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Today is Tuesday, May 12, 2026
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Updated on January 21 at 8 a.m.: This photo was taken at Whitewater Creek Nature Park. Picture below was taken from the bridge/walk near the entrance to Hillside Cemetery.
Photos taken by Tom Ganser on January 15. Do you wonder if these birds are wishing they were “snowbirds?”
Our thanks to Tom Ganser for sharing another beautiful nature scene.
— Our Readers Share: We hope that you might have something that you’d be willing to share. Anything that’s been created by someone else should, of course, be credited, and you should ask their permission if you’re able. We cannot post copyrighted material without permission. We can’t guarantee that we’ll have space for all submissions, and contributions will be subject to editorial board approval. The one definite exclusion is anything politically oriented. We will assume that you’re willing for us to include your name as the submitter unless you indicate that you prefer to remain anonymous. Send to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com. Thanks for thinking about this!
The Dementia Friendly Community Initiative writes, “We received a story from one of our caregivers that makes two (at least) great points: How dementia changes the brain and why friends and family should keep visiting.“
Mom has progressed to stage 4 out of 5 with her dementia. Her demeanor has changed. Although she still has her obstinate moments, she is becoming happy, affectionate, and appreciative. From what I hear, happiness is not a typical part of the progress of this disease. Depression and aggression are more common, so how wonderful it is that mom is happy these days! As happy as I have ever seen her.
This is due in part to loss of short term memory and in part to her attachment to me. Without her memory, she doesn’t retain good or bad experiences, they are gone from her mind. Her brain is filled with the here and now and maybe because I have learned to share warmth, kindness, a gentle touch, her here-and-now is happiness.
The part of the brain that processes facts and logic is the first to go, but feelings, good and bad, are there to the end. I began to give Mom a gentle pat on the thigh when I sat down beside her. She started to return the gentle touch. After a few weeks, she began putting her head on my shoulder. When people come to see her, she anticipates good feelings and her face lights up.
Being appreciative seems to go back to the manners that we were taught as small children. Unlike adult life when people use manners out of habit, mom has a strong sense of sharing gratitude. Maybe she knows it feels good to receive kindness, so passes it on. When my grandfather was in a nursing home at the age of 93, he had good manners to the end.
Mom has been stubborn her whole life. When she graduated from sixth grade, her mother bought the dress she liked instead of the one my Mom wanted. Mom had a very unhappy expression in the photo. If Mom decides she’s not going to take her pills, it is not going to happen and I have to find a different way to administer her medication. That hasn’t changed.
Love is a primal feeling. It is what brings us together, like the gentle touch, smile or kind gesture. As the brain deteriorates, love stays. If I ask Mom if she is fine, she will reply, “I am fine because you are here.” That is a phrase that I will hear in my mind for the rest of my life. As for those that stay away from people with dementia because they think they cannot love, those friends and family are missing out on a big part of life.
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This article submitted by Dementia Friendly Community Initiative, a program of Whitewater Seniors in the Park to help inform the community about dementia and to support patients and caregivers. New members are always welcome! Contact jfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or call Jennifer French at 262 473 0535. More resources for caregivers:
https://www.co.walworth.wi.us/376/Aging-Disability-Resource-Center
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire extends congratulations to the 2,778 students named to the fall 2023 dean’s list. Their academic performance has been outstanding, and we recognize these students with pride.
Congratulations, Blugolds!
Students from your area who were named to the Dean’s List are:
Whitewater, WI
Emma Jordan, College of Arts and Sciences
By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
Whitewater, Wis. – The No. 4 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women’s basketball team cruised to a 69-52 win over UW-River Falls in Kachel Gym Saturday afternoon. The Warhawks are now 17-0 on the season and 6-0 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play.
File photo of Katie Hildebrandt from a game earlier this season (Michael Gouvion)
By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
Despite a relatively slow start, UWW started to pick up the offensive efficiency toward the end of the first quarter. Katie Hildebrandt sparked a late run with a jumper in the paint at the 2:37 mark. Lunden Alexander added a free throw before Mallory Oloffson knocked down a three-pointer to make it 13-6. Meanwhile, the Warhawk defense held the Falcons scoreless in that span to take the seven-point advantage into the second quarter.
UW-Whitewater’s lead quickly hit the double figure mark with Hildebrandt’s triple widening the gap to 18-8 and it never dipped into single digits the rest of the way.
The Warhawks dominated in the paint outscoring UWRF 36-18. UWW also held a 16-7 sway in fast break points.
Hildebrandt led UW-Whitewater with 17 points on 6-11 from the floor, 2-4 from long range and 3-3 from the free throw line. She added three rebounds, two blocks and a steal. Aleah Grundahl posted 15 points bolstered by a 5-6 performance from the charity stripe. Oloffson rounded out the double-digit scorers for UWW with 10 on 4-5 from the field.
