Robert Raymond Brown, 59, of Wooster, died May 29, 2025 at Wooster Community Hospital, in Wooster, Ohio.
Robert was born November 9, 1965 in Fort Atkinson, WI to Raymond Robert and Suzan {Mayer} Brown.
He married Laura Kling on April 07, 2008.
Robert was a Pipeliner since 2007, he really enjoyed his job. He loved his time off with his wife, spending time with his family and friends and he especially loved his sister Kathy, who was always there for him. They were truly two peas in a pod.
Robert will be deeply missed by his wife; stepson Dustan (Angie) Kling; grandchildren Samantha, Nathan, Kelsey; great-granddaughter Kaira; sister Dawn (Don) Brown-Rothmer and Kathy (Joe) Zamora.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents, grandparent Frank Mayer and his nephew Joey.
Roberts Funeral Home-Sherwood Chapel in Wooster, Ohio will be handling arrangements. Online tributes may be made at www.RobertsFuneralHome.com.
Friends may call June 25, 2025 from 10-11:00 A.M. at St. Patrick Church, 1225 W. Main Street, Whitewater, WI 53190 until time of service at 11. A luncheon will immediately follow services.
This image was taken by volunteers or staff of Downtown Whitewater, Inc at a prior year’s fireworks show.
The Whitewater 4th of July Festival Committee is thrilled to announce that fireworks will light up the sky on both Friday, July 4, and Saturday, July 5, 2025, at 10:00 p.m. over Cravath Lake as part of this year’s celebration.
This spectacular tradition is made possible through the generous support of local businesses and partners. A special thank you goes to Coburn Company for sponsoring this year’s fireworks and to commend their remarkable milestone — 100 years in business. We proudly applaud their century of excellence and impact in the Whitewater area.
We also extend our sincere thanks to DLK Enterprises and the City of Whitewater for their continued sponsorship and ongoing support of the festival. Thanks to their dedication, the festival continues to shine as a highlight of Whitewater’s summer.
As we prepare for this exciting holiday weekend, we’re inviting members of the community to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the magic happens. Volunteers are needed to assist with launching the fireworks barge and other logistics surrounding the festival. We’re especially looking for a local boat owner willing to help tow the barge into Cravath Lake, as well as helping hands ready to be part of the action.
“This festival is a true community effort,” said a representative of the Whitewater 4th of July Committee. “Whether you’re sponsoring, volunteering, or attending, you’re part of something special.”
Editor’s note: The following schedule is from the above website.
Thursday, July 3, 2025
Christman Family Amusements Wrist Band Session: 5-9 PM, $25 each wrist band Family Day Sponsored by Generac 4-7 PM Karaoke at Frawley Ampitheater: 4-6 PM Miss Whitewater Pageant at Frawley Ampitheater: 6:30 PM Civic Organization Food Vendors: 4-11 PM
Friday, July 4
Whippet City Mile: 9:45 AM along parade route 4th of July Parade: 10 AM Civic Organization Food Vendors: 10 AM to 11 PM Christman Family Amusements: 12-4 PM Wrist band Session Live Music at Frawley Amphitheater: After the Parade – enjoy one of the bands in the parade on stage! 2 PM Jeff Winard Polka Party 5 PM Rural Route 3 8 PM Stetsin and Lace Fireworks: 10 PM
Saturday, July 5
Christman Family Amusements Wrist Band Session: $25 40th Annual Car Show 2-6 PM Civic Organization Food Vendors: Noon to 11 PM Live Music at the Frawley Ampitheater: 2 PM Sawyer Road 5 PM Gebel Girls 8 PM Brightside Fireworks 10 PM
Sunday, July 6
Carnival Only – Last chance for rides and a wrist band session! Christman Family Amusements Wrist Band Special: 12 to 4 PM, $25 each
Former University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football kicker Jeff Schebler and longtime Head Coach Forrest Perkins are candidates for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame according to an announcement from the National Football Foundation [NFF].
To become a member of the NFF [with a $60 donation] and cast your vote for Schebler and Perkins today – click here. Votes must be cast by July 1, 2025.
The 2026 College Football Hall of Fame ballot includes 79 players and 9 coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players and 35 coaches from divisional ranks. The 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted during the 68th annual awards dinner on December 8, 2026 in Las Vegas.
To be eligible, a player must have received first team All-America recognition by an NCAA-recognized selector and played in his final season at least 10 full seasons ago but no more than 50 years ago. A player’s post-football record as a citizen and academic honors accumulated are also weighted in the selection process.
