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Today is Wednesday, May 13, 2026
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The following photos of the 10:00 a.m. UW-Whitewater Commencement on May 11, 2024 are courtesy of Tom Ganser. The morning ceremony recognized 613 undergraduate and 151 graduate students from the College of Arts and Communication, the College of Business and Economics and the School of Graduate Studies. An announcement regarding the commencements, including the afternoon event, may be found here.
Whitewater YES for Education formed back in 2004 to help support the passage of school district referendums. The group is intentionally and necessarily nonpartisan and not political. Whitewater YES works to keep folks aware of all the positive things happening in our school district. For example, the group maintains a Whitewater YES Facebook Page.
As part of this effort to continue a drumbeat of positivity, this weekend Whitewater YES is putting up bilingual “We Love Whitewater Public Schools” yard signs around the community to celebrate graduation and show support for our teachers, staff, and students. The signs will stay up until Saturday, June 8. The response to this effort by the community has been really positive!
In a time of real division and polarization, we are hoping this effort brings people together and shows hardworking district staff and proud students that the community cares and supports them.
If you would like to request a yard sign, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/ZqM 5uj ECnCR juNe 9. (There are limited quantities available).
Whitewater YES is happy to accept donations for the cost of the signs. If you would like to support that effort, simply send a check to: Whitewater YES via Ron Binning, W8645 Glacial Drive, Whitewater, WI 53190.
William Graham Post 173 of the American Legion in Whitewater is sponsoring the Memorial Day activities in the city.
On Thursday, May 23rd at 6:00 PM members of American Legion Post 173 will gather in the center of Hillside Cemetery to decorate the veterans’ graves at the cemetery. Girls Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H clubs and all other community members are invited to participate. Post 173 will provide the flags.
Plans for the parade and ceremonies at the Whitewater Armory are well underway. The parade will form in the Hearthstone Memory Care Residence by Fairhaven parking lot at 10:00 AM on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27th. Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and other interested groups are encouraged to participate in the parade.
More information will be published later.
Editor’s note: This announcement was submitted by Steven Smith.
By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
Pella, Iowa – The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team capped the 2024 campaign in the third game of NCAA Regional action Friday in Pella, Iowa. The Warhawks fell to Bethel University 3-1 to close 2024 with a 33-10 overall record.
UW-Whitewater opened the scoring in the top of the second. Taylor Koehler blasted her second four-bagger of the season with a deep drive over the wall in center. The Warhawks held the lead and the momentum until Bethel responded with a solo shot of their own in the bottom of the fourth.
The bottom of the fifth saw the winning runs come across the plate as the Royals used four hits to score two more to take the 3-1 lead.
UW-Whitewater had some hard shots off the bat late in the game but couldn’t find any green to get runners on.
Maggie Ward led UWW with a 2-3 game at the plate. Koehler and Meghan Dunning had the other base knocks for the Warhawks in the game.
Maddy Anderson registered the start and went four innings allowing a single run on five hits while fanning three. Brooke Hock suffered the loss to move to 6-3 on the season. Kate Cleveland closed the game allowing just one hit in the final 1.2 innings of work.
The 2024 Warhawks saw the season open with a 13-game win streak. UWW rode a nine-game streak into the NCAA Tournament bolstered by a 4-0 weekend that culminated in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament title and automatic bid into NCAA play.
By Broderick P. Frye
Asst. Sports Information Director
Thies with Two Homers as Warhawks open Regionals with a Win
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team opened up the 2024 NCAA DIII Regional with a 9-2 win over Crown College (MN). The Warhawks will advance to play California Lutheran tomorrow at 2:30 PM.
The Warhawks offense got going right away, with a five-run first inning. Eli Frank (Bayport, Wis./Bay Port) batted in the first one to open up the score for UWW. Adam Cootway (DePere, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) followed it up with a ground-rule double to send in two more. The impressive inning was capped off with a 2-run home for Andy Thies (Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles).
The Polars from Crown scored their first run in the top of the third, with a sacrifice fly to center field. Thies answered back with another 2-run homer, putting the Warhawks up 7-1 only three innings in. Thies hit back-to-back home runs in his first two at bats, setting the tone early for the Warhawks.
Crown would go on to score a run in the fifth frame on another sacrifice fly, but once again the Warhawks had another quick response, with Sam Paden (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) hitting in two more runs in the bottom of the fifth.
The Warhawk defense closed out the game, with only three Polars making it on base in the final four innings.
Offensively, Thies tallied four RBIs with his two home runs, Cootway and Paden had two RBIs each with Frank recording one.
Defensively, Max Huseboe (Ripon, Wis./Ripon) picked up the win, his fifth of the season. Huseboe only had six hits in his 7.0 innings on the mound, fanning 9 batters total with no walks.
Logan Kottmeyer (North Aurora, Ill./Kaneland) and Sava Dupor (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) split the final two innings, with neither allowing a hit. Dupor only needed 5 pitches in the top of the ninth to close out the game.
The Warhawks will now prepare to play California Lutheran with a chance for the Regional Championship on the line. The game is set to start at 2:30 PM.
How much do you know about how Whitewater came to be the town we know and love today? Come to the Whitewater Historical Society’s annual meeting and find out!
The Society will hold its annual meeting, together with this entertaining and educational program, on Sunday, May 19, 2024, at 1:00 PM at the Cravath Lakefront Community Center, located at 341 S. Fremont Street in Whitewater. This event is free and open to the public.
The program will be “The History of Whitewater,” a presentation with vintage photographs, given by local historian Carol Cartwright. The photographs are part of the Society’s extensive historical photograph collection. Come hear the story of Whitewater!
For more information, please contact Carol Cartwright at ccart626@gmail.com .
