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Today is Sunday, May 5, 2024
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By Chris Lindeke
Marketing and Communications Manager
University Marketing and Communications
UW-Whitewater
Two coaches of NCAA Division I men’s basketball programs with ties to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will lead their teams Thursday night in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Nate Oats, who worked as an assistant coach for the Warhawk men’s basketball team from 2000-02, will lead fourth-seeded Alabama against top-seeded North Carolina in a West Region semifinal at 8:39 p.m. in Los Angeles. The game will air live on CBS.
TJ Otzelberger, who played for the Warhawks from 1999-2001 and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the university, coaches No. 2 seed Iowa State, which takes on No. 3 seed Illinois at 9:09 p.m. in Boston for an East Region semifinal.
Oats helped the Warhawks win back-to-back Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season championships as an assistant coach. He worked under head coach Dave Vander Meulen during the 2000-01 campaign and under Pat Miller for the 2001-02 season.
Otzelberger was a member of the 2000-01 title winning team. He graduated in 2001 with a BBA in general business and an M.S. in curriculum and instruction in 2004.
Editor’s note: The following press release was received from The UW-Madison Division of Extension Horticulture Program.
The UW-Madison Division of Extension Horticulture Program has partnered with the UW Insect Diagnostic Lab to provide a free, online program for the public focused on Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Wisconsin. The program airs Monday, April 1, 1–2 p.m. on Zoom.
There is no cost to attend, though registration is required. Register at go.wisc.edu/ExtEAB.
Learn how to identify ash trees, recognize the signs and symptoms of EAB, and understand the biology of this invasive insect. The program will also cover what to do when EAB affects trees on private property and the strengths and weaknesses of different management options.
Understanding the Emerald Ash Borer: From Identification to Action
Monday, April 1, 1–2 p.m. | Zoom Webinar
Register Now
Led by PJ Liesch, Extension Entomologist and director of the UW Insect Diagnostic Lab, this program will consist of an informative presentation followed by live Q&A to answer participants’ questions.
This program will also be recorded and sent to anyone who registers.
Visit go.wisc.edu/ExtEAB to learn more and register!
These webinars are hosted by the UW-Madison Extension Horticulture Program. For upcoming events and learning opportunities, visit hort.extension.wisc.edu/events. Contact horticulture.webinar@extension.wisc.edu if you have questions about the program.
First United Methodist Church welcomes all to our services during this Holy Week.
The Holy Thursday service at 7:00 p.m. includes communion. You need not be a member of our church, or any church, to participate. Our communion liturgy often begins with words spoken on Jesus’ behalf inviting “all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin, and seek to live in peace with one another.”
The Good Friday service is ecumenical, starting at our church at noon, processing to the Congregational UCC at 12:45, and finally to First English Lutheran Church at 1:30, and concluding at 2:00. All are welcome to attend any or all of the services. A number of participants will walk from one church to another.
On Easter Sunday we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection with an 8:00 service in the Chapel and a 10:00 service in the sanctuary. The choir will be singing with brass accompaniment at the 10:00 service, which concludes with the Hallelujah Chorus. Everyone who knows the music is welcome to join in.
By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
It’s rather common for a fast food restaurant to donate something like 10% of their sales for a few hours or even a day to a designated school or nonprofit organization. This is the 14th year, though, that Jersey Mike’s stores nationwide have scheduled a “Day of Giving” when 100% of their sales are donated to a cause that’s selected by the restaurant owners in each market. This year that date is Wednesday, March 27, and all 41 stores in the state will be donating their sales to Special Olympics WI.
According to Jersey Mike’s, “At the first nationwide fundraiser in 2011, all of Jersey Mike’s 454 locations raised $600,000 for 66 charities. Since then, Jersey Mike’s annual Month of Giving has raised more than $88 million for local charities. This March, Jersey Mike’s hopes to exceed last year’s record-breaking national fundraising total of $21 million and help local charities striving to fulfill their missions and make a difference.”
Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the Whitewater Unified School District.
Ferradermis earned the prestigious FIRST Impact Award at the Northern Lights Regional in Duluth, Minnesota, earlier this month. This achievement secured the team’s spot in the championship competition.
The FIRST Championship is a global competition for youth robotics teams, providing a platform for collaboration and creativity. Ferradermis will face off against 83 other Impact Award winners, vying for the opportunity to join the FIRST Hall of Fame.
The team’s trip to Houston was made possible by generous donations from several community members, organizations, and supporting businesses that covered the entire cost.
“I cannot express enough gratitude for the incredible support our program continues to receive from our community,” said Laura Masbruch, the team’s advisor. “I’m confident the team will represent WUSD well in Houston and do their best to bring home another title for our booming program!”
