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Wisconsin Makers, the local Whitewater makerspace, hosting three events

Tri-County Business Networking Group – Tuesday, June 19, 3 – 5 pm; This is a group for business owners, entrepreneurs and creatives in Walworth, Jefferson, and Rock counties who wish to promote positive growth through educational programming and collaboration.

Veterans Open Shop Night – Tuesday, June 19,  6 – 8 pm; We encourage Veterans to come in and see the equipment we have to create your projects. We have 3D printers, laser engraver, woodworking machines and tools, welding area and much more. We are also giving tours of the MakerSpace.

Open Make Night –  First and third Tuesday of every month, 6 to 8 pm. We are here doing projects, socializing and fixing up the MakerSpace. Our technology area is second to none with a laser engraver and 3D printers. Stop in and make something. We are also giving tours of the MakerSpace.

About Wisconsin Makers

Wisconsin Makers is a makerspace located in Whitewater, WI, serving the needs of makers, creatives, crafters, and artisans in the Southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois area.

Wisconsin Makers is dedicated to a collaborative and educational approach to creativity.  We’re a community of makers and tinkerers fostering an environment where the only limit is our imagination. We hope to work within our communities to share our love of making things with our own hands no matter our skill level. Please join us in working on your craft, sharing what you know, and learning skills from others. We are Wisconsin Makers!

Tours are generally available during the day with Pete Spangler from 10 am – 5 pm daily. Tours during nights and weekends available on request.

Wisconsin Makers Inc
200 E Clay Street
Whitewater, WI 53190

http://wisconsinmakers.org/

First Citizens Bank awarded Purple Angel for dementia awareness training

 From L to R: Nate Parrish, President – First Citizens State Bank; Penny Ardelt, Customer Service Supervisor – First Citizens State Bank; Eric Russow, Walworth County Aging Network;  Katie Nass, Loan Officer – First Citizens State Bank; Bernadette Russow, Walworth County Aging Network; Mary Lou Ward, AVP & Cashier- First Citizens State Bank.

The Whitewater Dementia Friendly Community Initiative (WDFCI) is proud to announce that the First Citizens Bank of Whitewater was awarded the Purple Angel on June 18th. This is the first business in Whitewater to achieve this honor. Katie Nass and Penny Ardelt of First Citizens, who spearheaded this effort, are trained and can help other businesses become Dementia Friendly. Nass became involved as a member of the Whitewater Dementia Friendly Community Initiative.

The Purple Angel is an international symbol which says employees have received dementia awareness training and are sensitive to customers and care partners who are affected by dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Dementia Friends is a global movement that is changing the way people think, act, and talk about dementia. Developed in the United Kingdom by the Alzheimer’s Association, it is now making its way across the United States. By helping everyone in a community understand what dementia is and how it affects families, each of us can make a difference for the people touched by dementia.

A Dementia Friendly Community is one that engages people with dementia, making them feel welcome and improving their quality of life while supporting their unique needs as well as the care partners and family members.

The community should know that this work is sponsored and supported by the Whitewater Dementia Friendly Community Initiative (WDFCI), the Walworth County Aging Network and assisted by the Alzheimer’s Association and the Dementia Friendly Community Initiative – Walworth County.

Supporting the Dementia Friendly Community are Memory Cafés. There is one in Whitewater on the second Monday of the month at the Irvin L. Young Library Community Room at 431 W. Center St. in Whitewater, at 10:30 am. First-time attendees are asked to call 800.272.3900 to register. You can also find Memory Cafés in Jefferson, Elkhorn, Lake Geneva, Delavan, and Janesville.

The WDFCI is also working to bring a twice a month respite site to Whitewater in the fall. This will allow care partners a break from caregiving and a fun day out for their partner. If you are a caregiver interested in a little “me” time please call 262-473-0535 for more information.

There are free training programs available for businesses, first responders, faith communities, and organizations. For additional information please contact Katie Nass at First Citizens Bank 262-473-1401 or knass@firstcitizensww.com or Deb Weberpal Seniors in the Park, 262-473-0535 or dweberpal@whitewater-wi.gov.

Shirley L. Stekel died on Friday, June 15, 2018 at SSM St, Mary’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.  This was amid loving calls from far-away family and chapters of a James Herriot Book being read aloud by her husband and daughter.

Shirley was born to Alma (nee Madsen) and Verge Dow in San Francisco, California on June 10, 1936.  After the end of WWII, the Dow family moved to Rogue River, Oregon where she graduated from high school.  She always considered herself to be an Oregonian; this was reinforced when she earned BA and MA degrees in Physics from Oregon State University.

