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This Week’s City & School Board Meetings

September 7, 2025

Whitewater Unified School District Policy Review Committee – Monday @ 4:30 p.m.
Agenda (click on “meetings” in upper right corner).
Whitewater Unified School District Central Office
419 South Elizabeth Street

City of Whitewater Plan & Architectural Review Commission – Monday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Conceptual Plan Review of possible subdivision to be located on Hale/Pearson Farm on
Warner Road for Belinski Homes.
Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room,
312 West Whitewater St.
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or
telephone. Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/875408261
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 875-408-261
United States: +1 (224) 501-3412
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://meet.goto.com/install

City of Whitewater Public Works Committee – Tuesday @ 5:15 p.m.
Agenda includes Discussion and Possible Action regarding Johns Disposal Rate Increase for 2026.
Cravath Lakefront Room, 2nd Floor
312 W. Whitewater St.
Whitewater, WI 53190
*In Person and Virtual
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85117401429?pwd=3slKnbhiVgIVutYAbyIiwAbZXW1ac1.1
Telephone: +1 (312) 626-6799
Webinar ID: 851 1740 1429
Passcode:
234653

City of Whitewater Police & Fire Commission – Tuesday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda
Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room,
312 West Whitewater St.
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/741408613
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 741-408-613
United States: +1 (312) 757-3121

City of Whitewater Pedestrian & Bicycle Commission – Thursday @ 5:30 p.m.
The agenda has not been posted as of 9/7.

City of Whitewater Artful Transformation 2025 CelebrationSaturday @ 10 a.m.
The agenda has not been posted as of 9/7.

Whippets Fight Through Injury Plagued Loss to McFarland

September 7, 2025

The Whippet Football Team fell to McFarland 55-8 on Friday, September 5 after losing both quarterbacks to injury.

File Photo Courtesy of Damon Jay Photography

Comments from Coach Bartlett:

This was not a game where we could afford mistakes and still expect to win. Unfortunately, we made too many errors, combined with some untimely injuries, which hurt our chances of coming away with a victory. McFarland is a well-coached program that capitalizes on opponents’ mistakes while minimizing their own, and they did exactly that.

Even so, I’m proud of our team’s effort and resilience. Our players never gave up, even after both of our quarterbacks went down with injuries. Senior Christian Minett stepped in to take snaps at the end of the first half, and at halftime our offense adjusted with a “let’s roll with it” mentality. In the second half, senior Casey Lyon took over at quarterback, giving great effort despite not practicing the position. He ran the ball hard and even threw his first career touchdown pass to junior Trevor Piper.

We’ll get back to work this week with a focus on cleaning up mistakes and continuing to Pound the Stone each day as we improve.

Rushing:

  • #2 Casey Lyon: 7 Rushes, 72 Yards

Passing:

  • #2 Casey Lyon: 1 of 2, 28 Yards, 1 Touchdown

Receiving:

  • #1 Trevor Piper: 1 Catch for 28 yards, 1 TD

Notable Defensive Stats:

  • #10 Hayden Armstrong: 3 Solos, 2 Assists, 1 TFL
  • #50 Deavion Olson: 1 Solo, 3 TFL

Article Submitted by Sam Bartlett
Whitewater High School Head Football Coach
barsa01@wwusd.org
File Photo Courtesy of Damon Jay Photography

First English Lutheran Church: Back to School Rally Day

September 6, 2025


Editor’s note: This announcement was provided by First English Lutheran Church.

GWC Hosting James Hartwick and Eric Compas on GPR Funding for UW-W

September 6, 2025

The Greater Whitewater Committee (GWC) is set to host Dr. James Hartwick and Dr. Eric Compas from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. The two will present on the continued status of GPR [General Purpose Revenue] Funding in relation to UW-Whitewater.

This event will take place on Thursday, September 11th at 7:00 a.m. at Jessica’s Family Restaurant: 140 W Main St, Whitewater, WI 53190.

Eric Compas is a professor specializing in human-environment interactions in the Geography, Geology, and Environmental Science Department at UW-Whitewater. He is also the Director of UW-Whitewater’s GIS Center, which provides on-campus internships for students with off-campus clients. His teaching focuses on environmental policy and geographic information systems – mapping with computers – and emerging technologies like drone mapping and extremely accurate GPS equipment. He is also working with the State of Wisconsin to understand and map the potential impacts of climate change on Wisconsin communities and explain how communities might plan for and adapt to these changes.

