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Eugene Wagie, 95, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 10, 2018, surrounded by his family, after a long bout with cancer.

He was born on Nov 11, 1922, in Milwaukee to John and Bertha (Messerschmidt) Wagie. His parents passed away when he was a young boy; he then spent the majority of his youth living in the Milwaukee Lutheran Home and various foster homes.

Eugene moved to Whitewater at age 15 where he lived with his foster parents, George and Elsie Luedtke, working on their farm with three of his brothers. He attended Whitewater High School, graduating in 1941. There he met his future wife, Kay Ebert, at the Armory roller skating rink.

Eugene joined the US Army, where he served from March 1946 to September 1947. While serving at White Sands Proving Grounds, NM, he married Kay Ebert on June 19, 1946.

After the Army, Eugene and Kay returned to Coloma, WI to work in her parents’ restaurant. They then returned to Whitewater, where Eugene worked a variety of jobs, including 32 years with Hawthorn Melody Dairy. After retiring from the dairy, he worked 18 years part-time at the Whitewater Country Club. Eugene was an avid golfer and a member of the country club for over 40 years. He was especially proud of the hole-in-one he scored at age 79! He also enjoyed bowling and cards.

Eugene was very active in the Whitewater community, serving as an usher and treasurer at St John’s Lutheran Church; President of the Lion’s Club; Honor Guard at the American Legion; voting poll volunteer; and tremendous blood donor – giving over 13 gallons in his lifetime!

Eugene was preceded in death by Kay, his wife of 56 years, and his 7 brothers and sisters. He is survived by his 5 children (and spouses): Carol, Dave (Sue), Dennis (Ann), Terry (Maryellen), and Sandy (Ron); 8 grandchildren and their partners/spouses; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will take place at Nitardy Funeral Home, 550 N. Newcomb St, Whitewater, on Thursday, June 14, 2018, from 3 pm to 6 pm, followed by a memorial service. Eugene will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife Kay the next day in a private family burial.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Sunset Ridge Jefferson and Rainbow Hospice for their loving care, professional expertise, and gentle compassion during Eugene’s last months. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made in Eugene’s honor to Rainbow Hospice, 147 W. Rockwell, Jefferson WI 53549.

www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

Kikkoman Foods Inc. donates $100,000 for WHS scholarships

On Friday, June 8, Kikkoman Foods Inc., a subsidiary of Kikkoman Corp., the world’s leading producer of soy sauce, announced at its press conference, to kick off their 45th anniversary of their town of Walworth soy sauce factory, that they would be endowing $100,000 with an expressed purpose of funding endowed scholarship(s) for graduating seniors at Whitewater High School. The Whitewater Unified School District was one of six Walworth County school districts to receive the $100,000 donation. The Whitewater Community Foundation will serve as the steward of the donation.

“We are grateful to be considered by Kikkoman Foods Inc. for this sizable donation,” stated Dr. Mark Elworthy, District Administrator of the Whitewater Unified School District. It has been a wonderful journey working with representatives from Kikkoman Foods Inc. in finalizing the donation. Our graduating seniors will truly benefit from Kikkoman Foods Inc.’s generosity. Receiving an education beyond high school, whether a two or four-year degree, is the gateway to success. This gift will allow our seniors to pursue their dreams.

Danielle Frawley, Whitewater Community Foundation President, added, “The Whitewater Community Foundation is proud to steward the generous funds provided by Kikkoman Foods Inc. to provide scholarships to the Whitewater Unified School District students for generations to come. Over the next several months we will be encouraging the Community of Whitewater to match the donation provided by Kikkoman Corp. to share our gratefulness of their generosity.”

Since endowed scholarships are funded by interest earned from the donation, the first Kikkoman Foods Inc. Scholarship will be distributed in 2020.

Whitewater Kiwanis install new members, appoint board of directors

Miss Whitewater Pageant seeking contestants for this year’s pageant

 

The Miss Whitewater Pageant is seeking contestants for this year’s pageant. The first practice will be on June 12th, potential contestants may sign up prior to or at the first practice session. Interested individuals are encouraged to get in contact via our website at http://whitewater4th.com/misswhitewater/ for more information.

