Editor’s note: The following information was provided by the Whitewater Unified School District.
Whitewater Unified School District is proud and honored to announce that Lakeview and Washington Elementary Schools were both ranked one of the best elementary schools in Wisconsin by U.S. News & World Report. Both elementaries placed among the top 30% of public elementary schools across the state.
The recently announced ranking list is the first-ever ranking for public elementary schools, after years of rankings for high schools across the nation. Lakeview and Washington’s high ranking means the schools have earned the right to display a U.S. News-trademarked Best Elementary School’s award “badge” on the school’s social media, website, signage, apparel and more.
Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty, Whitewater Superintendent stated, “This honor is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of our teachers, staff and our principals. They are dedicated to every student, every day in a Unified Way.”
Banner note: The following information is from the U.S. News website. It appears that the rankings are based exclusively on reported proficiency in math and reading.
Lakeview Elementary is a public school located in Whitewater, WI, which is in a distant rural setting. The student population of Lakeview Elementary is 212 and the school serves PK-5. At Lakeview Elementary, 62% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 62% scored at or above that level for reading.The school’s minority student enrollment is 21%. The student-teacher ratio is 14:1, which is the same as that of the district.The student population is made up of 36% female students and 64% male students. The school enrolls 29% economically disadvantaged students. There are 15 equivalent full-time teachers and 0 full-time school counselors.
Washington Elementary is a public school located in Whitewater, WI, which is in a distant town setting. The student population of Washington Elementary is 345 and the school serves PK-5. At Washington Elementary, 57% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 52% scored at or above that level for reading.The school’s minority student enrollment is 44%. The student-teacher ratio is 13:1, which is better than that of the district. The student population is made up of 51% female students and 49% male students. The school enrolls 46% economically disadvantaged students. There are 26 equivalent full-time teachers and 1 full-time school counselor.
Editor’s note: The following information was provided by the UW-W Dept. of Theatre/Dance
Fall Season Closes With “She Kills Monsters” by Qui Nguyen
The College of Arts and Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is pleased to announce the second show of the Theatre/Dance season is “She Kills Monsters” by Qui Nguyen. Directed by Sara J. Griffin, this production will run in Hicklin Studio Theatre from November 15 – 19 at 7:30 p.m. with the final performances on November 20 and 21 at 2:00 p.m. Socially distant seating will be available for the performances on November 18 and 20. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at tickets.uww.edu or by calling (262) 472-2222. Masks are required for anyone entering a campus building and each performance will have a social distance seating option. The Hicklin Studio Theatre is located in the Greenhill Center of the Arts at 950 W. Main St. Do not come to campus if you are ill. For the most up to date campus safety information, visit the Warhawks are Back webpage at the link below. uww.edu/warhawks-are-back.
Meet Agnes, an average girl who wished her life had more adventure. After a family tragedy, she finds herself skeptically discovering the world of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) through her little sister’s eyes, getting much more than she bargained for on a journey of self-discovery and understanding. Combat, comedy, and love are at the heart of this fantastic campaign. Directed by Sara J. Griffin, Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all.
“What intrigues me the most about Agnes is how resilient she is. Even after a severely traumatic experience, Agnes perseveres in her goals and finds true happiness in different aspects of her life. It’s also intriguing about the idea of ‘battling’ against tragedy played into the D&D aspect of the play with ‘battling’ monsters!” Lindsay Bland, playing Agnes, describes her character and her D&D experience. “I’m still learning a lot about D&D, and all of the creatures in it are so unique and ever-changing. This production has taught me a bit more about the 1st and 2nd edition of D&D, the earliest forms of the game. There weren’t as many classes or races as there are now, and it’s interesting to see where the game started and where it is now.”
“First thing to think of for combat is maneuverability and durability,” Lydia Oestreich, the costume designer, describes the process of creating the costumes. “For this I made sure that everyone had flat or stable shoes to move in, and they received their shoes to practice in fairly early in the rehearsal process. I also made sure that a majority of the pants were jeans as they are the most durable material that you can get and will scuff but won’t tear too easy, you need to be doing some wicked things to do that to a barely used pair.”