James Hartwick is a Professor at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, specializing in teacher education. James is the secondary social studies program coordinator. He also writes about teacher education and the spiritual lives of teachers. He is a former Faculty Senate Chair and is deeply committed to the health of the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. He is married and has lived in Whitewater for the past 15 years. In recognition of his efforts to support democracy, James won the League of Women Voters, Making Democracy Work Award. 

The GWC’s upcoming monthly meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, September 11th at 7:00 a.m. at Jessica’s Family Restaurant: 140 W Main St, Whitewater, WI 53190. The public is more than welcome to attend this meeting to learn more about the status of GPR funding in relation to the university. If you are interested in attending, you must RSVP. To reserve your spot, contact Jeff Knight at jpk@knightpublicaffairs.com or 920.728.0662 by Wednesday, September 10th.

“We are very excited to have James and Eric at our next meeting,” said GWC President, Jeffery Knight. “The GWC has been advocating for more equitable GPR funding for the UW system, and we are excited to continue to see changes moving forward.”

For further details, please contact Jeffery Knight at 920.728.0662 or jpk@knightpublicaffairs.com

About the GWC

The GWC is an action-oriented group committed to collaborating with citizens, elected officials, and policy makers to identify, craft, and implement a pro-business agenda. The agenda advances the economic, education, and social policies needed to energize and secure the Whitewater area’s economic future, as well as protect Whitewater’s quality of life.

Knocked Down, But Not Out: Rainbow nurse shares her COVID-19 story

September 6, 2025


By Kenyon Kemnitz, Rainbow Community Care

Debbie Faubel has learned to accept that her life won’t look exactly like it did before. She used to enjoy going on long walks, tending to her garden and flower beds, and tackling other projects around the house. When Debbie joined Rainbow Community Care in 2012 as an Admissions Nurse, she typically worked 10-hour days. She evaluated patients to determine their hospice eligibility, provided information, prepared them for admission, and helped manage their medications and equipment needs.

“The best part was helping families get situated to succeed in caring for their loved ones and alleviating a burden off their shoulders,” said Debbie. “Debbie has this incredible softness to her which makes her an exceptional, well-respected hospice nurse,” said Rainbow Senior Director of Hospice Services Angie Zastrow. “She is relatable and compassionate. When she is listening to you and your story, you really feel a connection. Her presence is calming and brings a sense of peace to others.”

Debbie thought that she would eventually get COVID-19. Nearly two years after the pandemic started, cases were still on the upswing. Contracting the virus seemed inevitable no matter how many precautions she took. “I was one of the first ones sent out to go test patients,” Debbie recalled. “We were all very scared, but we did our best with the knowledge we had. I said, ‘Hey, we’re warriors, we have our personal protective equipment, and we’ll follow the protocols.”

In early December 2021, Debbie was off work for the weekend and started feeling achy and had the chills, but that was a familiar feeling since she often felt cold in the winter. She took time to rest and curled up with a heating pad but still went about her normal routine, including doing laundry and making a large pot of chili for her church’s upcoming chili dump and Christmas party.

By Sunday, her aches and pains had subsided, and she wasn’t freezing anymore. But later that day after returning home from church, she suddenly felt nauseous, very tired, and experienced what she described as a “yucky, metallic-like” taste in her mouth. An at-home test kit confirmed she was positive for COVID-19. Debbie made plans to quarantine herself and informed Rainbow of her health status.

“Nothing tasted good at that point,” Debbie said. “I was forcing myself to drink fluids and eat soda crackers and that was pretty much all I could manage.”

That’s when things started to get a little fuzzy for Debbie. She would find herself in different places around the house, not knowing how she got there. Feeling lightheaded, she remembers sitting down and then waking up on the floor in the dining room. “I was slipping in and out of consciousness and thought, ‘Wow, I’m back in my bed, but this isn’t my bedroom,” Debbie said. “My husband, Todd, came running in and asked me, ‘Do I need to call the ambulance?’”