Coaches must have coached a minimum of 10 years and 100 games as a head coach, won at least 60 percent of their games and be retired from coaching for at least three years.
Schebler (#11) Photos courtesy of UW-Whitewater Athletics
Schebler was a four-year All-American and four-year First Team All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference kicker for the Warhawks from 2006-09. He helped lead UW-Whitewater to four appearances in the Stagg Bowl, including national championships in 2007 and 2009, when he was selected as a First Team All-American by D3football.com. The team also earned WIAC titles during all four years of Schebler’s career.
Schebler earned the Fred Mitchell Award as the nation’s best non-FBS kicker in 2009 after converting 14-of-18 on field goals and 83-of-85 on PATs. He also averaged 60.3 yards per kickoff as UW-W finished with a perfect 15-0 mark on its way to the national title.
For his career, Schebler is the program’s all-time leader in PATs attempted (256), PATs made (245) and field goals made (75). He tied the school record for longest field goal with a pair of 52-yarders in 2007. Schebler still holds the Division III career records for points scored by a kicker (470), highest percentage of field goals made (78.9) and field goals made (75).
Forrest Perkins
Perkins coached the Warhawks for 29 seasons from 1956-84. He is currently the school’s all-time leader in victories after leading UW-Whitewater to a 190-88-8 record, good for a .678 winning percentage.
Perkins led the Warhawks to 11 conference championships and was named NAIA National Coach of the Year in 1966 after leading UW-Whitewater to a 10-1 record and the program’s first-ever postseason appearance. After a 41-18 triumph over Central (Iowa) in the national semifinals, the Warhawks reached the title game, where they fell against Waynesburg (Pa.).
At the time of his retirement, Perkins was the league’s all-time leader in wins and had the second-most wins of active coaches at the Division III level. He is currently No. 2 in the conference in victories and among the top 50 on the NCAA Division III all-time wins list.
College Football Hall of Fame votes are cast by more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers. Their votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF’s Honors Court, which includes a diverse pool of athletic administrators, Hall of Famers and members of the media, for final class selection.
Taken at about 9 p.m., June 10, shortly after moon rise. Taken with what amounts to the equivalent of a 510 mm lens.
Taken about 2:35 a.m. on June 11 at the full moon’s brightest. Interesting to see how the image of the moon’s surface is different in the two photos, as the moon is rotating.
Strawberry Moon – June 2025
Named After Ripening Strawberries
June’s Full Moon is named after the wild strawberries that ripen this month and could be gathered by the Native American tribes. Other native names are Berries Ripen Moon, Green Corn Moon, and Hot Moon.
The Celtic names are Horse Moon, Dyan Moon, and Rose Moon. Other English names are Flower Moon and Planting Moon. Other sources quote Mead Moon as the Anglo-Saxon name because this was the time for mowing the meads, or meadows.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The first full moon of the summer, coined the strawberry moon, will light up the sky starting Tuesday night. It will be the lowest full moon in decades and one that astronomers have said won’t happen again until 2043.
The moon will appear full for about three days, from June 10 through the morning of June 12, according to NASA. Despite its name, the moon won’t visually look pink or red in color.
Its name is attributed to the Algonquin tribes, where “strawberry moon” refers to the time of year when fresh berries are harvested. In Europe, it can be referred to as the “rose moon.”
What’s special about this June’s full moon?
It will be the lowest full moon of the calendar year and the lowest it’s been in the sky in nearly two decades. The moon’s low position in the sky gives it a larger appearance, a term known as the “Moon Illusion.”
NASA’s interactive map for observing the Moon each day of the year shows the strawberry moon will actually be a few thousand miles closer to Earth during the full moon phase.
Our thanks to Tom Ganser for sharing these interesting photos and information.
— Our Readers Share: We hope that you might have something that you’d be willing to share. Anything that’s been created by someone else should, of course, be credited, and you should ask their permission if you’re able. We cannot post copyrighted material without permission. We can’t guarantee that we’ll have space for all submissions, and contributions will be subject to editorial board approval. The one definite exclusion is anything politically oriented. We will assume that you’re willing for us to include your name as the submitter unless you indicate that you prefer to remain anonymous. Send to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com. Thanks for thinking about this!
Dawn Hunter, a founding member and first president of the Whitewater Arts Alliance, will host a book signing for her newly published children’s book, The Lavender Lady, Thursday, June 12 from 1-4 pm. Dawn is also a featured artist in this month’s Collage x 5: Up Close and Personal exhibit at the Cultural Arts Center, 402 W. Main Street, Whitewater.
Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Community Foundation.
Over $10,000 has been awarded to the following local organizations through the Whitewater Community Foundation’s (WCF) Community Action Grant program: Fairhaven Senior Services, Impact Team Trinity, Irvin L. Young Memorial Library, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Children’s Center, Whitewater Makers Inc., and the Whitewater Youth Soccer Club.
“We were thrilled to distribute more than $10,000 to several organizations doing work to benefit the Whitewater community. Making a difference in the lives of our residents is our key purpose,” said Virginia Coburn, Chair of the Community Action Grant committee for the Whitewater Community Foundation.
Following is more information about each grant:
Fairhaven Senior Services was granted $2,500 for batteries to recharge Cycling Without Age Trishaw Rides. Each summer, volunteers spend hours bicycling around town with residents of Fairhaven enjoying the ride.
Front: Kat Mawhinney (WCF Co-president), Therese Kennedy (WCF Co-president), Brian Robinson (Fairhaven) Rear: Virginia Coburn (WCF CAG Committee Chair), Geoff Hale (WCF Board)
Impact Team Trinity (formerly W3) was granted $368.49 to purchase youth mental health books for each school library and the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library.
Geoff Hale (WCF Board), Virginia Coburn (WCF CAG Committee Chair), Therese Kennedy (WCF Co-president), Beth Nickels (Impact Team Trinity), Kat Mawhinney (WCF Co-president)
Irvin L Young Memorial Library was granted $4,500 for a computer to help young library visitors and their parents with the AWE literacy and reading readiness program in English and Spanish.
Virginia Coburn (WCF CAG Committee Chair), Kat Mawhinney (WCF Co-president), Therese Kennedy (WCF Co-president), Diane Jaroch (ILY Library), Geoff Hale (WCF Board)
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Children’s Center was granted $1,000 to purchase Born Learning Trail Signs for a city park. The Born Learning Campaign provides caregivers and children with fun, free, bi-lingual, interactive activities to promote literacy and math in an outdoor setting.
Geoff Hale (WCF Board), Chelsea Newman (UWW Children’s Center), Virginia Coburn (WCF CAG Committee Chair), Jennalee Johnson (UWW Children’s Center)
Whitewater Makers Inc. was granted $500 to purchase supplies and to repair their printer and laser cutter/engraver.
Geoff Hale (WCF Board), Therese Kennedy (WCF Co-president), Al Jewer (WI Makers), Virginia Coburn (WCF CAG Committee Chair)
Whitewater Youth Soccer Club was granted $1,500 to purchase soccer goals for the players who are under 8 years old.
Kat Mawhinney (WCF Co-president), Tony Aranda (Whitewater Youth Soccer), Virginia Coburn (WCF CAG Committee Chair)
Twice a year, the WCF offers Community Action Grants for projects that the community and board of directors believe are worthwhile and beneficial to various segments of the population. Grant proposals are due on April 30th and October 31st of each year.
“The Foundation remains committed to funding projects that foster community engagement. We encourage more local organizations to apply for our upcoming grants and continue making a positive impact,” said Coburn.
The Foundation continues to provide and host scholarships for Whitewater High School students and also offers fiscal sponsorship to organizations that are seeking 501(c) (3) status or require temporary pass-through funds for worthy community projects.
The Whitewater Community Foundation’s mission is to “enhance quality of life in the Whitewater area via educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent expenditures.”
Classic cars on display at Lakeland Health Care Center’s 2024 Lugnuts and Donuts Car Show
Revving Up Joy: Lakeland Health Care Center Hosts4th Annual Lugnuts & Donuts Classic Car Show
Lakeland Health Care Center (LHCC), a skilled nursing facility operated by Walworth County, will host its Fourth-Annual Lugnuts & Donuts classic car show on Wednesday, June 18, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. This event is free and open to the public.
“Providing engaging community activities is essential to our residents’ morale and well-being,” says Lakeland Health Care Center Administrator Denise Johnson. “For many, classic cars evoke fond memories of their youth and spark a deep sense of joy.”
Local gearheads will show off their classic rides and sports cars, motorcycles, trucks, and other motorized vehicles in LHCC’s front driveway. Donuts are provided. The residents will choose a first-place prize. The rain date is Wednesday, June 25.
Anyone interested in entering their classic ride in the show should contact the Lakeland Health Care Center Recreation Department at (262) 741-3677.