Tonia J. Eppers, age 47, of Whitewater, died on Saturday, November 6, 2021, in her home. She was born in Edgerton on April 29, 1974, the daughter of Michael and Shirley (Vaught) Dooley. She was a 1992 graduate of Elkhorn High School. She received her Master’s Degree from UW Whitewater in Speech Therapy in 2013. Tonia worked as a Speech Therapist at Kennedy Elementary for the Janesville School District. She loved her job and working with her students and her co-workers. Tonia married Jeffrey J. Eppers on February 11, 2006, in Whitewater. She was a former member of the Army Reserves, in which her unit was activated multiple times. She immensely enjoyed reading, going for hikes and spending time with family. Most of all, she was the best Mom ever!
Tonia is survived by her husband, Jeff; 2 daughters; Samantha LaBreche and Natalie LaBreche both of Whitewater; step-son, Keith Eppers of Liberty Lake, WA; mother, Shirley Dooley of Elkhorn; brother, Nathan Dooley of Elkhorn; sister, Lisa (Mel) Bjurstrom of Burlington; and many nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Michael Dooley.
A Funeral Service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 12, 2021, at APFEL EHLERT FUNERAL HOME, Edgerton. Visitation will take place on Friday from 2:00 p.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Burial will be at a later date at Evergreen Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Carbone Cancer Center, 600 Highland Ave, MC 9945, Madison, WI 53792. For on-line condolences: www.apfelfuneral.com
(Source: Wikipedia) Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day) is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11, for honoring military veterans, that is, persons who have served in the United States Armed Forces (and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable). It coincides with other holidays including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day which are celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I. Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. At the urging of major U.S. veteran organizations, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.
Rainbow Staff Honor Watertown Veteran for a Lifetime of Service
When Phillip Krueger enlisted in the United States Army at age 22, he wasn’t sure where his journey would take him. The year was 1960, and Phil had just finished two months of basic training in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he became skilled in military communications.
He thought he would probably end up staying in the Midwest.
“They were taking applications for Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and they asked which one of those states I would like to go to and I said Michigan,” said Krueger.
But Phil soon found out he wouldn’t be going to Michigan after all. The last place he was expecting to be sent though was somewhere over 3,000 miles away.
“They tipped Michigan upside down and made Alaska out of it, I guess,” Krueger said.
While he was there, Phil worked as a switchboard operator to link up communications for units in the battle group throughout Alaska.
“We would go out in the field and I’d have all those companies switched into my board and I would supply that communication for them,” Krueger said. “I spent six months out there with line companies that were doing exercises on glaciers…glacier training.”
One of the downsides of being in Alaska, was the unpredictable Alaskan weather, with long periods of freezing to subzero temperatures, and lots of snow. That was enough to make any soldier want to retreat and find some momentary relief.
“We had certain boots and big heavy snowshoes so we were comfy,” Krueger said. “But it was also uncomfortable jumping in a sleeping bag with all your clothes and shoes on. You feel like you’re stuffed inside a baloney. We had a field trip we took and it was 60 below zero. And we had to supply our own heat. You try digging through two feet of snow for some dried branches. That’s not easy.”
During that time, the Cold War was rapidly heating up around the world between the United States and the Soviet Union. The shortest and most likely route of an attack from the Soviet Union was through Alaska, so it became America’s first line of defense and a perfect location for early-warning radar systems and the best place troops could train for ground and air combat to simulate weather conditions in the Soviet Union. In 1961, an attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro and the growing Communist threat in Cuba ended with a failed Bay of Pigs invasion.
By October 1962, the world was on the brink of nuclear war when U.S. surveillance planes detected that the Soviets had begun to place long-range nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles off Florida’s coast. Not only could those missiles reach the United States, but it was estimated those missiles could kill 80 million Americans within minutes. In what became known as the Cuban Missile Crisis, the U.S. then opted to set up a naval blockade on Cuba to prevent more offensive weapons from entering the country. Eventually, a tense 13-day standoff with secret negotiations ended without any military action, and the Soviet Union agreed to remove their missiles as long as the U.S. agreed to never invade Cuba again.