Kacie Carollo and Bri McCurdy paced the Warhawks on the glass with six boards each while Carollo added five assists in the game.
Update Jan. 22 @ 8:55 a.m. – Per WUSD:
Confirming we will begin school following the 2 hour delay:
9:50 Elementary
9:55 MS
9:50 HS (see alt schedule for finals sent out by Mr. Mansky)
SPECIAL NOTICE – 5:20 am, January 22
WUSD Staff and Families: In consultation with our bus company, we are very concerned about earlier-than-expected icing on the roads that will make it dangerous for our buses and the commute to school. (County A is currently closed by the Duck Inn due to icing.) We will be initiating a 2-hour delay and reassessing if school can start safely. AM 4K will be canceled.
Due to slippery road conditions, the Whitewater Unified School District will have a two hour delay on Monday, January 22nd. As such, the high school exam schedule has been modified and can be found HERE. In the event that road conditions do not improve and school is canceled, we will bump the high school exam schedule back by one day. Day 1 of exams would start on Tuesday, January 23rd, Day 2 would be Wednesday, January 24th, and Day 3 would be found Thursday, January 25th.
According to the National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office, the Whitewater area is projected to have nearly a 90% chance of a light layer of glaze ice between Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning.
From late Sunday night to noon Monday, periods of light snow or sleet are likely. Around noon on Monday, a transition to drizzle/freezing drizzle is likely. It’s possible that the resulting ice may impact travel Monday evening and Tuesday morning.
Editor’s note: The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Дмитрий Василенко from Pixabay.
Edgerton (10-3) beat Whitewater High School (2-12) in boys’ basketball on Friday, January 19 by a score of 68-91.
Reece Condon led the Whippets with 18 points. Freshman Aaron Garcia entered the starting lineup and had 12 points. Casey Lyon also scored 12, and Marcos Sagrero had 10.
Whitewater played hard the entire game, but could not get stops when they were needed. Edgerton out rebounded the Whippets by a large margin.
Next up, Evansville High School comes to town on Thursday, January 25. All youth wearing a jersey get in free!
Article Submitted by Mike McCabe
Whitewater High School Head Boys’ Basketball Coach
mccmi01@wwusd.org
File Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka
Per the National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office, there will be bitter cold wind chills again early on Sunday morning. A Wind Chill Advisory has been issued once again, from midnight tonight until 9 a.m. on Sunday.
Sarah Knetzke poses with a medal after tying for first on the beam and setting a new program record.
By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
Lebanon, Tenn. – The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater gymnastics team set a number of records in a historic night in the Tennessee Collegiate Classic Friday night. The Warhawks broke the Division III and UWW record for total score, 194.450, while also setting team and individual records on the balance beam. The meet also featured three Division I opponents: Kent State, Ball State and Southeastern Missouri.
In addition to setting the Division III record, UW-Whitewater’s team total crushed the program record that had stood since 2018 by 0.75.
The Warhawks posted record book-worthy scores throughout the evening, but the final event of the night for UWW was a highlight. UW-Whitewater posted a team total of 48.700 on the balance beam to break the program record. Sarah Knetzke led the way with an incredible 9.925 to tie for first at the meet and set the program record. Her mark is the best on the apparatus for a Warhawk since Allyse Dieringer’s 9.900 in 2014. Chloe Hammond added a 9.85 to finish among the top 10 at the meet followed by Tegan Haberstock’s 9.725. Kelsey Kollhoff posted a 9.650 and Ashnaya Gupta rounded out the scoring five with a 9.550.
UW-Whitewater registered the third-highest team totals in each of the other three events – 48.850 on the floor, 48.400 on the vault and 48.500 on the bars.
The Warhawks opened the meet on the floor exercise. Carleigh Moore’s fantastic performance scored a 9.850, tied for third-best in program history. Haberstock added a top 15 mark in the UWW record book with a 9.800 in the event. Elena Bailey and Knetzke posted 9.750’s while Danielle Dudziak registered a score of 9.700.
Moore paced UWW on the vault with a score of 9.775, tied for 14th in the UWW record book. Dudziak added a 9.725 followed by 9.650’s from Ava Pesch and Elena Bailey. Kora Donley wrapped up the scoring five with a 9.600.
On the uneven bars, Kollhoff and Paige Magel led the Warhawks with matching scores of 9.775, tied for 11th-best in program history. Pesch, Hammond and Dudziak all registered matching scores of 9.650 in the event to add to the team total.
Ball State won the Tennessee Collegiate Classic (198.025) followed by Kent State (197.725), SEMO (197.050) and UWW.
The Warhawks return to Whitewater for their home-opener Saturday, January 27. UWW will host UW-La Crosse at 4 p.m. The Warhawks will celebrate the 10.0 Club, Youth Night and recognize the parents of the 2024 team.
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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