Lakeland Health Care Center is located at 1922 County Road NN, Elkhorn. Learn more about Lakeland Health Care Center at www.co.walworth.wi.us/260/Lakeland-Health-Care-Center.4th Annual Lugnuts & Donuts Classic Car Show
Beto Patino Luna, a student at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, was recently announced as one of 441 recipients nationwide of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the most prestigious undergraduate scholarship in the natural sciences and engineering.
“It’s the most prestigious scholarship for undergraduates nationwide,” said Juk Bhattacharyya, a professor of geography, geology, and environmental science at UW-Whitewater and one of Patino Luna’s faculty mentors for the scholarship. “There are three people from Yale, three people from UW-Madison … and one from UW-Whitewater.
“Warhawks are the best people they can be, and Beto is a good example of that.”
One of eight students from Wisconsin to collect the scholarship, Patino Luna intends to pursue a Ph.D. in geophysics focused on rock rheology — the study of the deformation and flow of matter — and conduct research at a national laboratory, advancing numerical models to forecast volcanic hazards including eruptions and flank collapse.
Patino Luna, who is highly engaged in undergraduate research at UW-Whitewater, was encouraged to apply for the award by Bhattacharyya. He worked through the application process during the summer and submitted his application in January.
Patino Luna said completing the application helped him refine his knowledge of the research he is conducting and think more deeply about what he wants to do for his career.
“I was excited. Even just going through the application was a great joy,” he said. “Receiving that notification (of selection) was the cherry on top.”
Beto Patino Luna, a geography and physics major from Janesville, presents his research poster for a video team. UW-Whitewater students from the Whitewater and Janesville campuses presented their undergraduate research projects at the Universities of Wisconsin Research in the Rotunda at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)
A first-generation college student, Patino Luna worked as a welder in high school before deciding to attend college to find his passion. He visited campus in June 2022 and decided to enroll that fall.
Patino Luna was a part of the King/Chávez Scholars Program during his first year on campus. He contacted Bhattacharyya about being a part of her research when she presented to the group in the week leading up to the first day of classes and joined her lab that same week.
He immediately found success in research, presenting “Physical modeling with sand and water to simulate landslide conditions using Raspberry Pi to predict slope failure” at Undergraduate Research Day that spring. He earned the Outstanding Poster in Physical Science award for the project.
“Beto is like a sponge,” Bhattacharyya said. “When knowledge is involved, he soaks up anything people can throw at him, and he wants more.”
Beto Patino Luna, a geography and physics major from Janesville, presents his research on sensors to an audience in a three-minute pitch during the WiSys Quick Pitch Competition at the University Center on Thursday, March 21, 2024, as part of Spring Undergraduate Research Day. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)
In 2023-24, Patino Luna continued with research in landslide detection and slope failure, presenting at the WiSys Quick Pitch competition. Later that spring, he earned the Travel Study Award scholarship from the University Honors Program, setting up his participation in an eight-day travel study course in Iceland with Bhattacharyya and Ozgur Yavuzcetin, professor of physics and also a faculty mentor for the Goldwater Scholarship.
“It’s a completely different culture, so it really broadens your perspective,” Patino Luna said. “I think that was really important, and it helped me become certain that I wanted to pursue a career in research.”
Patino Luna was one of 10 recipients nationwide of the 2024 American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) Undergraduate Scholarship. Last summer, he worked with Tushar Mittal, Raphael Affinito, and Christelle Wauthier of Penn State University’s Department of Geosciences on rock deformation, using his skills in physics and mathematics to conduct research. Mittal authored one of Patino Luna’s letters of recommendation.
In the fall, Patino Luna was part of a visit by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers to Upham Hall’s STEM lab. He is also a McNair Scholar for his work in undergraduate research.
Ozgur Yavuzcetin, professor of physics, Governor Tony Evers and State Senator Mark Spreitzer check out the STEM lab in Upham Hall. Beto Patino Luna, far right in purple, talks with the group. Gov. Evers visited the UW-Whitewater campus on Sept. 18, 2024. (UW-Whitewater Photo/Kyle Winter)
“Beto is a go-getter,” Yavuzcetin said. “If he wants to do something, he’ll do it. There’s nothing difficult for him.”
Patino Luna’s friendly demeanor and positive attitude match his hunger to learn.
“He’s always smiling,” Yavuzcetin said. “When he’s working or learning something, he’s always trying to talk to his professors, trying to learn something new and asking them questions. He has lots of interests … he’s like a kid in a candy store.”
This summer, Patino Luna will be working at the University of California, Santa Barbara through the U.S. National Sciences Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates, which includes numerous opportunities available to college students. He’ll work with devices consisting of stacked single atomic layers from synthetically grown materials — think small Legos stacked on top of each other — that allow for the study of quantum phenomena that can be implemented in new technologies.