Thankfully, that situation never escalated to the point of any military combat missions for Phil while he was stationed in Alaska. But his job in communications and on the switchboard kept him busy and gave him a chance to see and experience the picturesque Alaskan frontier filled with gorgeous scenery and wildlife.
“Alaska was a nice clean state and you could do just about anything you wanted up there because there was not that much action,” Krueger said.
Phil still remembers the marching drills he and his fellow soldiers did around the camp carrying their M1 rifles and wishes they could have practiced that more. He enjoyed getting to know the guys in his group who were from all over the country.
“We had to make it a guys’ thing, so we’d go to clubs and the dancing on weekends to amuse ourselves and the beer was much cheaper then,” Krueger said.
When there was downtime, Phil found another way to make some extra money on the side.
“I was a barber up there too,” Krueger said. “It wasn’t hard cutting the guys’ hair, I did about 30 to 40 heads of hair.”
Phil wrote lots of letters back and forth to his girlfriend Sharon. They first met at a birthday party in Johnson Creek and then their relationship blossomed when he asked her out to go dancing in Ixonia a week later. They dated for about a year before he joined the Army.
“How Sharon could wait that long for someone is beyond me,” Krueger said.
But Sharon did wait. Once Phil returned home to Wisconsin, it wasn’t long before he and Sharon were married in September 1964. Phil then started working in carpentry, had a little stint hanging ceiling tiles at the former Northwestern College in Watertown, and also had a job at Heavy Duty. He also helped his in-laws work their farm. Having been born and raised on a farm in Lebanon, farming was his first love. That’s what gave Phil the desire to run his own farm and that’s what he did for over 20 years. In 1973, Phil and Sharon moved into that same farmhouse that Sharon grew up in, and there raised their two daughters, Sarah and Mary.
When he decided to give up farming, Phil got a job at Target Distribution Center in Oconomowoc and also worked as a head custodian at Park Lawn Elementary School. When he was cleaning up in the cafeteria one day noticed some children were not receiving hot lunch because their parents couldn’t afford it. He and his wife Sharon decided they wanted to help somehow and decided to “adopt” a family with three children to make sure their school lunches were paid for the rest of the school year.
“It started out as just lunch and then it escalated. We started with only 100 dollars,” Krueger said.
That led to other staff members stepping up and donating some money and the cause became known as the “Phil Fund.” Besides free lunches, the fund also provided Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter meals to working families. It wasn’t long before Christmas presents, winter clothing, gift certificates to local grocery stores, and money for medical bills, medications, and doctor visits were also added to the mix.
The Phil Fund is no longer in existence today but it helped increase school and community involvement and inspired others to step up and give back to make sure children didn’t go hungry. Back in the late 90s and early 2000s, free and reduced lunches for students didn’t exist in every school district. That’s why Phil’s job at Park Lawn Elementary touched his heart the most.
“That’s one of the best feelings there is, to help others,” Krueger said.
Phil lost his wife Sharon to an illness in 2015 and he helped care for her before she passed away. After that, Phil still had a passion to help others and decided to volunteer for the Watertown Unified School District in the elementary school buildings with the Ready, Set, Read! Program to help children with their reading skills.
“By serving in the Army, my dad was exposed to all different nationalities,” said his daughter, Sarah Miller.” By being with people on base and with all the new people he met, he learned what giving, sharing, and working together is all about.”
Phil has been battling lung cancer and when his health began to decline he didn’t want to leave his farmhouse that was full of special memories, but he knew he needed more care.
“We found out in December that the cancer had spread to the fluid around his lungs and at the end of August he got a little bit weaker,” Miller said.