Debbie knew something wasn’t right. When she started passing out again, she told her husband to take her to the emergency room. The doctors performed a chest X-ray and administered oral steroids. They also gave Debbie a cough suppressant, pain medication, and an inhaler.

“They didn’t want to send me home at first,” Debbie said. “I told them ‘I’m a nurse and I’ll watch myself.’ My oxygen saturation levels (O2 sats) were on the low normal end, so they said, ‘If they drop, then you are right back here in the ER.”

Debbie returned home thinking that getting lots of rest and taking her medications would be enough to combat COVID-19. Four days later though, she got up and became extremely short of breath. “I checked my O2 sats, and they were down into the 60s, which is considered severely low.” Debbie said. “I thought I’d open the door and get some fresh air. Well, that didn’t help at all and made me feel worse.”

She immediately called her daughter-in-law, who took her back to the emergency room. Debbie was hospitalized on December 14,, where another chest x-ray revealed worsening COVID pneumonia. The doctors checked for a possible pulmonary embolism, put her on oxygen, and began telemetry to monitor her heart rhythms. Believing she might have clots in her lungs, they also performed a CT scan.

“There was a heart-to-heart conversation about being intubated and my code status, which was a real awakening and scary moment,” Debbie said.

“Debbie’s diagnosis with COVID really “shook” the staff,” Zastrow noted. “It wasn’t just the diagnosis since a positive test for staff was not a surprise during this time. It was the severity of her illness that left us grappling with the possibility she may not recover, and we didn’t know how to process that.”

Debbie’s CT scan came back negative, but she had severe inflammation in her lungs and body. Every breath she took was a struggle. She wasn’t put on a ventilator because one wasn’t available at the time. BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure) and high-flow oxygen were used to help control her breathing. “All their respiratory equipment was very limited because they had to share the machines with other patients and myself,” Debbie said.

During this time, family members weren’t allowed to stay with patients or visit, so Debbie communicated with her husband and family through text messages asking them to pray for her. She was too weak to talk on the phone.



“I would message him, ‘Good morning, good night, and I love you,’ Debbie said. “Just short and simple stuff. I thought I was young and healthy and would get COVID but never imagined I’d end up in the hospital.”

It was during this time that Debbie discovered that her older cousin, David Graff, had also been hospitalized with COVID at Aurora Summit. She remembers sending him some encouraging messages but doesn’t know if he ever saw them.

“I told him it’s going to be rough, but you have to fight like hell,” Debbie said. Unfortunately, her cousin was placed on a ventilator and never came off the device. He passed away a few days later.

Debbie was also facing the fight of her life. One day she wasn’t able to contact her husband at all. He became worried and called the hospital.

“It sounded like it was touch and go there for a little bit because they said I was in a pretty deteriorated state,” Debbie said. “Even some of the hospital staff I knew from working at Marquardt for over 21 years requested to be reassigned to different patients
because they couldn’t handle seeing me like that.”

Co-workers at Rainbow learned about Debbie’s condition during this time and wanted to help but were unsure how. “It was very difficult for everyone,” Zastrow said. “There were feelings of helplessness throughout the organization. We all wanted to rally around Debbie and support her, but there was simply nothing we could do.”

Debbie thinks what finally helped her recover was when they were able to leave her on the BiPAP continuously for almost 24 hours. But any time she moved or turned in bed, it would trigger a coughing episode and shortness of breath, and it would take her some time to bounce back. “I could feel the fluid shifting from one side of the lung to the other and it would take about 20 to 30 minutes for my oxygen saturation, heart rate, and blood pressure to get back to normal,” Debbie said.

After spending nearly her entire career as a nurse helping others, it was difficult for Debbie to go from caregiver to patient. She credits the Watertown Regional Medical Center staff for taking such great care of her during an unpredictable and stressful time.
“I entrusted my body to them and the care I received was great,” Debbie said. “The staff went above and beyond the call of duty. They would sit vigil at my bedside and hold my hand or just sit quietly until my breathing was somewhat managed. Administrative staff even came in to bring me tissues and mouth swabs or to fill up my water and help out the nursing staff who were overwhelmed.”