Special regard goes to an anonymous donor, Applied Material Solutions, the Weber family, anonymous WUSD staff, NAES, The Coburn Company, Streib Construction, and Keystone Real Estate Investments LLC for their considerable contributions of $1,000 or more to the Ferradermis program for this trip. The team also received donations from others across the community.
For more information about Ferradermis and the team’s journey to the FIRST Championship, visit www.ferradermis.org.
Katherine Staniszewski of Whitewater has been accepted for enrollment for the 2024 spring trimester in the Doctor of Chiropractic degree program at Palmer College of Chiropractic’s Main Campus in Davenport, Iowa.
Palmer College of Chiropractic, the first and largest college in the chiropractic profession, has campuses in Davenport, Iowa; San Jose, California; and Port Orange, Florida.
Photos courtesy of Tom Ganser, taken at the March 15 event.
Comment on the Police Department Facebook page: “Last week our staff had the opportunity to read to two classes at Lincoln Elementary through our Kiwanis Cops ‘N Kids book reading program. Each student was provided with a free book and as always, their questions did not disappoint!”
Fort HealthCare is pleased to announce the receipt of a generous donation of $12,050 from Trinity Lutheran Church of Fort Atkinson in memory and honor of Dr. Frank Beran, a beloved figure in our community whose legacy of compassion and service continues to inspire.
Dr. Beran, who served the Fort Atkinson community for over 50 years, left an unforgettable mark on those he cared for and worked alongside. His commitment to excellence in patient care, his dedication to his staff, and his boundless love for the community were evident throughout his career.
Stephanie Beran, his devoted wife of 48 years, fondly recalls Dr. Beran’s impact on the lives of countless individuals. “He impacted generations, and we’re hoping to keep that going,” she reflects.
In tribute to Dr. Beran’s legacy of service and generosity, Trinity Lutheran Church has directed this donation to assist patients in settling medical debts, exemplifying the spirit of generosity and compassion that defined Dr. Beran’s life. Inspired by Dr. Beran’s spirit of generosity, they matched the $6,025 in memorial gifts, doubling the impact of this honorary donation.
“Frank was known for his dedication to the well-being of his community. He always extended a helping hand to those in need, whether through providing medical advice or offering a listening ear. His patients were not just patients to him, they were friends,” noted Stephanie.
“We are deeply touched by Trinity Lutheran Church’s gracious donation in honor of Dr. Beran,” states Michael Anderson, MD, Fort HealthCare President & CEO. “This donation embodies the essence of community support and reflects Dr. Beran’s legacy of care and compassion.”
Stephanie expresses her hope that Trinity Lutheran Church’s donation would inspire others to lend a hand in supporting the community, saying, “You never know the impact one idea has to inspire someone else.”
Pastor Amy Waelchli expressed the church’s commitment to honoring Dr. Beran’s memory through acts of kindness and support for those in need. “Dr. Beran’s life of service inspired us to extend a helping hand to individuals facing medical debt within our community. This donation is a testament to his lasting impact on our community.”
Stephanie recalled a quote from former President Jimmy Carter, “The only things that we can truly give to each other are the only things that we truly need—an ear to listen, a heart to care, a word of encouragement and a hand to help.” She elaborated, “This is how Frank lived, and this is what he was to his community.”
The funds will be utilized to alleviate the medical debt burden of deserving patients, including individuals facing significant challenges such as terminal illness.
Fort HealthCare extends its heartfelt gratitude to Trinity Lutheran Church and all those who contributed to this initiative. Through their generosity, Dr. Beran’s legacy of compassion will continue to uplift and support those in need within our community.