Rainbow Hospice Care stepped in to provide home hospice service in August and then a month later, after talking it over with his family and Rainbow social worker, Emily Marx, Phil decided to come to Rainbow Hospice Care’s Inpatient Center (IPC) in Johnson Creek.
“What brought me here (to the IPC) faster was a wheelchair,” Krueger said. “I lose less oxygen if I’m just sitting in a wheelchair and it was easier breathing.”
“For him to go from point A to point B was too much work on his lungs and for his heart,” Miller said. “He would be huffing and puffing. Dad said he was ready for that step to get more care.”
Phil moved into the IPC in September so he could receive around-the-clock care. It’s also close enough for Sarah and her family to visit Phil multiple times per week.
“He likes it here,” Miller said. “It’s quiet, it’s peaceful. I love all the staff, I love all the ladies here. I’ve gotten to know them quite well. They understand my humor. They understand me.”
The IPC still has some of the comforts of home and Phil also developed a closeness with Rainbow’s Bereavement Counselor Laura Wessels.
“One day I was like, we’ll I’m going to come and meet who this Laura is because dad was like, ‘we had a really nice visit and had communion,’ Miller said. “Laura has been amazing, the top of the list.”
“I’m inspired by how Phil has lived life fully, caring for and celebrating others, especially his two daughters and his four grandchildren,” said Wessels. “He has truly lived a life of service.”
Phil certainly has been a hero in more ways than one, not just for his military service but the way he’s been giving back his whole life to his family, friends, neighbors, and his community. A few days after Phil arrived at the inpatient center the staff surprised him with a special veteran pinning ceremony. Rainbow volunteer John Phillips, also a veteran pinned Phil and gave him a salute and tribute for his service in the United States Army.
“Dad had no idea that it was going to happen,” Miller said. “He is honored to have served his country and he was very humbled that others were thinking of him. Dad’s pin for his service we put on his veteran’s cap and he has that with him in his room.”
Sarah, her husband Rob, and her sister Mary were there to witness the pinning and each received an angel pin, a patriotic-themed pin given to those that are special to a veteran patient being honored. Phil also received a fleece Army blanket that is sewn and tied together by several of Rainbow’s volunteers.
Sarah is happy that the Rainbow Hospice Care Inpatient Center is a place that her dad can go to receive quality, end-of-life.
“When dad first came here it was a change, it’s something new,” Miller said. “Everybody wants to do something for you. And dad is very independent, but if we need something the girls are right there. Plus, when your stomach rumbles while you’re here, they bring you cookies. They went into the kitchen and got me the homemade stash that Chef Sarah had made. At Rainbow, they take care of dad, but they also take care of the people that are visiting too.”
“We’re getting very good care here,” Krueger said. “I enjoy it.”
(Contributed by Kenyon Kemnitz, Rainbow Hospice Care)
Phil Krueger and his daughter, Sarah Miller, at the Rainbow Hospice Care Inpatient Center
Phil while he was working in the Army.
Phil being saluted by one of Rainbow’s veteran volunteers, John Phillips.
Rainbow Hospice Care is a community based not-for-profit organization that provides a full spectrum of physical, emotional and spiritual care to terminally ill patients and their families in both in-home and inpatient settings. Founded in 1990, dedicated caregivers at Rainbow Hospice Care have been serving residents of south-central Wisconsin for 30 years. Regardless of age, race, gender, faith, ethnicity, insurance coverage or economic status, they treat all of their patients and their loved ones with the same respect, kindness and concern—focusing on quality of life, maintaining comfort and dignity, and providing expert support tailored to each individual’s unique needs and wishes. To learn more call (920) 674-6255, or visit www.rainbowhospicecare.org
Editor’s note: The following information was provided by Phi Delta Theta.
Phi Delta Theta is hosting our first annual Community Chili Cook-Off and dinner this Saturday on November 13th from 4-7 p.m. at the Congregational UCC, 133 S Franklin St. It’s $5 all you can eat chili.
Submitted by: Lisa Dawsey Smith, volunteer for Downtown Whitewater, Inc.
