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The Banner has been serving Whitewater, Wisconsin since August 1, 2006
Today is Friday, June 19, 2026
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The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire extends congratulations to the students named to the spring 2024 dean’s list. Their academic performance has been outstanding, and we recognize these students with pride.
Congratulations, Blugolds!
Dean’s list eligibility requirements:
At the end of each semester, each of UW-Eau Claire’s four colleges recognizes excellence in scholastic achievement by publishing the dean’s list.
To be eligible, a student must:
– Be in good academic standing.
– Have a minimum semester GPA of 3.70.
– Have completed at least 12 credits during the semester, with no incompletes, no courses below the 100 level, no repeats and no Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory registrations (except in degree credit-bearing courses that are offered only on the S/U grading system in which a grade of S has been earned).
Students from your area who were named to the Dean’s List are:
Whitewater, WI
Emma Jordan, College of Arts and Sciences
Versiti is the primary blood supplier for Southeastern Wisconsin hospitals, including Lakeland and Fort Memorial.
Everyone who participates in this drive will be offered a Starve a Mosquito t-shirt and a free Summerfest ticket (while supplies last).
Reserve your spot at this link or by calling 262-473-2997. Walk-ins are also welcome as time allows. Please note that several appointments are still open for double red cells. Be sure to take note of the new location at the Cravath Lakefront Community Center.
By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
According to an article on Bloomberg.com on June 11, Coach USA, which owns Van Galder Bus Company and Megabus, filed for bankruptcy, indicating that it was unable to recover from a decline in ridership as a result of the pandemic. Van Galder, based in Janesville, operates a popular route that stops in Janesville for shuttle service to O’Hare airport and downtown Chicago. Per Van Galder’s website, the company, [originally family owned], has operated the shuttle service for over 70 years.
“Per its Chapter 11 petition that was filed on June 11 in Wilmington, DE, the company owes creditors between $100 -500 million. Chapter 11 in the bankruptcy code allows companies to keep operating while they shed debt and reorganize.
Private equity firm Variant Equity Advisors purchased Coach USA from British bus company Stagecoach Group in April 2019, less than a year before Coach USA’s business was decimated by the pandemic. Commuter ridership declined 90% in 2020, according to court papers, and the company turned to Covid relief funding to help stay afloat. Ridership has partially recovered, but last year was only about 45% of prepandemic levels. Meanwhile, the company was contending with higher expenses due to rising fuel, insurance and labor costs. Its management began to explore a possible sale late last year.
Across the US, the transportation industry has had to contend with low ridership levels on trains and buses as many Americans now work from home or only commute into the office a few times a week. In 2019, there were about 3,000 bus companies, according to Peter Pantuso, the chief executive officer of the American Bus Association. Since then, about half have closed, many of those remaining are operating at about 70% capacity, he said.”
According to WREX-Channel 13, The Renco Group, which owns Bus Company Holdings, is reportedly purchasing Van Galder as well as other Coach USA operations.
“Coach offers bus services in 27 locations in the US and Canada and carries more than 38 million passengers every year, according to its website. Its Megabus service has carried more than 50 million people through more than 280 cities since it was started in 2006. The company employs about 2,700 people,” Bloomberg stated.
Former Whitewater Resident Earns PhD
Rebecca Fischer (née Brereton) formerly of Whitewater, defended her doctoral dissertation June 13, 2024. Through her research and dissertation titled Reducing Kidney Transplant Rejection Rates Through Medication Adherence Education Post-Transplant: A Quality Improvement Project, Fischer earns her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Jacksonville University. Fischer, who attended Lincoln Elementary for Kindergarten through 6th grade in the 80s and 90s, is a nurse practitioner in abdominal transplant surgery at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.
Congratulations, Becki. We are proud of you.
Submitted by Roni Telfer and Rachel (Telfer) Dorn
Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay.
The Beloit Sky Carp will be hosting John Vodenlich Day Sunday, June 23 at ABC Supply Stadium in Beloit. The day celebrates the accomplishments of Warhawk Head Baseball Coach John Vodenlich and the success of the 2024 UW-Whitewater baseball team.
Join us in celebrating Coach Vodenlich’s 700th win, induction into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and tying the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record for career wins, as well as the Warhawks’ phenomenal 2024 campaign that featured WIAC regular season and tournament titles, NCAA regional and super regional championships and a run to the national championship series. Purchase tickets here!
The Beloit Sky Carp and UW-Whitewater will recognize the fantastic accomplishments of Coach Vodenlich and Warhawk Baseball at their game against the Lansing Lugnuts on June 23. First pitch is slated for 1:05 p.m.
Coach Vodenlich and members of the 2024 squad will be on site with the national runner-up trophy. Coach Vodenlich set to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Versiti is the primary blood supplier for Southeastern Wisconsin hospitals, including Lakeland and Fort Memorial.
Reserve your spot at this link or by calling 262-473-2997. Please note that several appointments are still open for double red cells. Be sure to take note of the new location at the Cravath Lakefront Community Center.
Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the Whitewater Dementia Friendly Community Initiative.
Congratulations to Fairfield Inn & Suites for being recognized with the Purple Angel Designation by the Whitewater Dementia Friendly Community Initiative. This designation shows that at least fifty percent of the staff has been through a dementia friendly business training learning about dementia and how to best serve those with the disease. There was also a walk-through of the facility with recommendations to assist those with dementia. Others in Whitewater with this designation are Binning and Dickens Insurance, First Citizens Bank, Reynold’s Heating and Cooling, Studio 84, Irvin L Young Memorial Library, Seniors in the Park, New Beginnings APFV, First United Methodist Church, First English Lutheran Church, Discover Whitewater, and Associated Bank – Whitewater.
If any business or church is interested in the Dementia Friendly training please contact Jennifer Jackson, Seniors in the Park at 262-473-0535 or jjackson@whitewater-wi.gov
Obituaries
Marion Jauch Burrows (Feb. 2, 1930 – June 5, 2026) Her sparkling eyes, warm laugh, and generous ways were gifts Marion brought into this world, touching family members and friends alike over the ninety-six years of her life. She was born and raised in Lombard, IL, and in the course of her life lived with her husband and growing family in Abilene, TX, St. David’s, PA, Arkadelphia, AR, Ada, OK, and Colorado Springs, CO, before settling in Whitewater, WI, in 1965. Generosity of heart, compassion toward those in need in and beyond her community, and an unwavering commitment to fairness … Read more
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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