Her first teaching position was at the Yakima Valley Junior College in the state of Washington.  After a couple years, she went on to Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan for additional graduate work in physics and a part-time teaching appointment.  She left Wayne State in January 1963 for a position as an Assistant Professor in the Physics Department of (what is now) the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.  She was on the faculty here until her retirement in 2000.  At UW-W she did a lot of work with prospective elementary teachers in a physics class emphasizing hands-on, activity-oriented science instruction.  Shirley also developed and taught a popular course: Physics of Sound & Music.  In 2000, She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Association of Physics Teachers.

At Whitewater, in 1965 Shirley met a newly hired physics instructor, Frank Stekel.  After working together for several years, they were married in August 1967.  They were still working together right up to the present time.

After retirement, Shirley became a Master Gardener.  She had a special interest in prairies and was a volunteer at Rotary Gardens in Janesville in the presentation of programs for elementary school students.  Shirley loved nature, animals (especially cats) and travel.

She was preceded in death by parents as well as her daughter, Sharon, in January 2017.

She is survived by her husband, Frank D. Stekel of Fort Atkinson; daughter, Sandra and husband, Tim Schmidt, of Bristol; brother, Wayne, of North Granby, Connecticut; sister, GeRee’ Lane, of Jacksonville, Oregon; brother-in-law & sister-in-law, Joe and Carol Stekel of Bangor; special friends, Virginia Epps and Karen Helwig, both of Whitewater; other relatives and friends as well as her fellow Rotary Gardens volunteers,

Burial will be in the Cold Spring Union Cemetery next to her daughter, Sharon. This family ceremony and a memorial gathering will be held later this summer.  In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are suggested to either the Jefferson County Humane Society or the Rotary Gardens of Janesville, WI.

The Nitardy Funeral Home, Whitewater, Wisconsin is assisting the family, www.nitardyfuneralhome.com.

William Harold Rabenhorst, 62, Whitewater, passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 13, 2018 at his home where he was raised and worked his whole life as a dairy farmer.

Bill was born on August 21, 1955, in Fort Atkinson to Harold William and Edith Grace (Uglow) Rabenhorst.  He graduated from Whitewater High School in 1973.  Bill enjoyed bowling, history and reading, friends and family, farming and taking day trips to get away from the farm.  Bill liked to road farm and shoot the breeze with the neighbors. He also enjoyed riding his Harley. He loved his grandchildren.

He is survived by his daughter Linda Malone (Bo) Klietz, Whitewater; grandchildren Tyler Rabenhorst-Malone, Scarlett and Karleigh Klietz; Sister, Ellen (Lou) Rowland, Fort Wayne, IN,  many nieces and nephews and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Kenny and Larry Rabenhorst and sister Roberta “Bobbi” Litten.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, June 22, 2018, at 11:00 am at the First United Methodist Church 145 S. Prairie St. Whitewater, WI 53190.  A visitation will be held on Thursday, June 21, 2018, from 5:00- 8:00 pm at the Nitardy Funeral Home 550 N. Newcomb St. Whitewater, WI 53190 and on Friday at the church from 10:00 am until the time of the service.

The family would like to thank the Monday, Wednesday, Friday Dialysis team in Fort Atkinson for the last 13 years, Jim and Jack for the live transplant of kidneys, Agrace Hospice Care, the inpatient doctors and nurses at the UW Hospital and their specialty clinics, many family and friends, neighbors for coming in to help with the farm and house chores, the Baptist church family that brought food and comfort to us and the many prayers from the community.

Cora M. Forbush, age 91, of Whitewater, passed away on Saturday, May 26, 2018.

She was born on October 8, 1926, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to the late Earl Franklin Forbush and Mildred Ella Ogle.

Cora spent her entire professional life in education. She received her BS degree from UW La Crosse in 1948, her MS degree from UW Madison in 1952 and her Ph.D. from UW Madison in 1971.  In 1967 Cora attended the University of Colorado for 1 year of coursework. She began her career in Oconomowoc public schools, teaching Physical Education to students in grades 1-12 during 1948 and 1949.  Cora moved to Milwaukee in 1950 and taught PE and Health at Bayview High School for two years.  Cora became Dean at Carthage College, Carthage, IL during 1952-1956.  Cora was hired as Associate Dean – Women at UW Whitewater in 1956 and retired 32 years later in 1988. Cora was an avid outdoors person and thoroughly enjoyed her YMCA Camp Manitowish (Boulder Junction, WI) experiences.  She served in counseling and administration roles and participated in camping and chapel activities including navigation of the over 1300 lakes in Villas County, Canadian fishing, and canoe tripping.   Cora is remembered fondly by the Camp staff and is recognized as a memorable role model for the younger campers. She participated in social/honorary fraternity and sorority activities in her spare time.  Cora was also an active member of Bethel United Methodist Church in Elkhorn, WI.