Debbie has vague memories of her time in the hospital, but she recalls a surreal experience of being in total darkness and feeling like she was in another realm. “It felt like being in a black space filled with tar or a shiny garbage bag and as I breathed it was moving with me,” Debbie said. “I wasn’t afraid. There was nobody there, just absolute quietness and peace. I was looking for the light but never found it. When I woke up, I knew it wasn’t my time to die and that I had to give it my all to recover.” After eight days, Debbie was finally discharged on eight liters of oxygen. She could reduce it to four liters while resting but needed eight liters with any type of activity. Debbie knew she needed medical equipment to aid in her recovery.

“I was focused on getting back home so I could still be functional,” Debbie said. “I was really worried I would be sent to a nursing home for rehab since I was pretty debilitated. When I got home, it took me half an hour to climb just seven steps to our main floor.” Still weak and having lost significant muscle strength from being bedbound in the hospital, Debbie faced a challenging road ahead.

The Watertown-Beaver Dam Elks Lodge No. 666 delivered a shower bench, wheelchair, commode, and walker the day after she arrived home, ensuring she had everything she needed before Christmas.

“I used the commode and wheelchair very little since we had chairs set up every few feet to the bathroom,” Debbie said. “There was no way we could have gone out to purchase all that equipment because it would have been incredibly time-consuming.” Before the new year, Marquardt Home Health provided physical therapy and nursing services sessions at Debbie’s home. But with her insurance restarting at the beginning of the calendar year, it was determined it would be more cost-effective to leave Debbie
with recommendations and exercises she could do on her own to help her regain her strength.

“There were days I slept a lot, but when I was awake, I would walk a little here and there,” Debbie said. “I followed their guidelines and did little circles around the kitchen, or living room to get some walking in and then up and down the hallway. It was
challenging, tiring, and fatiguing.”

Debbie has been on a long road to recovery, but that journey has been anything but easy. At times, it felt like she would take one step forward only to take two steps back. Her hair started falling out and became very thin. She would find huge clumps all
around the house or in her hairbrush. More tests and lab work were ordered to see if it was related to her thyroid. But it turned out it was related to the extreme stress of her situation. “It felt like I had a deep cut or had been hit over the head,” Debbie said. “I couldn’t touch it, and my hair was everywhere, getting stuck and wound up tight in the vacuum cleaner. I got it cut short and didn’t use any heat or hair coloring.”

Being patient and not trying to do too much too quickly was essential. For a while, Debbie needed help getting in and out of the shower and getting dressed. Gradually, her hair started to grow back.

“My strength wasn’t coming back as fast as I wanted. I was only doing stairs when my husband was home and that was a challenge in the beginning. I had a goal to get down to the basement because I didn’t want him to do the laundry,” Debbie laughed. When her husband returned to work after the holidays, Debbie had both of her daughters-in-law on standby if she needed them. Her brother would stop by on his way home from work and let her dogs out. What had been normal daily activities were now
tasks she couldn’t perform on her own.

Debbie also worried about her job status due to the time she had missed from work, but Rainbow assured her that her job wasn’t in jeopardy.

“The thought of her not returning to the bedside was just crushing,” Zastrow said. “But she needed to focus on her health knowing we would support her any way we could once she was ready. We understood she might not come back in full capacity, but we
looked forward to her returning in some way.”

Debbie started to see more improvement even if it wasn’t coming as fast as she would have liked. A couple of months later, she was able to drive while using oxygen, even with the bulky tank along for the ride. Debbie attended pulmonary rehab from February through March and had numerous visits to see a cardiologist, pulmonologist, and neurologist. Finally, she was taken off the oxygen in the middle of May. Debbie also needed to see an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist, a speech therapist, and an
occupational therapist. The medical treatment used to combat the virus also affected her vision, causing cataracts, stabbing eye pain, and dental issues.

Debbie still experiences Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from all the beeping alarms in the hospital and suffers from brain fog and short-term memory loss. Those challenges cause her to forget certain things and lead to difficulty concentrating. “I get distracted easily now, and I was never like that,” Debbie said. “I have to write down a lot of things, set reminders on my phone, and keep tons of notes at home. I feel like I’ve aged about 20 years and so has my brain.”

Debbie continues to experience the effects of long-haul COVID and is uncertain what that means for her health down the road.

“I still have shortness of breath if I’m up or doing something too long and I get really lightheaded,” Debbie said. “My coughing has improved but I have to keep water with me and carry a larger purse with an inhaler just in case.”