Each year the Miss Whitewater Pageant raises money for a veterans charity. The 2018 charity is DAV. DAV is a nonprofit charity that provides a lifetime of support for veterans’ of all generations and their families, helping more than 1 million veterans in positive, life-changing ways each year. The organization provides nearly 615,000 rides for veterans attending medical appointments and assists veterans with more than 250,000 benefits claims annually. In 2017, DAV helped attain more than $4 billion in new and retroactive benefits to care for veterans, their families, and survivors.

Nicholas Huang Receives Fulbright Award

Nicholas Huang, a recent graduate of Butler University with a double major in Finance and Marketing, has received a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award to Macau for an English Teaching Assistantship for the 2018-2019 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Huang will teach English and US Culture at Macau Polytechnic Institute. Nicholas is the grandson of Whitewater residents Tom and Karen Christofferson, and former residents I-Ning and Joyce Huang. Son of WHS graduates (’83), Kuang-Yu and Susan Huang.

Nicholas is one of over 1,900 U.S. citizens who will conduct research, teach English, and provide expertise abroad for the 2018-2019 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement as well as record of service and leadership potential in their respective fields.

“I am ecstatic to be able to share my American perspective with learners of English and gain insight into their learning experience”, reports Huang.

“Nick is the ideal individual to serve as cultural ambassador,” said Dacia Charlesworth, Butler University’s Fulbright Program Adviser. “He embodies the spirit of the Fulbright mission and I am certain the students and community members in Macau are going to enjoy learning about the U.S. through his interactions.”

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to build lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which operates in over 160 countries worldwide.

Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has given more than 380,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, professionals, and scientists the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

Fulbrighters address critical global challenges in all areas while building relationships, knowledge, and leadership in support of the long-term interests of the United States. Fulbright alumni have achieved distinction in many fields, including 59 who have been awarded the Nobel Prize, 82 who have received Pulitzer Prizes, and 37 who have served as a head of state or government.

Pease named next WUSD athletic director

From district administrator Mark Elworthy:

Last week, Jim Pease was approved as the District’s next athletic director. He has successfully coached our boys’ baseball team for the past four years and the football team since 2017. He has strong leadership skills and is respected by his athletes. The 2018 football season will be his last at the helm and 2020 will be his last season leading the baseball team as he transitions to the athletic director position. Jim will be teaching physical education classes in the District as well.

Currently, Jim owns and operates his family-owned insurance business. Jim is not new to education as he taught and coached in the Sussex-Hamilton School District for 10 years. Jim and his wife, Amy, have three school-aged children. Jim is a UW-Whitewater graduate and played baseball for the Warhawks.

Bark Park Dog Park Opens in Whitewater

The City of Whitewater is proud to open a new dog park on the northwest corner of Jefferson Street and Starin Road.

The Dog Park relocation project has been one of the Parks & Recreation Director, Eric Boettcher’s top priorities upon his arrival to Whitewater last year. “We are excited to announce the dog park is open,” says Boettcher. “The new park will offer dog enthusiasts an upgraded facility for their pets to enjoy.”

The new park features a small/medium dog area and a larger space for all dogs. With ten parking stalls along with one accessible parking spot leading to an entry gate, there is ample space for multiple visitors. The park also supplies picnic tables, benches and garbage cans with the added bonus of Mutt Mitts for easy pick-up after your dog.

Current hours of use are from dawn until dusk and rules are posted for all visitors to view. A grand opening of Bark Park is scheduled for Wednesday, June 13 at 5 pm with events and giveaways. More information to come.
“We are sure the community, both twotwo-leggedd four-legged alike, will enjoy the new facility,” said Boettcher.

Call Parks & Recreation Director, Eric Boettcher at 262-473-0122 for further questions.

WUSD Referendum Project Update – May 2018

 

From District Administrator Mark Elworthy:

The referendum projects continue to be on schedule and on budget. Recently, the WMS choir room was completed and the Lincoln Elementary School Library Media Center will be completed by the end of June. Thank you for your patience and support during the construction process. Here is a link to the May 2018 Referendum Update. For other referendum updates click here. Monthly updates of completed projects will be provided on a monthly basis throughout the summer.