Electronics Recycling Event
Saturday, May 18, 2024
9:00 am to 1:00 pm
LOT B (Across from Train Depot and Cravath Lakefront)
All TV’s – $20
Old tube CRT computer monitors – $10
Microwaves – $5
Exercise equipment – $5
Other items accepted: computers, laptops, monitors, printers, circuit boards, servers, modems, scanners, hard
drives, cables, keyboards, mice, UPS backup batteries, cell phone batteries, power cords/wires, metal, and
much more….
All electronics, TV’s, stereos, VCR’s, DVD’s, power tools, gaming systems, cameras, telephones and much
more…
All appliances (with or without freon)
(Items not accepted: household batteries, light bulbs)
Cash and checks Only…NO credit cards will be accepted!!
Brad Marquardt
Director of Public Works
(262) 473-0139
bmarquardt@whitewater-wi.gov
Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Freepik.
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.
We have been waiting for a long time to show this wonderful image of a turn-of-the-20th-century woman and her flock of chickens. It is part of the Scholl glass plate images in the society’s collections. Many farm women were proud of their fine flock of chickens but how many posed sitting among them? The photo is also picturesque for its setting of large trees.
Join us next week for another image from the historic Scholl collection.
(2793GP, Whitewater Historical Society)
Obituaries
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
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
Lois Cummings, 99, of Fond du Lac, WI (formerly of Janesville, WI, Fort Atkinson, WI, Fountain Hills, AZ, and Green Valley, AZ) passed away peacefully on May 5, 2026 at the Meadows Senior Residence in Fond du Lac surrounded by family. Lois was born on February 17, 1927 in Fort Atkinson to Edward and Clarice (Roseth) Stevens. The middle child of 9 children, she attended Fort Atkinson schools and graduated in 1944. On September 11, 1948 Lois married Grant Cummings at Saint Andrew Catholic Church in Delavan, WI. Together they had 3 children, Gary, Colleen (Tom) Sabel, and Patty (Paul) … Read more
Come celebrate William Kincaid’s Celebration of Life on Saturday, May 30th at 1 pm at Trippe Lake Park Pavillion in Whitewater. He truly enjoyed gatherings where his favorite foods and music could be enjoyed with some of his closest friends and family. We will honor him by carrying on one of his favorite traditions. Please bring your own beverages and chairs. There is limited seating. See you all there!
Gladys Jean (Riley) Hildebrandt, age 89, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 23, 2026. Gladys was born on December 26, 1936, in Whitewater, Wisconsin, to Theresa Egnoski Riley. She was married to Walter Sobolik Sr., and later married James A. Hildebrandt in 1976. Gladys was a hardworking woman who spent her life caring for others. She worked in school kitchens, restaurants, factories, and cleaning services. She concluded her working career as a full-time nanny. In that role, she lovingly cared for Andrew, Daniel, and Kaitlyn Drzewiecki, who became part of her chosen family. Gladys is survived by her sons, Wally … Read more
WHITEWATER – Nan Rowley died on April 15, 2026, at the age of 90. She was born on September 4, 1935, in a little house on the prairie in the Town of Johnstown, Wisconsin, the daughter of Wayne L. Wilbur and Florence (McQuillen) Wilbur. Nan attended primary schools in the towns of Johnstown and Richmond and in the City of Whitewater. Nan graduated with honors from Whitewater City High School. On June 19, 1954, Nancy and Ken Rowley were united in marriage in Whitewater and went to live on the Rowley family farm in Richmond. Over the years, Nan served … Read more
Marion H. Gorniak (nee Pfeiffer), 74, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 11, 2026. She was born on October 24, 1951, to the late Harvey and Loraine (nee Drifke) Pfeiffer in Fort Atkinson, WI. On June 2, 1969, she was united in marriage to Alan Gorniak. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, and cooking, especially her rhubarb pies. She especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends and will be missed by all who knew her. Those Marion leaves behind to cherish her memory include her husband, Alan Gorniak; stepson, Alan Bauer; sister, Sue Ann Schultz, other relatives and friends. … Read more
Ruth Irene (Phelps) Justis, 88, of Appleton City, Missouri, passed away Friday morning, April 10, 2026, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg, MO, with her family by her side. Ruth was born June 3, 1937 in Janesville, Wisconsin, to Charles and Ada Mae (Maly) Phelps. She joined the Marine Corps in 1956. During her time there, she met and married her husband, Forest Wayne “Wayne” Justis in 1957. They shared 62 years of marriage and to this union, 2 children, Charles and Dorene, were born. Ruth grew up in Whitewater, WI., the oldest of three children. Ruth graduated from … Read more
Dorothy C. Kau, age 101, of Eagle, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Fort Memorial Hospital. Dorothy was born on March 18, 1925 in Eagle on the family farm, the daughter of John and Katherine (Faestel) VonRueden. Dorothy was a 1942 graduate of Palmyra High School. On May 21, 1949, Dorothy was united in marriage to Alvin E. Kau at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Eagle and the Lord blessed their union with 8 children. Alvin and Dorothy enjoyed 50 years of marriage together until Alvin’s death in the year 2000. Dorothy enjoyed being a farm … Read more
Dorothy E. McCracken, 95, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2025, in Sarasota, Florida. Born on April 14, 1930, in Whitewater, Wisconsin, to Carl and Joyce Meyer, Dorothy grew up in Whitewater and graduated from Whitewater High School. She then worked for a photographer and hand painted his first colored portraits, until she got married. She and her first husband, Bernard Wafle, owned and operated a 179-acre dairy farm in Helenville, Wisconsin, for 25 years before relocating to Ocala, Florida, in 1979. Dorothy later married Earl McCracken, in Ocala, Fl. She also shared a special companionship later in life with … Read more
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