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Today is Tuesday, May 12, 2026
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Are you struggling through the holidays as a caregiver?
Understand the grief, loss and mourning associated with caring for someone with dementia.
Join us for Moving Forward:
Grief and Ambiguous Loss Associated with Dementia Caregiving
The Aging & Disability Resource Centers of Rock and Marquette Counties are offering the 16- week grief and bereavement educational support group on Friday afternoons from 1-3 pm beginning January 16 and running through May 1, 2026. This is a virtual group. There is no cost to attend. Registration and screening are required.
Who is this group for? The group is for anyone who is or has cared for someone with dementia. Caring for someone with dementia presents a constant series of losses and not just those related to death. Each session will cover a grief, loss and mourning topic followed by about 60 minutes of conventional support group discussion.
For more information or to register, please contact
Rock County Dementia Care Specialist, Karen Tennyson at 608/921-7165 or karen.tennyson@co.rock.wi.us
Marquette County Dementia Care Specialist, Janet Wiegel at 608/297-3148 or
jwiegel@co.marquette.wi.us
Editor’s note: The Rock County Aging & Disability Resource Center has previously told The Banner that residents of counties other than Rock are welcome to participate in their programming when space permits.
A New Year Intention-Setting Workshop in Whitewater
Live Life Spiritual Direction Announces “One Word. Infinite Possibility”
Live Life LLC, led by local mind-body-spirit coach Denise Maple, is pleased to announce a reflective and creative workshop designed to help community members begin 2026 with clarity, intention, and purpose. The “One Word. Infinite Possibility.” workshop will be held in early January at The Book Teller in downtown Whitewater.
This inspirational experience invites participants to discover their personal Word of the Year—a single guiding theme that serves as both a touchstone and a compass for the year ahead. Through guided reflection, discussion, and manifestation-focused exercises, attendees will explore what energy or essence they want to cultivate in 2026.
Along with the intention-setting work, the workshop includes a hands-on creative component where participants will design and decorate a personal keepsake featuring their chosen word. This take-home piece serves as a daily reminder of their intention and a source of inspiration throughout the year.
“Choosing a Word of the Year is a powerful way to stay aligned with your values, goals, and inner truth,” said Maple. “This workshop creates space to slow down, listen inward, and begin the new year grounded and fully connected to what matters most.”
The event is open to adults of all backgrounds—no experience with coaching, creative work, or intention-setting practices is required. All materials will be provided.
Event Details:
What: One Word. Infinite Possibility.
Where: The Book Teller, Whitewater, WI
When: Tuesday, January 6th at 6:00 p.m.
Registration: Learn more and sign up at https://livelifespiritual.com/events/word-of-the-year/
About Live Life Spiritual Direction
Live Life Spiritual Direction, a branch of Live Life LLC, is where soul-centered wisdom meets practical, grounded guidance. Led by Denise Maple a mind-body-spirit coach who serves as a spiritual life coach, bioenergetic testing practitioner, Reiki Master, and holistic business coach— this work is rooted in the belief that you deserve to live authentically, vibrantly, and in alignment with who you truly are. Denise welcomes clients at her cozy office on Main Street in Whitewater, Wisconsin, as well as virtually.
Denise founded Live Life Spiritual Direction to help people move beyond merely surviving and step into a life where they can thrive physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Her approach blends deep spiritual training with over 30 years of business leadership and teaching experience.
As a former Clinical Assistant Professor of Finance at the University of Illinois, honored as a Teacher Rated as Excellent by Students and a Dean’s Impact Award recipient, Denise brings a rare blend of heart, intuition, and grounded expertise. She serves as a compassionate guide to help you unearth and live the Song of Your Soul—so you can expand into your fullest potential with clarity, joy, and confidence.
The League of Women Voters Whitewater Area co-sponsored a public Fair Maps Community Hearing Tour event at the Community Engagement Center on November 11. Activists across the state are educating the public and looking for input on an Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) for drawing Wisconsin legislative voting districts in the future. Bill language for an IRC has been drafted, and multiple nonpartisan organizations are working together to gather public feedback.
Wisconsin has fair maps now, but they’re only temporary. Without lasting legislation ahead of the 2030 Census, Wisconsinites risk going back to a system where politicians pick their voters—and ignore the will of the people. That’s why the Fair Maps Coalition has written a draft proposal and is looking for public input.
The community hearing included a presentation on fair maps in Wisconsin and a breakdown of the draft Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) proposal. Attendees then engaged in a lively exchange of questions and answers with the presenters.
Comprehensive information regarding the IRC proposal may be found on the Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition website. Photos of the meeting, courtesy of Tom Ganser, are shown below. Whitewater Community TV provided a recording of the meeting, which may be viewed here.
Editor’s note: This announcement was provided by the League of Women Voters Whitewater Area.
Ready to start your farm succession planning? Virtual workshop series to connect you and your family wherever you are.
Join UW-Madison Extension Farm Management Outreach Specialists Joy Kirkpatrick, Steph Plaster, Kelly Wilfert, and Kevin Bernhardt as they lead important discussions and helpful activities in the Cultivating Your Farm’s Future workshop series. This series provides tools and resources for farmers who are ready to start their succession plans.
Cultivating Your Farm’s Future explores the three-step process of planning your business succession:
- Where are you now?
- Where do you want to be?
- How do you get there?
The workshops prepare you to shape and communicate your ideas about the future of the farm and business and also save time by having crucial conversations before visiting with professionals.
Who should attend?
This series is for farm businesses and farm families ready to shape the future ownership of their farm. If you are the owner generation, you may be wondering how to transfer to the next generation or develop a fair inheritance distribution plan. If you are the next generation, you may have questions or ideas about your future role in the farm business or how to make it financially feasible and realistic for your goals. Multiple farm/family members are encouraged to attend together.
What topics are covered?
● Communication preferences and how to talk about the farm’s future
● Common tensions around farm succession
● Inheritance distributions – Is equal fair?
● Financials for farm succession
● Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats – SWOT analysis
● Estate planning including probate and estate tax
● Wills, trusts, and business entities
● Setting goals and action steps
When are these workshops?
February 2026
Thursday evenings, 6:30–8 p.m., February 5, 12, 19, 26, 2026. This series also offers an optional action-planning session on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
Where are the workshops held?
All sessions are held live via Zoom, so participants can join from anywhere! Each week participants will receive an email with homework assignments. The homework is designed to help gather information and prepare for the discussions and activities during the live Zoom sessions. The homework is a mix of short videos, worksheets or reading assignments. Hard copies of program materials will be mailed to each participant before the first class. - Registration details
- The cost to register is $150/per farm. Multiple farm/family members are encouraged to participate—all for $150/farm. The registration fee covers one Cultivating Your Farm’s Future workbook and one Cultivating Continuity book per farm, a participant manual for each person registered, access to digital course materials, and four (with an optional fifth) live zoom classes.
- Additional Cultivating Your Farm’s Future workbooks can be purchased for $15/each and Cultivating Continuity books for $25/each.
- Register online at https://uwmadison.eventsair.com/farm2526/reg/Site/Register
- The registration deadline is January 16, 2026, to ensure participants receive the mailed materials in time for the first class. Registration is limited to 20 farms.
- Even if you have attended other transition, estate, or succession planning classes, consider attending this program to get a START on YOUR succession plan.
- For more information contact Joy Kirkpatrick, Farm Succession Outreach Specialist, joy.kirkpatrick@wisc.edu, 608.263.3485
The Whitewater Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Freddy from Pixabay.
Saint Peter, Minn. – The No. 10 UW-Whitewater women’s basketball team mounted a phenomenal fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Gustavus Adolphus 47-44 on the road Tuesday evening. With the win, the Warhawks will head into 2026 with a 10-1 record.
Gustavus Adolphus held a lead through most of the contest widening the margin to as much as 10. By the end of the third, UWW trailed by eight.
Renee Rittmeyer (Winnebago, Ill./Winnebago) sparked the Warhawks early in the fourth with an old fashioned three-point play to narrow the gap to five, 38-33. Caden Krohn (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West) broke a scoring lull with a pair of free throws just under the seven-minute mark to pull UWW to within three.
The Gusties knocked down a three but Bri McCurdy (St. Croix Falls, Wis./St. Croix Falls) had the quick response nailing a triple to make it a three-point game once again. Rittmeyer drew another foul and hit one of two at the line before Brooke Stenklyft (Cambridge, Wis./Cambridge) hit a jumper in the paint to tie the game 41-41 with just over four minutes remaining.
The rest of the Warhawk points came from the charity stripe. Krohn drained a pair to give UWW the lead. Rittmeyer added another to push the lead to 44-41. McCurdy and Camryn Nies (Platteville, Wis./Platteville) also hit one each to extend the gap to five, 46-41, with 39 seconds left.
Gustavus Adolphus hauled in a defensive rebound and called timeout to advance the ball. They capitalized with a three-pointer to cut the margin to two with 29 seconds on the clock. The Gusties got the steal shortly after the inbound and called timeout. Their shot from deep caromed off the rim and into the hands of Rittmeyer. Coach Carollo signaled for timeout and advanced the ball into UWW’s offensive end. McCurdy was fouled and went to the line, hitting the second to push the advantage to three.
GAC was able to get two shots off in the final 10 seconds. Mia Gillis (Mundelein, Ill./Carmel Catholic) blocked the first and the second was no good at the buzzer for the win.
UW-Whitewater shot 43% from the floor in the fourth while holding Gustavus Adolphus to just 13% from the field. The free throw line was UWW’s biggest advantage in the contest as the Warhawks hit 15-24. The Gusties had just eight attempts from the charity stripe making three of their chances.
McCurdy led UWW with 11 points while Stenklyft added 10. Rittmeyer paced the Warhawks on the glass with six rebounds.
Editor’s note: This report was posted to the UW-W Athletics site.
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday on New Year’s Day from the Whitewater Historical Society.
The Whitewater Historical Society would like to extend “A hearty wish for the New Year” with this post card from 1908. It is from our collection of holiday post cards from the early 20th century.
Have a Happy New Year and join us for special celebrations in this 250th year of the Declaration of Independence.
Wishing you good health and happiness in the new year!
The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage and above by Waseem Ahmad from Pixabay.
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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