Eileen Nora (Monahan) O’Sullivan, age 80, died Tuesday, June 5, 2018. 

February 13, 1938 – June 5, 2018

She was born on February 13, 1938, to John R. and Nora Monahan.  At the time of her birth, Eileen’s mother passed away, and John raised her with the help of Eileen’s beloved “Aunt Gena” – Virginia (Monahan) Deignan of Lake Geneva.   Later, her father married Louise Clarke, who became her mother in every sense of the word.  Louise brought with her son Joe, and John and Louise eventually had a daughter together.  It was Eileen’s little sister Martha who dubbed her “Nini”, or simply “Neen” as she has been known ever since.  Eileen grew up in Evanston, Illinois, and graduated from Evanston Township High School.

Later, she graduated from Quincy College in Quincy, Illinois, and began teaching English in Chatsworth, Illinois.  Eileen loved her career as a teacher, so after taking some years off to raise her family – as well as getting certified to teach Special Education – she taught several places in southern Wisconsin, including Traver, Pell Lake Star Center and Mukwonago, and then ending her career as a Learning Disabilities teacher at Phoenix School in Delavan.

Eileen married Daniel J. O’Sullivan on June 18, 1960, and together in Lake Geneva they raised 3 daughters.  They were divorced in 1979, and Daniel passed away in 1982.

Eileen also had a flair for the dramatic – she spent time teaching drama and putting on plays at her schools, as well as appearing in community theater productions.  In later years, she was thrilled to be able to share this interest with her grandson Nathan as he pursues a career in the arts.  Eileen’s other grandson, Dan, made her happy in so many ways as well.  With him, she shared a home as he grew up, as well as a love of animals and technology.  She would proudly boast of her personal desktop technician and loved to learn from his computer prowess.

And if you ever got her started talking about the TV show “Survivor”, you’d better be ready for all of the facts.  Under the screen moniker “Coolhand Eddie”, she ran an online Fantasy Survivor tribe, and had several trophies to show for her ability to “Outwit, Outplay, Outlast.”  She was also a rabid football and baseball fan and tried never to miss a televised game.  A Brewer game at Miller Park a couple of years ago, courtesy of her daughter Cathy and son-in-law Tom, was a recent highlight – as (oddly) was the Cubs winning the World Series in 2016.

Eileen loved the outdoors and made her home in a tranquil part of the Kettle Moraine Forest.  There she would mow acres of land, feed the birds, help a local feral cat rescue organization, and gaze at the constellations.  For as long as she could, she maintained gardens; in a recent conversation with a chaplain, she said that she always felt closest to God when in her flower garden.

Eileen is survived by her daughters: Joann O’Sullivan, Whitewater; Cathy O’Sullivan (Tom) Kavanaugh, Sauk City; and Theresa O’Sullivan Fosbinder (Madison).  She is further survived by her grandsons Dan (Alexi) O’Sullivan and Nathan Fosbinder. She also leaves behind several beloved pets who will miss her kindness and kindred spirit – especially her dearest Foggy.

She was preceded in death by her father, John Rodríguez Monahan; her mother, Nora (Liston) Monahan; her stepmother Louise Clarke Monahan; her step-brother Joe (“Sug”) Daniels, and her sister Martha Monahan Jones Bromley.

Whether the Brewers win or the Packers lose, or the Cubs sneak into the rotation, Eddie will forever be watching from her flower garden.  We will miss you, Weather Gma.

A Memorial Service will take place on Sunday, June 10, 2018, at 12 pm at Nitardy Funeral Home 550 N. Newcomb St. Whitewater, WI. 53190. Friends may visit with the family on Sunday from 11 am until time of service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Community Cat Inc., P.O. Box 447 Whitewater, WI 53190 – commcat.org, or ActBlue LLC – www.actblue.com.

www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

WHS Sign Construction Update

“Sidewalk superintendent”, Bruce Schroeder, checking out the construction of WHS sign on Walworth Avenue.

A digital rendering of what the completed WHS Sign will look like.