clients can access the UW-Whitewater College of Business and Economics volunteer tax program on the first floor of Hyland Hall near the atrium. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)

Qualifying taxpayers are invited to receive free tax preparation and electronic filing of 2019 federal and state income tax returns at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Volunteer Income Tax Assistance clinic. This IRS-sponsored program is available for low and moderate income taxpayers at no cost, and no appointments are needed.

Clinic hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays and 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. Clients will be served on a first come, first served basis and they should arrive at least one hour before closing. The 2020 tax clinic will run from February 1 through April 11; however, it will be closed on March 21, March 25 and March 28.

The UW-Whitewater VITA clinic is located in room 1001 of Timothy J. Hyland Hall at 809 Starin Road in Whitewater. Parking is available across the street in lot 7. Lot 7 is also known as the Starin Road lot and contains the Visitor Information and Parking Services building.

On Wednesdays before 6 p.m., stop at the visitor center and request a free parking pass for the tax clinic. Parking permits are not required on Saturdays. Clinic visitors should park in non-metered parking spaces.

The VITA clinic is staffed by certified student preparers and supervised by faculty in the College of Business and Economics Department of Accounting. In addition to providing hands-on experience for graduate and undergraduate accounting students, the free VITA clinic helps residents of Whitewater and surrounding communities.

“We have many long-time clients who return for assistance each spring,” said Robert Meyers, accounting department lecturer and VITA program director. “The opportunity to apply training while working with real people is also an invaluable experience for our students.

Important information, including a location map, program limitations and required supporting documentation, can be found at http://bit.ly/2O9bgKp. For additional information, email the VITA Site Coordinator at vita@uww.edu or leave a message at 262-472-5449.

Vernon C. Greenquist, age 71, of Delavan passed away on Friday, January 24, 2020 at Mercy Hospital

Vernon C. Greenquist, age 71, of Delavan passed away on Friday, January 24, 2020 at Mercy Hospital in Janesville.  He was born in Evansville, MN on September 13, 1948 to Conrad and Anna (Pederson) Greenquist.  Vernon was united in marriage to Mary Wallner in June of 2011. He proudly served in the U.S. Army, Air Force, and was a chaplain with the National Guard for over 20 years.  Vernon was a farmer in the Walworth County area and was also a beloved school bus driver with Nelson Bus Service in Whitewater.  He was also very active with the LaGrange Methodist Church and served on the Planning and Zoning Commission in LaGrange.   

Vernon is survived by his wife, Mary Wallner; a daughter, Jaclyn (Alan) Greenquist-Persinger, of Madison; a son, Joshua Greenquist, of Madison; three granddaughters, Svea, Maelyn, and Blythe; two sisters, Pat Greenquist, of AZ; and Kristi (Craig) Wanamaker, of MN; two brothers, Jerry (Janet) Greenquist, of NE; and John Greenquist, of Oslo, Norway; and many nieces and nephews.

Vernon is preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Linda (Dallum) Greenquist; his son, Jason; and his daughter, Jessica. 

Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, February 1, 2020 at First United Methodist Church, 145 S. Prairie Street in Whitewater.  Visitation will be held from 9:30 A.M. until the time of the service on Saturday at the church.  Memorials can be directed to Vernon’s family. 

Eugene J. Frodl, 81, of Whitewater passed away on Friday, January 24, 2020 surrounded by his loving family at Sunset Ridge in Jefferson

Eugene J. Frodl, 81, of Whitewater passed away on Friday, January 24, 2020 surrounded by his loving family at Sunset Ridge in Jefferson.

Eugene was born on January 7, 1939 in LaGrange Township to Rudolph J. and Pauline T. (Kelley) Frodl. He spent his early life growing up on his family dairy farm. He graduated from Whitewater High School and joined the United States Air Force in 1957 until 1961. Eugene married Donna Stark in 1963, and together they had three children. In 1971, Eugene and Donna bought their dairy farm and farmed until 1999.

He enjoyed camping, woodworking, playing solitaire, watching westerns, and spending time with his family. He was a jack of all trades and master of none.

Eugene is survived by his children, Jim (Shelly Picknell) Frodl, Julie (Jeff) Frie, Dan (Colette) Frodl; grandchildren, James (Amanda) Frodl Jr., Randy Frie, Courtney Frie; great-grandchildren, Grayson Frodl, Lorelai Frodl, Ava Frodl; siblings, Marie (Howard) Glass, Bernice (Ernest) Klatt, Ken (Joan) Frodl; several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Rudolph J. and Pauline T. Frodl; wife, Donna Frodl; siblings, Floyd Frodl, Marggee Frodl, and Stanley Frodl.

A memorial service will take place with military honors at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 1, 2020 at the Nitardy Funeral Home, 550 N. Newcomb St., Whitewater, WI 53190. Visitation will take place from 9 a.m. until the time of services.

The family would like to give special thanks to Marquardt Hospice, Sunset Ridge, and Visiting Angels for their exceptional care over the last year.

Nitardy Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

www.nitardyfuneralhome.com