Obituaries
Florence H. Pape, age 105, of Whitewater and longtime resident of Little Prairie, WI passed away on Thursday, April 25, 2024 at Hearthstone Memory Care in Whitewater. Florence was born on October 5, 1918 in the Town of Eagle, WI the youngest child of Frederick and Harriet (Watson) Kuhl. She grew up in the village of Little Prairie and attended high school in Milwaukee while living with her sister, Edith. After completing her schooling, Florence was united in marriage to Arthur E. Pape and the two were blessed with a son, Robert. The family moved around for Arthur’s work, mostly … Read more
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Update 5/1/24 @ 4:50 p.m.: The location for the luncheon has been corrected. Keith Leonard Thayer found peace on April 27, 2024, at home after a courageous three-year battle with Stage 4 prostate cancer that metastasized into his bones; he later developed stage 1 lung cancer. He was born to Leonard and Marion Thayer on November 25th, 1957. Keith grew up in Lima Center and was from the wrong side of the track. Marcie, his future wife, walked down daily after they met. Keith and Marcie Mulrooney were married on June 21st, 1980, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Milton, … Read more
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Editor’s note: A Royal Purple article, “Impactful newspaper adviser passes,” regarding Mr. Martino may be found here. Samuel Clifford Martino February 5, 1939 — April 20, 2024 DeForest- Sam Martino, 85, passed away on April 20, 2024 from a heart attack while mowing the lawn of his home in DeForest, WI. He was born in Clarksburg, W.Va., the son of Frank and Flora Ann Spino Martino. Sam was a passionate, award-winning journalist with a love of story-telling that started standing on a street corner in Dearborn, MI hawking newspapers and ended with tweeting. He began his reporting career in high … Read more
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BENJAMIN D. RHODES (November 7, 1936 – April 22, 2024) Benjamin “Ben” Dagwell Rhodes, 87, of Grosse Pointe, MI, and longtime resident of Whitewater, WI, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and brother was born in St. Louis, MO. Having spent most of his childhood there and his teen years in Denver, CO, he was an avid lifelong Cardinals fan as well as expert outdoorsman, skier, and mountaineer. He climbed all 58 peaks in Colorado above 14,000 feet of elevation, many multiple times. In addition, he climbed Mt Rainier in WA, Mt. Whitney in CA, and the Tetons in Wyoming. He also … Read more
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Patricia Juene Duckworth, 70, of Fort Atkinson passed away on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at Fort Memorial Hospital. Patricia was born on June 7, 1953 in Modesto, California to Benjamin and Marilyn (Cooper) Morris. On November 26, 1983 Patricia married Ronald Duckworth and together they raised a son. For many years, Patricia worked as an administrative assistant at Fort Memorial Hospital. She enjoyed arts and crafts, pottery, and gardening. Patricia is survived by her husband, Ronald; son, Benjamin; and siblings, Michael Morris, and Melinda Nead. She is preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin and Marilyn Morris. The family would … Read more
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Update 4/25/24: A memorial service will take place at 11 AM on Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at First United Methodist Church in Whitewater. A visitation will take place from 10 AM until the time of service. A burial will follow the memorial service at Hillside Cemetery in Whitewater. Shirley Lorraine (Drays) Sweno, age 85 of Whitewater, passed away Wednesday, April 3, 2024. She was born January 8, 1939 to the late William and Lydia (Stork) Drays. Shirley was united in marriage to Howard Sweno Jr. on November 8, 1958 in Whitewater. She was a member of First United Methodist Church … Read more
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Patricia (Pat) S. Johnson (Welter) passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 21, 2024 with her loving family by her side. Pat was born on March 24, 1951 in Edgerton, WI., the daughter of Stephen and Florence (Koscyczarek) Welter. Pat attended Whitewater High School graduating in 1969. She attended UW-Whitewater. Pat worked at Schweiger Industries in Jefferson, WI, where she met her first husband Frank Heth. They had two sons Shane and Todd. In 1990 she married Maynard (Skip) Johnson. They moved to Atlanta, Georgia where Pat was employed by Wal-Mart. After a number of years in Georgia they returned to Wisconsin to be closer … Read more
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Lawrence Edwin Schauder (Larry) of Punta Gorda, Florida passed away on April 12, 2024, at the age of 79. He was born January 28, 1945, in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Larry graduated from Rhinelander High School and attended classes at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. He took a break to serve two years in the military and returned to UW to graduate in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in business. He established Schauder Building, Inc. in Janesville, Wisconsin in 1974 which was in operation until his retirement in 2008. He was very active in the South Central Builders Association, and he … Read more
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Donald Lee “Donny” Deegan, 76, of Whitewater passed away on Sunday, April 14, 2024 after a short stay at Alden Estates of Jefferson. Donny was born on October 19, 1947 to Daniel and Ada (Fitzpatrick) Deegan. He was raised in a family of 13 children and was very close to all of his siblings. Donny worked many years in construction, mostly roofing, until he had to retire due to health issues. Donny spent his whole life fishing and hunting. He was such a marksman that he once saw a buck while driving down the road, pulled over and parked, aimed … Read more
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Teta Hoerman, of Antigo, died peacefully on April 15, 2024 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital surrounded by her family. She was 74 years old. She was born on December 24, 1949 in Whitewater, a daughter of Donald and Dora “Pat” (O’Connor) Platner. She married Dale Pellmann; they had three children. The couple later divorced. She married James Hoerman on June 12, 1992; he preceded her in death on November 16, 2014. Teta graduated from Whitewater High School in 1968. She was employed at Schweiger Furniture in Jefferson for over 20 years. She then received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of … Read more
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