Friends and student honorees at Founders Day are Beto Patino Luna, left, and Brian Michael. Beto is double-majoring in geography and physics. Brian will graduate next month with a degree in media arts and game development. Alumni and current student honorees were the focus of the annual Founders Day celebration in the Hamilton Room on Saturday, Apr. 26, 2025. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)
He values the relationships he’s built in his coursework, through undergraduate research, and through all his opportunities at UW-Whitewater.
“I am who I am because of my mentors and my peers — both of them are really important to my development,” said Patino Luna, who is slated to graduate in May 2027. “They are really hard workers who motivate me to keep working and keep pushing.”
The Goldwater Scholarship honors former U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater and was designed to identify, encourage, and financially support outstanding undergraduate students interested in pursuing research careers in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics.
Versiti is the primary blood supplier for Southeastern Wisconsin hospitals, including Aurora Lakeland Medical Center and Fort Memorial Hospital. They are also the primary provider for all of the veterans’ hospitals in the state. Donations are especially appreciated during the summer, when the blood supply is often low.
Donors will be offered four free Mt. Olympus passes while supplies last. We are seeking clarification on the details, but last time the pass was for the water park, with $6 additional for entering the theme park. Also, the passes were only good through July 1. We’ll update this announcement if further details are available.
Appointments are greatly appreciated, though walk-ins are welcome as time permits. Reserve your spot at this link or by calling Lynn at 262-473-2997.
Editor’s note: The following press release was provided by the Irvin L. Young Library.
The Library Board will consider a proposal to change the name of the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library to Whitewater Public Library in its monthly meeting on June 16.
Jim Winship, who had been a longtime Library Board member and served as Chair of the library’s successful Capital Campaign, is making this proposal. He states: “Thanks to the City of Whitewater and the generosity of a large number of Whitewater area residents, we are completing a building project which increases the library size by 4400 sq. ft. and transforms the building. When the construction and renovation is complete, the library will have an expanded early learning wing, a new teen area, a larger Makerspace, additional collaboration spaces, outdoor event space, and greater accessibility. The name Whitewater Public Library, which is the way many people now refer to the library, best suits our library.”
The Library Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. on June 16 in the Cravath Lakefront Conference Room on the 2nd floor of the City of Whitewater’s Municipal Building, located at 312 W. Whitewater Street. Individuals wishing to speak to the proposal are welcome to attend the meeting.
Editor’s note: Irvin L. Young was born in 1897 in Milwaukee. He was an alumnus of Lake Forest College of Lake Forest, IL and McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. In 1940 he started the Snow Valley plant of Young Engineering in Palmyra. In 1954 he married Fern Drummond Jones of Chicago and established a home in his farm in the Palmyra area as well as retaining the Chicago home. Per his obituary, “He dedicated his life and income to the Irvin L. Young Foundation, a charitable foundation concerned mainly with the support of medical missionary work in Africa working through the board of 15 different denominations….Untold thousands of lives have been affected by the life and work of this one man.” Fern Young died in 2002. The Irvin L. Young Foundation made donations from its remaining assets of approximately $670,000 in 2019 and it was dissolved effective November 1, 2020.
The Whitewater Banner asked Library Director Diane Jaroch if she knew whether there were any stipulations connected to the foundation’s donation specifying how long the library was required to be named after Young. Jaroch replied, “I did do research before this idea was proposed, and there is nothing in the paperwork stating that we cannot change the name of the library. I also consulted with Stacey Lunsford, the former Director. I plan to present the board with information on the history of the naming rights in their June board packet, so they will have all of the pertinent information they need before the June 16 board meeting.”
Local historian Carol Cartwright indicated that newspaper articles from 1987 and 1989 reported that the Young foundation gave $500,000 toward the library with the stipulation that it be named after Irvin Young. She stated that nothing was said about the duration of the naming. Taking inflation into account, today’s value of that donation would be approximately $1,300,000. The library opened in 1991, so it has carried the Young name for 34 years. The Young Auditorium, which opened on the UW-Whitewater campus in 1993, was also constructed with donations that included significant assistance from the Young foundation.
The approximate $6 million addition and renovation currently underway is being funded by over $2,300,000 in donations, library reserves of $840,000 and a $3,000,000 commitment from the city.
The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is a member of the Bridges Library system of Jefferson and Waukesha Counties. The other libraries in the system are named as follows:
