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Frank Dusek was born in 1939 in the Township of Emery to Frank and Anne.  His siblings are Vivian and Ruth.

He attended East Highland School, which is now a bed & breakfast and then finished his schooling at Phillips High School.  His favorite teacher was Mrs. Fox.  Frank said, "I could do math real easy with her."  Something that didn't come so easy to him, though, was playing the accordion, which his dad hoped he would master under the instruction of Marianne Foytek.  "Dad wanted to make a musician out of me, but, at that age, I had other things in mind like cars, sports, and girls.  It made it difficult to practice the accordion," Frank admitted.

Like a lot of young boys, Frank dreamed of being in professional sports; he wanted to be a baseball player.  "On the farm, when I had a chance, if dad was napping or doing something, I'd throw that ball against the barn wall."  He played baseball in school, and he also wanted to play basketball.  "I think I screwed it up.  I was told not to play basketball, but who's gonna tell me what to do?  So, I went to play, and I got kicked in the back of the leg.  The coach came up to me and said, 'Frank, that did it.'  He knew I wouldn't be very good [at baseball] with that type of injury, which did bother me later in life when I played for the Legion and city teams."

Upon graduation from Phillips High School in 1957, Frank didn't head to baseball training camp; instead, he ventured to Portage, Wisconsin where he worked in a canning factory for the summer.  After spending some time back home, he joined the Army in 1958, and he remained there for over 2 1/2 years.  He was stationed in Fort Sheridan, Illinois, but he chuckled when he said, "That area didn't satisfy me."

He moved back to Phillips, and he was going to work on the farm, but "I saw all the rocks to pick, and I said 'no,'" he said with a chuckle.  So, he went to work at the Standard Oil station.  Fred Knez owned the station, and Frank asked him if he would like to sell it.  Fred said he would need to talk with his wife, Mabel, and before Frank knew it, as he says, "I bought myself a job."

While running the Standard station, Lloyd Hilgendorf, a man from Tomahawk, approached him about getting into the LP gas business.  Frank, a budding entrepreneur, decided to add that line of business.  He soon found out, however, that Standard Oil was not going to allow him to also provide LP at the station.  He had to choose which path he wanted his business to take, so, in 1962, he chose the LP gas business.

To get the venture going, Frank went to Texas to buy a bulk truck.  He drove it back home, went straight to the Price County Fair, and his first LP customers signed up to his services.

In 1967, he purchased the land across from the current grocery store, built his store, and that remained the home of Dusek's LP Gas until the time of his retirement in 2003 when he sold the business after 41 years as a businessman.

While building his business, Frank got married to his first wife, who was from Waukegan, Illinois.  She did not acclimate well to the area, and fourteen years later they divorced.

After some time living the single life, in the mid-1970s, someone caught his eye while he was watching a softball game south of town.  He asked someone, "Who is the lady on first base?"  He found out her name was Carol, and she was playing softball for the local bowling alley.  Naturally, Frank decided to frequent the bowling alley so he could make her acquaintance.  Once doing so, he realized he wanted to get to know her better.  After a couple years of dating, Carol's daughter, Tracy, who was ten years old at the time, advised that Frank might want to marry Carol, which Frank says was likely the best piece of advice he has ever received, even though he joked he has probably received a lot of advice in his life.  In 1977, they took Tracy's advice to get married, and Frank whole-heartedly feels it was the best decision of his life.

Not only is Carol his best friend, he said that she helped straighten out his life and make him a better person.  He shared that he started drinking coffee when he was 25 years old with the other salesmen.  However, as time progressed, the salesmen started going to the supper club for "drinks."  When he met Carol, he was making a few choices with drinking that were not suiting his health, and by her suggestion and guidance, he did stop drinking, much to his doctor's delight.

"Being I went through this deal with drinking a little more alcohol than I maybe should have, I'm fortunate that I stopped before it got out of control, but today the kids are out there and you just wonder.  The kids don't know what they are doing with trying the drugs and everything that is out there, and it makes it hard for these kids.  If only they would realize, be taught, and know not to do it," Frank shared his advice to today's youth, knowing they could find more good things in a clean lifestyle.

Throughout their married life, Frank and Carol have focused on the good things in life.  One good thing they love to do is travel in their motor home.  They have visited many places, but Alaska is a highlight for Frank.  They went on a cruise and a bus tour.  "The bus tour was really nice.  They had everything arranged for us.  There were other couples with us.  We got to see sites we normally wouldn't see.  They could take the bus right through the reserves, and they would explain everything to us."  Frank has traveled much of America, but he said they didn't get out west to as many places as he would have liked.