Debbie has been diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a condition where the heart rate increases abnormally when a person stands up, causing symptoms like lightheadedness, dizziness, and fatigue. She also experiences frequent
headaches.

“They don’t know if I will fully recover, because with this virus, nobody knows,” Debbie said. “I have come to accept my limitations and look at what I still have rather than what I have lost. I use humor a lot.” Debbie knows when she needs to rest and how much she can realistically accomplish before extreme fatigue takes over. “I have to look at what I need to accomplish for the day, break it down into smaller tasks, and take frequent rest periods because fatigue can come on very suddenly out of nowhere,” Debbie explained.

She remains cautious about having her family nearby when she leaves the house, especially for walks. Places that have a lot of hills are now off-limits for her. “I used to go on five-mile walks but now my average is probably about mile, and I can’t go alone either,” Debbie said.

While recovering, Debbie looked forward to the days when her two sons and grandchildren could come over to visit.



Debbie is grateful she can enjoy life once again. She has come to appreciate some simple pleasures like watching how many birds visit the feeders outside her house. She still gardens and plants flowers, but on a much smaller scale.

After nearly a year away, Debbie adjusted and returned to work at Rainbow in November 2022 in a different role. “When I came back, I knew physically I couldn’t return to my old job,” Debbie said. “I just needed a sense of belonging and finding out where I could be the most useful to my team.” Now she works as a clinical assistant in palliative care two days a week for four hours and picks up a few extra hours if needed. “They’ve trained me on how to pull medical records, and which documents we need for an admission,” Faubel said. “I’ve also been helping with updating medications in patients’ charts.”

“Debbie has not had it easy,” Zastrow said. “She never did return to her baseline health but was able to rejoin Rainbow in a new position, surrounded by those who care deeply for her. That is something we are incredibly thankful for.”

As she approaches the four-year anniversary of her COVID diagnosis, seeing pictures from when she was in such a vulnerable state is difficult for Debbie.

“I still wonder why it took so long to begin to heal and why I still experience these long-lasting effects,” Debbie said. “I see a body that was extremely ill, and know I was one of the lucky ones. There were times when I wondered if I was going to get better. Would I need to call hospice? It is a longer recovery than you’re prepared for, but I knew what I needed to do and to keep pushing forward.”

Debbie faced her situation head-on, took charge of her recovery, and persevered despite a few setbacks. “I think my situation changed many minds about the virus, proving it was very real and not a hoax after I shared what had happened to me,” Debbie stated. “My faith, family, friends, and positive attitude helped me get through everything. COVID strengthened my faith, and I gained a perspective to appreciate all the blessings God has given me.”

Lions Christmas Tree Sale Canceled for 2025

September 6, 2025

Whitewater Lions Club announces that our Christmas tree sale this year is canceled due to lack of available space at the Ace Hardware where we have historically operated. The Lions will search for a new location to resume sales in 2026.

Editor’s note: This announcement was submitted by Howard Rothstein for the Whitewater Lions Club.

Lance Leipold Update: Kansas Falls in Border Showdown Matchup in Missouri [Updated]

September 6, 2025

Editor’s note: Updated on 9/6/25 @ 10:15 p.m. to add two additional articles.

The below is excerpted from an article on the KU athletics website. A Banner post on 9/5 referenced an article about former Warhawks coach Lance Leipold, who is now head coach at University of Kansas.

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Kansas Jayhawks dropped a 42-31 contest to Missouri Saturday in the 121st edition of the StorageMart Border Showdown at Faurot Field.

With the setback, Kansas moves to 2-1 on the year while Missouri improves to 2-0.

Jalon Daniels led the Jayhawks with 223 yards and two touchdowns on 18-of-30 passing, while also rushing for a team-high 20 yards on nine attempts. DeShawn Hanika had a career-high six receptions for 74 yards and two touchdowns. Trey Lathan (13) and Lyrik Rawls (10) paced the KU defense with double-digit tackles, and Austin Alexander had six tackles and returned a fumble for a touchdown…….

____________________________________

An article on SI.com with the headline “Kansas vs. Missouri: Lance Leipold Is To Blame for Heartbreaking Loss” blames the loss on “…. conservative play-calling from offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski and questionable decision-making by Lance Leipold.”

____________________________________

This article provides comments from Coach Leipold after the game.

UW-W Football: Warhawks Take Down Carleton in Season Opener

September 6, 2025
Cole Berghorn celebrates after scoring a touchdown (Olivia Zinanni)


The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team opened the 2025 campaign with a 45-14 win over Carleton Saturday. 

It was a beautiful fall day at The Perk and the Warhawk faithful came out to cheer on UWW for their first game of 2025. The first Warhawk points of the season came on their first offensive possession with a Seth Adams 23-yard field goal that capped a 10-play, 81-yard drive. 

The offense surged in the second quarter putting up 21 points to jump out to a 24-7 at the break. Quarterback Justin Klinkner registered UWW’s first TD of the season, punching it in from a yard out to put the Warhawks up 10-0.

After the Knights put up a score to pull within 10-7, Tyler Vasey responded the way he does it best – a 91-yard kickoff return to the house to push the lead back to 10. Another three-and-out for the defense gave UWW the ball back with just under six minutes to go before the break. The Warhawks used up nearly the entire clock before Cole Berghorn blasted through the middle of the line for a three-yard touchdown run to make it 24-7. 

On the other side of the intermission, Brian Stanton ripped off a 75-yard touchdown run with less than five remaining in the third. Klinkner tacked on another TD, this time a 59-yard spurt to push the advantage to 38-7 by the end of the third quarter. 

Stanton struck again early in the fourth, breaking free for a 66-yard touchdown scamper. The final score of the game came on a goal line rush for the Knights. 

Klinkner was 7-8 for 72 yards in the passing game. He gained 107 yards on 19 attempts with his legs adding a pair of touchdowns. Stanton was the leading rusher, with 201 yards on seven attempts – an average of 28.7 per carry – and two scores. 

Vasey hauled in three catches for 28 yards and averaged 58 yards per kickoff return. Adams was perfect on the day — nailing the only field goal he attempted and drilling all six points after. 

Defensively, Karsten Libby paced UWW with 10 tackles, a sack and an interception. Carter Sessa also picked off a Carleton pass in the contest. 

The Warhawks will head out on the road the next two weeks visiting Saint Xavier University in Illinois on September 13th and Mary Hardin-Baylor in Texas on the 20th. After the bye week, UW-Whitewater will be back in Perkins Stadium to host UW-La Crosse on the team’s annual Family Fest, Alumni Day and Shriners Day. 

Obituaries

Obituary: Patricia “Pat” Bailey, 70, of Woodbury, MN

Patricia “Pat” Lynn Bailey, age 70, passed away peacefully on June 1, 2026 with her daughter by her side. Pat was born February 21, 1956 in Ann Arbor, Michigan to John and Ruth (Hudock) Prentice. After a brief time in Ann Arbor, the Prentice family moved to Whitewater, Wisconsin, where Pat grew up as part of the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater community, where her father served as University Registrar. Pat attended the University School and later graduated from UW Whitewater with a degree in Elementary Education. Although she did not pursue teaching, she built a meaningful career in Human … Read more

Obituary: Gemelino Paris Esperante, 83

Gemelino Paris Esperante, 83, long time resident of Whitewater, passed away on Thursday, June 4th, 2026. He was born on January 10, 1943, to his late father and mother, Evaristo and Carmen in Spain. In 1973 he moved to the United States as a sheep herder. On August 21, 1981, he was united in marriage to Cyndie Esperante in Colorado. Gemelino also worked in Mining and construction for many years. He enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, raising sheep and growing things in his garden, and flowers. He will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife … Read more

Obituary: Mary Ann Warner, 86, of Dodgeville

Mary Ann Warner died peacefully on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at Crestridge Assisted Living in Dodgeville. Her physical heart failed, but her actual, loving heart never did. Ann was born June 28, 1939 to Mary and Charles Kearns in Iowa. She moved to Whitewater, Wisconsin and graduated with many dear friends in the class of 1957. Ann married John Warner on September 19, 1959. They lived in Whitewater, Sturgis Michigan, and finally settled in Janesville where they built a beautiful life and raised their family. Together, they ran a business, traveled, played cards, and enjoyed their lives. When they became … Read more

Obituary: Patricia Jacobson, 81

Patricia Ann Jacobson (Bureau), age 81, of Whitewater, WI, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, WI. Born on September 2, 1944, in Marquette, MI, to the late Donald and Margaret Bureau, Pat grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She graduated from Graveraet High School, attended Michigan State University, and later earned her bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University. Pat dedicated her professional life to shaping young minds, working as an elementary and junior high school teacher in both Flint, MI, and Whitewater, WI. At the heart of Pat’s life was a beautiful, … Read more

Obituary: Lois Lauritzen, 92, of Brookfield

In loving memory of Lois Lauritzen, age 92, who passed away on June 1, 2026 at Lakewood Memory Care in Brookfield. Lois led an active life full of devotion to family and friends. Born July 14th, 1933 in Silvis, IL, daughter of Harry and Elsie Wilson, she grew up in the Quad Cities with older brother Harry Wilson Jr. Lois graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL with a degree in physical education. She met her husband Paul Lauritzen on the college tennis team. Their marriage on June 12th, 1955 lasted 59 years until Paul’s death on September 26th, … Read more

Obituary: Donald Walter Triebold, 91

Donald Walter Triebold passed on to his eternal home on May 21, 2026. Don was born on April 23, 1935, in Evanston, IL, to the late Frederick W. and Mildred (nee Stecher) Triebold. Through his teen years, Don lived and worked on the family’s dairy farm, where he developed a life-long work ethic. His first eight years of education were in a one-room country schoolhouse, in which all eight grades were taught by one teacher. He graduated from Whitewater City High School in 1953 and then graduated from UW Whitewater in 1958 with a degree in Business Education. He continued his education, and earned a Master’s … Read more

Obituary: William Kincaid Davis, 84, of Evansville

William Kincaid Davis, age 84, passed away on Tuesday, May 19 at Agrace Hospice Center in Fitchburg. He was born on November 1, 1941, in Madison, Indiana, the second son of Salvation Army Officers Agnes (Dixon) and William C. Davis. He attended several schools in Indiana and Illinois, including University of Illinois Experimental High School (Champaign), and graduated from Galesburg High School in 1958. He earned his bachelor’s degree from UW-Eau Claire in 1964 and his master’s degree from UW-Whitewater in 1972. He had an expansive career in education, beginning as an English teacher in Whitehall, Thornton Township (IL) and … Read more

Obituary: Magdalene “Maggie” Stetter (nee Fritz), 79

Magdalene “Maggie” Stetter (nee Fritz), 79, of Whitewater, Wisconsin passed from this life onto the next on Monday, May 4, 2026. She was born on January 16, 1947, to the late John and Mary (Presser) Fritz in St. Stefan, Austria. Maggie immigrated from Austria with her parents and brother, became a US citizen, and grew up and attended school in West Allis, WI and then graduated with a teaching degree from University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. Maggie served as a substitute, English, and German language teacher in the Whitewater, Elkhorn, Delavan, and Palmyra schools and at Divine Word Seminary. Maggie … Read more

Obituary: Lawrence “Larry” C. Hartung, 76, of Fort Atkinson

Lawrence “Larry” C. Hartung, a proud Marine Veteran of the Vietnam War, and longtime resident of Fort Atkinson, WI, passed away peacefully at his home on May 1, 2026. Larry was born June 7th, 1949, to Levon and Charles Hartung in Chicago, IL. Larry enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1968 and served 3 consecutive tours in the Vietnam War. During this time, he became pen pals with his future wife, Candy, via a connection through his father. In 1970, he came home on leave to marry Candy. They celebrated 55 years of marriage on October 31st, 2025. During … Read more

Obituary: Leo E. Wurzer, 65, of Eagle

Leo E. Wurzer, 65, of Eagle, Wisconsin passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at his home. Leo was born on April 15, 1961 in Kenosha, Wisconsin to Cyril and Shirley (McNeil) Wurzer. He grew up between Pleasant Prairie and Antigo, spending his childhood summers on his uncle’s farm where he discovered his love for all things tractors. Although he never had a farm of his own, he was able to partially fulfill his dream by working as a driver for Robin’s Trucking in Whitewater, WI in his last days and collecting miniature Tonka toys. He began his career … Read more