Obituaries

John Andrew Gregoire, 59, of Whitewater, WI passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, September 18, 2021 at his home.

John was born December 4th, 1961 to his parents Donald and Linda Gregoire. John worked as an Equipment Engineer in the road construction industry for several years and also served as a firefighter for the Whitewater Fire Department. He was blessed with two daughters; Cami and Cary Gregoire, whom he loved dearly. John was very proud of his daughters and considered them the light of his life. He also loved NASCAR and his favorite drivers were Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart. John will be greatly missed by the friends and family that he left behind.

He is survived by: his daughters, Cami and Cary Gregoire of Whitewater, his brother and sister-in-law  Don and Jill Gregoire of Whitewater, his sister Brenda and her husband Carl Kienbaum of North Fond du lac, and a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

A Graveside Service will be held to honor John’s life at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 10, 2021 at Hillside Cemetery in Whitewater, WI.

Gibson Family Funeral Homes of Palmyra and Eagle, WI is serving the family. To place an online condolence please visit gibsonfuneral.com

Charles Scharine

Jan 20, 1935 – Sept. 19, 2021

Charles F. Scharine (Charlie), 86, of rural Whitewater WI, passed away peacefully at Agrace Hospice on September 19, 2021, after an extended illness at home. 

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM on Sunday, September 26 at Rock Prairie Presbyterian Church with Pastor Gail Monsma officiating. Visitation will be at the church starting at 1:00 PM. Burial with military honors will follow the service at Johnstown cemetery. Light refreshments will be served at the church following the interment. Masks are required for the indoor portion of the service. Arrangements are by Henke-Clarson Funeral Home.  

Charlie was born to Albert and Charlotte Scharine in 1935. A graduate of Whitewater City High School class of 1953, he was joined in marriage with Shirley (Ellsworth) Scharine on July 14, 1956. Charlie started the family business (CS Mechanized Choring) in 1962, with dairy equipment sales and service. In the 1970s, he started the grain division and in 1987 General Motors sought out Charlie to design and manufacture custom carts. From that, Scharine’s Custom Fabrication division was born, with the entire company rebranded as The Scharine Group. The Scharine Group is now headed by Charlie’s three sons.  

Charlie also enjoyed a very successful military career. He joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard in 1953 along with fellow members of Whitewater City High football team. He served on active duty during the 1961-62 Berlin Crisis with the 32nd Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington. His military education included the Jungle Warfare School at Fort Sherman, Panama Canal Zone, Infantry Officer Orientation Course; and Command and General Staff College. Brig. Gen. Charles F Scharine (ret.) was commander of the 57th Field Artillery Brigade, instrumental in saving the brigade from deactivation in the early 1980s. Commanding the 32nd Infantry Brigade, he mobilized a full brigade of soldiers and equipment for deployment to Germany in the REFORGER 1986 exercises. After retirement, Gen. Scharine remained active in community and military associations, especially as long-time leader of the 32nd Red Arrow Infantry Division/Brigade Old Timers Club. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster. Charlie’s great loves included his family, his country, and gardening. He was also famous for his cinnamon rolls and Sunday morning fellowship cookies.  

Charles is survived by his wife Shirley; three daughters, April (Michael) Cochran, Shelby Keefe and Therese (Scott) Woodruff; and three sons, Blake (Kim) Scharine, Jason (Stephanie) Scharine and Marcus (Shelly) Scharine. He is also survived by two sisters Genevieve Thompson and Ellie Borchert, 9 grandchildren (Jade Cochran, Kaleb and Noah Keefe, Skyler Woodruff, Brittney Scharine, Raven and Robyn King, Morgan and Mallory Scharine) and 1 great grandchild (Zoey Gross).  

The family wishes to thank the caring staff of Agrace Hospice and Assisting Hands Home Care for their kindness and skilled assistance. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Wisconsin National Guard Foundation Inc., 2400 Wright Street, Room 151, Madison WI 53704.  

Online condolences can be made at henkeclarson.com.  

Matthew Alan Bakken, 60, of Fort Atkinson passed away peacefully while surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, September 12, 2021, at Meriter Hospital in Madison.

Matthew was born on April 7, 1961 in Edgerton to Willis and Beverly (Myron) Bakken. He worked as a Mason for several years before creating his own lock-smith business, which he established in 2006 as Fort Lock Co. After meeting the love of his life, Matthew and Debra Bowdin joined their hands in marriage, in the presence of their closest family and friends, in August of 2018.

Matthew was a man of faith which he used as the foundation for his life. He was a loving and devoted Husband, Father, and Grandfather. Matthew prioritized his family and cherished the time he spent with them. He had a wonderful sense of humor that he shared with all those who knew him. Matthew had a love for music and in his younger years he was the lead singer and lead guitarist in a band. He experienced much joy playing his guitar for family and friends at gatherings and attending music festivals with loved ones. Another aspect of Matthew’s life that was very important to him was his lock-smith business, which he was very proud of. Matthew prided himself on maintaining a business known for reliability and professionalism. He fostered connections with individuals and businesses in many different communities in the surrounding area.