Above all, she cherished time spent with her family.

She is survived by her seven nieces, five nephews, and several close friends. In addition to her parents, Cora was preceded in death by her four sisters and one brother.   Her closest friend Clayton Droullard recently passed away as well.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 14, 2018, at the Nitardy Funeral Home Chapel, 550 N. Newcomb St., Whitewater, WI with Pastor Joyce Rich officiating. Friends may call after 10:00 AM on Saturday, July 14, 2018, at the funeral home until the time of the services.

A service of celebration of life, love, family, camp, church and friendship ties will occur shortly after Labor Day on the Camp Manitowish grounds where her ashes will be spread behind the Pinewoods Chapel as Cora requested.  Also, at Cora’s request, in lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established in Cora’s name and may be given to Camp Manitowish in Boulder Junction, WI or Bethel United Methodist Church in Elkhorn, WI.

Cora’s family would like to thank the wonderful staff of Fairhaven Senior Services, Whitewater, WI and a special thanks to close friends Mike Ciardo, Char Anderson and Rob Droullard and their families who went above and beyond in all they did for Cora.

www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

 

 

 

8th grade Recognition celebrates transition to high school

8th grade Recognition is a night where students and loved ones gather together to celebrate an important right of passage, students transitioning from the middle school to the high school. The ceremony begins in the Ken Nehring gym, with students being recognized for their middle school accomplishments and involvement, and ends with an activity night, where students have the opportunity to engage in safe activities with their friends. This year’s class was recognized for several accomplishments in academics, athletics, and the arts.

The theme for the evening was A Night to Remember. WMS would like to give one more congratulations and well wishes to the class of 2022.

8th grade Recognition Gallery 

Photos by Tom Ganser

 

WUSD News: Retirees’ Dinner & WMS Associate Principal Hired

WUSD Retirees’ Dinner

Pictured (L-R): Dan McCrea, Chris Wilke, Barb Sheffield, Lisa Meyers, and Don “Doc” Kelley. Not pictured: Jay Dermo and Sue Morse.

Every spring, staff, and retirees of the Whitewater Unified School District gather to recognize and celebrate staff who have decided to retire. This year’s honorees represented 165 years of service and commitment to WUSD.

Retirees – Teachers

Jay Dermo: 30 years WUSD, including first 5 at Lakeview Elem 5th & 6th grades and next 25 at WMS 6th grade social studies, math, and language arts. Additional 5 years Stoughton Almond-Bancroft, Dodgeland before coming to WUSD.

Lisa Meyers: 31 years in WUSD teaching kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade. First 22 at Lakeview followed by 9 years at Washington Elementary School. An additional 2 years of teaching before coming to Whitewater.

Sue Morse: All 26 years in Whitewater. Started at Lakeview as a 1st-grade teacher. Moved in 1994 to Whitewater Middle School for 6th-grade social studies and language arts.

Barb Sheffield: 44 years at Whitewater Middle School teaching physical education (including 4 years at WHS) and health. Her first and only teaching job at Whitewater Middle School.

Chris Wilke: 15 years at Whitewater Middle School, first-year 6th-grade math and social studies, then 14 years 7th-grade math and social studies.

Retiree – Maintenance

Don “Doc” Kelley: 18 years at Washington Elementary School.

Retiree – WUSD School Board Member

Dan McCrea – 15 years as a member of the WUSD School District, including serving as president, vice-president, treasurer, and clerk.

Whitewater Middle School Associate Principal Hired 

The Whitewater Unified School District is pleased to welcome Mr. Ben Holzem as the Whitewater Middle School Associate Principal. Ben has seven years of administrative experience and seven years as a special education teacher. Most recently, he was the principal of St. Bruno Parish School. Ben’s other impressive qualities include being bilingual, having served in the Air Force and his ability to build relationships with the students and families he works with at school. Ben is excited to be a contributing member of the Whitewater Middle School.