On Saturday 11/06/2021, a group of University of Wisconsin Whitewater students joined Downtown Whitewater, Inc for a Greek Day of Service and fall downtown cleanup. Students were tasked with collecting refuse, pulling weeds from sidewalks, cleaning up fallen leaves, sweeping sidewalks, curbs, and gutters in an effort to keep our stormwater system free of trash and leaves.
As a volunteer-led organization, Downtown Whitewater, Inc hosts a number of downtown cleanups throughout the year including several collaborations with UWW. We are thankful for our student and non student volunteers who are dedicated to making our downtown a vibrant community center. Community members wishing to become more involved with our volunteer opportunities are always welcome to reach out to us via email at director@downtownwhitewater.com or call our office at (262)473-2200.
Editor’s note: The following information was provided by the City of Whitewater Public Works Department.
The City of Whitewater’s compost site will close for the season at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. The site will remain open this Saturday from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Wednesdays from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. until the posted closing date of November 17, 2021.
Additional Opportunity for Leaf and Yard Waste Collection For those who miss the bagged leaf pickup deadline (November 8 – 12/November 15 – 19), a dumpster will be located at the Department of Public Works (150 E. Starin Rd.) between November 22 – December 3. This will be an additional opportunity to dispose of leaf and yard waste only, NO BRUSH. City of Whitewater residents only will have access between 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. We ask that you please empty your bags (Bio bags do not have to be emptied) or containers into the dumpsters and take them with you when you leave. *Please note the City of Whitewater will be closed on Thursday, November 25, and Friday, November 26.
Residents requesting brush collection should call 473-0560 to make an appointment for pick up on Tuesdays.
For additional questions or concerns, contact the Streets Department at (262) 473-0560. For other requests, visit https://www.whitewater-wi.gov/RequestTracker.aspx.
Editor’s note: The following information was provided by the Dwight Foster Public Library.
The U.S. Veterans Project Library and the Dwight Foster Public Library invite you to celebrate Veterans Day on November 11 with the fascinating story of Sgt. Reckless, a hero of the Korean War. The program begins at 6 p.m. at the Dwight Foster Library, 209 Merchants Avenue in Fort Atkinson. There is also a virtual option for individuals to attend on Zoom. The link to register for the virtual Zoom is available on the library’s website: fortlibrary.org.
Staff Sergeant Reckless was a decorated war horse who held official rank in the United States military. She served in numerous combat actions during the Korean War, carrying supplies and ammunition, and was also used to evacuate wounded. Learning each supply route after only a couple of trips, she often traveled to deliver supplies to the troops on her own, without benefit of a handler. The highlight of her nine-month military career came in late March 1953 during the Battle for Outpost Vegas. Join us to learn the rest of the story of this four-legged hero.
For additional information contact Amy Lutzke at (920) 563-7790 or contact@fortlibrary.org.
Bob Wulfkuhle passed away on Friday, November 5, 2021, at Fairhaven Senior Services.
Robert Lloyd Wulfkuhle, was born on October 6th, 1928, in Lawrence, Kansas to Gustav and Lillian (Lentz) Wulfkuhle. Robert, in Lawrence or Bob in Illinois or Wisconsin, was a student of the Lawrence Public School System, attending Woodlawn Middle School and Lawrence Memorial High School, which was built in memory of the Lawrence servicemen lost in World War I.
During his school years, Bob worked at Kroger’s Grocery Store during the winter and at his Uncle Alfred’s, the Alfred Heck and Sons farm during the spring, summer, and fall. Bob started working for the Hecks when he was in 5th grade. He was close to the family, living on the farm during the busy seasons — in fact, Alfred and Emma Heck, and their sons, Arthur and Walter, always treated Bob as part of their family. Bob credited the Hecks with teaching him about the importance of working hard and with honesty to accomplish one’s goals. He learned the value of maintaining a clean and neat farm, as demonstrated by his large, productive garden and immaculate lawns. Bob was often teased by his friends and neighbors about his lawn and garden, receiving a lighted helmet to mow his lawn at night from some work friends and a large picture of dandelions – which were never allowed to grace his yard– from his good neighbors and friends, Rollie and Margaret Stortz.