Matthew was survived by his wife, Debra Bowdin-Bakken; son, Connor Bakken; step-son, Ryan (Rachael) Bowdin; grandchildren, Franklin and Rylee Bowdin; siblings, Steven (Carol) Bakken, Susan Schloesser, Craig Bakken, Lynne (Mike) Rhoe; step-brother, Michael Lee; cousins, nieces, nephews, and close friends.

He is preceded in death by parents, Willis and Beverly Bakken.

A memorial service will take place at 1 pm on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at Nitardy Funeral Home, 1008 Madison Ave., Fort Atkinson, WI 53538. Visitation will take place from 11 am until the time of service.

The family would like to give special thanks to the staff at Fort Memorial and Meriter Hospital for their exceptional care of Matthew. A special thank you to Pastor Scharrer for his spiritual guidance and comfort to the family in their time of need. Also, a heartfelt thank you to Sherry Busshardt for all her time, love, and support during this most difficult time.

In Lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the family.

Online condolences can be made at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he bent down and heard my cry….” Psalm 40:1

And, on September 1, 2021 with his family surrounding him, Jim Kleinhans was gently released from the devastating grip of pain, frustration, and isolation brought on as he battled Alzheimer’s dementia over the past five years.

A native of Fort Atkinson, WI, he was born on October 15, 1939. A first generation American, he was the son of John A. Kleinhans who immigrated here from Germany in 1929, and Evelyn Wetzel Kleinhans, heir to a proud family history of those who settled in Jefferson County prior to Wisconsin attaining statehood in 1848.

Jim attended St. Paul’s Lutheran School through the 8^th grade and graduated from Fort Atkinson High School in 1957. Jim’s post secondary schooling followed three years spent as a Navy Corpsman at Great Lakes Station in Illinois. He followed his high school basketball coach (Kermit “Doc” Weiske) to Ripon College for two years to play basketball. Subsequent to that, he attended UW-Whitewater for two years and received his B.A. degree in History and Broadfield Social Studies from UW-Stevens Point in 1994.

A lifelong involvement in sports (playing baseball and basketball through high school, college and Navy) and politics led to Jim’s 40-year professional career in journalism, printing and publication. At the request of and under the tutelage of long time Daily Jefferson County Union Editor, Bob Angus, he became a sports editor and reporter in 1964. Subsequently, he served as editor for the Ripon Commonwealth Press, The Lakeland Times in Minocqua, Arcadia News Leader, and the Dunn County News in Menomonie. He was also the senior associate editor at J.J. Keller and Associates in Neenah and an administration officer in the Bureau of Information/Education with the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

With a keen interest in environmental issues, Jim also spent a number of years working at the state and county levels, as well as with the National Guard on related matters. He was instrumental in establishing solid waste and recycling programs and served as the Executive Director of Wisconsin’s Radioactive Waste Review Board to ensure that nuclear dump sites were not located here in the state.

Jim’s relationship to sports continued throughout his adult life. It ranged from running the city’s recreation programs, managing the Fort Atkinson Generals to coaching both boys and girls high school basketball and baseball teams. He also spent many years as a WIAA referee and umpire for those same sports. During this period, Jim also spent time as a secondary school teacher in both Wisconsin and Massachusetts where his wife was serving as a Superintendent of Schools.

James S. Kleinhans married the girl he introduced himself to when he was a senior in high school and she was a 14-year-old freshman and new resident in the city, Penelope J. Alwin, daughter of JoAnn and Walter Alwin. They were joined in marriage on December 23, 1961 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fort Atkinson followed by a reception at the home of the bride on Merchants Avenue, the 23 room former Hoard mansion. Jim and Penny became the proud parents of five children in the next seven years; Tory Leigh, Todd James, Tyrone Alwin, Talitha Jo (T.J.) and Tara Kim.

Jim’s sons, Todd and Tyrone, later followed his path to Ripon College as scholar athletes. His daughters Tory and TJ also received advanced degrees and together these four children have careers as school administrators and school social workers. His youngest daughter, Tara, received her J.D. from UW-Madison and served 20 years as a family practice attorney and corporation counsel in Southwest Wisconsin. Jim and Penny shared great pride in being grandparents and great grandparents to 24 children.

Jim was preceded in death by his daughter, Tara, his son Tyrone, his parents John and Evelyn Kleinhans, brother John Kleinhans, as well as mother and father-in-law, Joann and Walter Alwin, brothers-in-law, Captain Scott R. Alwin, Craig J. Alwin, Brent P. Alwin, Dennis Sohns, sisters-in-law April M. Alwin, Phyllis Kleinhans, Jeannine Davis, Elaine Robinson and nephews, Sgt. Tyrone W. Alwin and David Guld.