Bob attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, working his way through college at the Lawrence Sanitary Dairy during the summer and at Kansas State University’s Creamery during the school year. He graduated in June of 1951 and was on a train the next day to begin boot camp for the Navy. Bob worked hard and served as the Boot Chief Petty Officer, receiving the American Spirit Award in recognition for his performance as the top student from his boot camp class. Bob served as an independent duty hospital corpsman for four years in the USS Baltimore. The Baltimore completed tours in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, took an admiral on a goodwill tour of the Scandinavian countries, and represented the United States during the Naval Review for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
Honorably discharged from the Navy, Bob worked for the Department of Agriculture in Kansas City as an inspector and chemist. Bob was then asked to run the Arkansas City Coop, a large creamery in southeastern Kansas. He then moved to Hawthorn Mellody in Kansas City before transferring to the Hawthorn Mellody plant in Whitewater, WI. While working in Whitewater, Bob met and married his wife of 57 years, Stratewula (Sug) Kehias, an associate professor at UW-Whitewater. Bob took a job with Creamery Packaging in Chicago, IL as a Sales Engineer and moved to Chicagoland. Upon promotion to the Assistant to the President, Bob was transferred to the Lake Mills, WI plant and moved his family to Fort Atkinson, WI. Bob took a position with Hartel Manufacturing in Fort Atkinson, WI, in 1980. He worked for Hartel’s for 14 years, serving as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing, retiring in 1994.
Bob strongly believed in a life of service. While a member of Trinity English Lutheran Church in Fort Atkinson, Bob served on several church councils, sang in the choir, and could frequently be seen on the church grounds painting or otherwise helping to maintain the landscape. He volunteered at the Fort Memorial Hospital, completing 7,833 hours. He received the Volunteer of the Year award as well as a Life membership in the Volunteer department. Bob assisted at the National Dairy Shrine at the Hoard Museum in Fort Atkinson, WI, where he was awarded the E Award by the National Dairy Shrine. Bob was very active in the Kiwanis International organization. He joined Kiwanis in 1956 in Kansas. In Fort Atkinson, he served as the President of the club several times, chaired several committees, and served on the Board. He completed a one-year term as the Lieutenant Governor and then became a District Board Member. He was the first member of the Fort Atkinson Kiwanis organization to receive the George F. Hixson Fellowship, which recognizes members who contribute significantly to Kiwanis’s history of generosity. While in the Whitewater Kiwanis organization in his later life, he served on the youth committee and helped oversee the Shoe Project, providing shoes for disadvantaged students in the Whitewater Elementary school system. In 2021, the Whitewater Kiwanis club awarded Bob an Honorary Membership in recognition for his many years of service.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Gus and Lillian (Lentz) Wulfkuhle, his older sister, Elizabeth Wulfkuhle, who died in infancy, and his wife of 57 years, Sug. He is survived by his son, Gus (Cathy) Wulfkuhle, Geneva, IL; daughter Trianna (Stephen) Warkentin, Spring, TX, and four grandchildren, Emily and Sam Wulfkuhle, and Daniel and Kylie Warkentin.
A memorial service to celebrate Bob’s life will be held at First English Lutheran Church in Whitewater, WI on Saturday, November 20 at 11:00 a.m., with visitation starting at 9:30 a.m. Masks will be required during the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Heart Prairie Lutheran Church care of First English Lutheran Church, 401 W. Main St., Whitewater, WI, 53190, please put Heart Prairie Church in the memo line or to the Whitewater Aquatic Center, Friends of the Whitewater Aquatic and Fitness Center, PO Box 509, Whitewater, WI 53190 or friendsofwac@gmail.com.
Bob’s family wishes to recognize and thank the staff of the second-floor skilled nursing unit at Fairhaven for their dedication and thoughtful care in these trying times.
Nitardy Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be made at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com