Jim is survived by his wife, Penny Jo Alwin, daughter Tory Kleinhans (Deanie), son Todd Kleinhans (Kim) and daughter TJ Hansen (Andreas); brothers-in-law Roy Rockwell, Matt Simmons, Lance Alwin, Sean Alwin, Lee Sohns; sisters-in-law Deborah Rockwell, Pamela Fullerton, Gabrielle Alwin, Patty Alwin, Jill Simmons, Nancy Alwin, Tess Alwin-Ngyuen, and many, many beloved nieces and nephews.

Jim became an important and essential member of a large extended family unit. He is well loved and will be greatly missed by all including his faithful driving companion Mo. A lifetime of fishing leads us to say he’s gone fishin’ once again (esp., for walleyes). The “circle up yonder” is growing and will not be broken and so we say together, “Lord, lettest Thou thy servant depart in peace….” and we will meet again. Pax Vobiscum!

A memorial service to celebrate Jim’s life will be held on Saturday, September 18 at 11:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 145 S. Prairie Street, Whitewater. Visitation will precede the service from 10:30-11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to the Honor in the Air Project for Captain Scott R. Alwin. Information and donation options can be found at Honor In The Air.

The Nitardy Funeral Home Whitewater, WI is assisting the family.  Online condolences may be given to the family at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com     

Sharon D. Gaffner, 84, of Fort Atkinson and previously of Palmyra, WI passed away on Wednesday, September 8, 2021 at Reena Memory Care in Fort Atkinson.

Sharon was born in Milwaukee, WI on March 3, 1937 to William and Myrtle (Horick) Vallee. She graduated from Palmyra High School. On October 26, 1957, Sharon married Robert Gaffner at the First English Lutheran Church in Whitewater and the couple would go on to enjoy 61 years of marriage together until Bob’s passing in 2018. Bob and Sharon were blessed with 5 loving children, Scott, Mark, Robin, Terry, and Mike. Sharon worked in a few different capacities during her life but her primary job and her favorite was being a wife and mother. She was a very caring and serving person, always putting other’s needs before her own. She always made sure her family and friends were well fed and taken care of. Sharon enjoyed gardening, canning, knitting, sewing, ceramics and cooking. She was active in the community as a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader,  a charter member of the Palmyra Lioness Club, and was an active member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church of Palmyra for many years. Sharon will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

She is survived by: her children, Scott (Shelly) of Palmyra, Mark of Fremont, Robin (Scott) Sweno of Palmyra, Terry (Scott) Gleesing of Fort Atkinson, and Michael of Fort Atkinson; 9 grandchildren: Bill (Jamie) Gaffner, Tony Gaffner, Micayla Fero-Stauff, Ashley (Brett) Schmitz, Steve Sweno, Eugene Sweno, Morgan Gaffner, Mitchell Gaffner, Nichole (James) Jaquith; 4 great-grandchildren: Shane and Madison Gaffner, David and Taylor Schmitz; her brother, Neal Vallee of Mukwonago; and her sister-in-law, Rose Vallee. She is also survived by a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband, Robert, and her brother, Thomas Vallee.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Sharon’s honor may be made to the Special Olympics, St. Matthew Lutheran Church of Palmyra, or Rainbow Hospice.

A Memorial Service will be held at 12:00 Noon on Sunday, September 19, 2021 at the Gibson Family Funeral Home in Palmyra, WI (320 W. Main St. Palmyra, WI 53156). Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until the time of service at the funeral home. Pastor Steven M.D. Blyth will officiate the service. Sharon will be laid to rest immediately following the service in Hillside Cemetery of Palmyra.

Gibson Family Funeral Homes of Palmyra & Eagle, WI is serving the family. To place an online condolence please visit gibsonfuneral.com

In Memorial: Cecil John Rhodes, formerly of LaGrange, Wisconsin

Cecil John Rhodes, age 95 and resident of Surprise, AZ, died February 5th, 2021, of Covid-19 after a long and joyful life. 

Retired from farming the Rhodes family farm in LaGrange, WI, he loved reading, traveling and entertaining his friends with good humor. He also participated in and loved music, especially barbershop, Dixieland bands, big bands, and classical music with lots of brass.  

He served in the Navy in World War II’s Pacific arena. He was a 60-year member of the Masonic Lodge of Palmyra (WI) and a 25+-year member of the Lauderdale LaGrange Volunteer Fire Department as a firefighter and scuba diver. He was also a member of the LaGrange United Methodist Church, and the Shepherd of the Hills UMC in Sun City West, AZ.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Goldie Chamberlain Rhodes, and survived by four daughters, Gail Rhodes of Whitewater, WI; Carol and son-in-law Bob Berray of Powell, WY; Tricia Rhodes of Bloomington, MN; and Bobbi Rhodes of Powell, WY. His gift of gab and fun will be sorely missed.  

His memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 16^th at the LaGrange Methodist Church, N8548 County Road H, Whitewater WI 53190.

Visitation will be at 9 am with family. The service will be at 10 am, with burial and lunch to follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the:
Lauderdale LaGrange Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. 
West 6080 US Hwy 12
Whitewater, WI  53190