If Frank could have one wish for America, he'd wish that some people would not be so corrupt.  "This stuff we have going on now, it's just too bad.  I don't know where it all comes from, but the parents really should be responsible for what their kids do."  He explained that most parents are doing a good job but some need to discipline their children to help them grow to be good and proper citizens and appreciate this great country we have.  "I was disciplined when I was young.  I guess that's what it takes.  But I don't blame the parents for all of it.  When the kids get in trouble, you've got to tell them what is wrong and not just fight for them and say, 'Well, it's okay.'"  He said that some kids immediately go to their parents now to have them come to their aid, but when he was a kid, he didn't want his dad to know when he did something wrong.  "But some things I couldn't hide," Frank joked, with some glee in his eyes remembering his mischievous days as a young man.  It all started when his dad bought him a Sears & Roebuck Schwinn bike.  "I didn't like to pedal it," Frank said, so he had to soup it up by adding a motor to it.  Then, one time, he took his dad's car and accidentally rolled it.  "I couldn't hide that one," Frank joked.  With a few more fender benders under his belt, it's no surprise that Frank's dad got him his own car, and later in life Frank became interested in stock cars and racing snowmobiles.

Looking back on his long life, Frank said, "It's just a blessing that I am here.  I sure accomplished a lot of things.  I joined the Lion's Club in 1964, and I am still an active member.  I, and other Lions Club members, did a lot of work on what is now known as Elk Lake Park, working many hours to clear and prepare the land.  I belong to the American Legion.  I was involved with the early part of the campground clean-up in Phillips and did work with the Park Falls Industrial Development.  I did a lot of snowmobile trail work, got permission from the landowners."

While Frank's love of snowmobiling is evident, not everyone knows about all the time and attention he has put into the Price County snowmobile trails and snowmobiling in general.

Those who know him as the "Father of Price County’s Snowmobile Trails Program” know he has done a lot.  In 1969, Frank was a charter member of the Phillips Chaparrals, which was the first snowmobile club in Price County.  In 1972, he was the founder and first president of the Price County Trails Association, which is now made up of ten clubs, and Frank is a member of each club.  In 1984, the governor took notice, and Frank was appointed to the Wisconsin Governor’s Snowmobile Recreation Council.

In the early years, Frank worked tirelessly to develop Price County's network of trails, establishing relationships with private landowners who allowed the trails to be placed on their properties.

All the trails need to be maintained, and Frank was the most instrumental in securing state funding for trail maintenance.  However, he didn't just seek funding, he also did the work.  He started grooming snowmobile trails with bed springs being towed behind snowmobiles until more heavy-duty grooming equipment became available.  He personally signed for a loan to buy the first Tucker Sno-Cat for Price County.  He even provided valuable input for the design of how a drag should most effectively process the snow.  This insight helped in the process of creating the commercial groomers that are now used.  In 2022, Frank was awarded the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs (AWSC) Groomer of the Year.

To this day, Frank continues to be actively involved with the AWSC and all the local clubs.

Frank enjoys riding with family and friends, and he also enjoys riding for a cause.  Many times he has helped to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis.

According to the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame, "Frank has earned the respect of everyone he interacts with.  He is regarded as the ambassador for snowmobiling in Price County and the state of Wisconsin.  Frank is very adamant about ensuring everyone stays safe when grooming and snowmobiling.  It is for his unwavering commitment to the sport of snowmobiling that places Frank Dusek in the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame, Class of 2023."  The induction ceremony will take place in Eagle River on September 15 and 16, 2023.

Frank appreciates being recognized for his contributions, but he most appreciates what he has in life.  If Frank won the lottery, he said, "My personal thought is that I don't want it."  He said he'd either give it to the kids or charity.  He knows people can have bad results when they win, so he wouldn't tell anyone he got it.  Frank also doesn't care to meet any famous people.  The people he is most interested in spending his time with and proud of are his wife, Carol; his two step-children (who he loves as his own children), Jeff Williams and Tracy (Williams) Hand; his five grandchildren; and his nine great-grandchildren with one on the way which will make ten.

"It turned out for the good and the best in my life," Frank reminisced.  He said the motto he currently lives by is, "I'm getting older and slower but not old."  With all the accomplishments in his life and having that positive mindset, Frank will likely continue to make positive contributions to his community and his loved ones both on and off the trails.

You can share this article on Facebook via this link.

Update, 2-22-2024:  You can view a video that was created by Discover Wisconsin three months after our article was published.  Click this link.


Written By:  Lynne Bohn, MyPriceCounty.com]]>
  frankdusek.jpg (Size: 37.62 KB / Downloads: 1610)

Frank Dusek was born in 1939 in the Township of Emery to Frank and Anne.  His siblings are Vivian and Ruth.

He attended East Highland School, which is now a bed & breakfast and then finished his schooling at Phillips High School.  His favorite teacher was Mrs. Fox.  Frank said, "I could do math real easy with her."  Something that didn't come so easy to him, though, was playing the accordion, which his dad hoped he would master under the instruction of Marianne Foytek.  "Dad wanted to make a musician out of me, but, at that age, I had other things in mind like cars, sports, and girls.  It made it difficult to practice the accordion," Frank admitted.

Like a lot of young boys, Frank dreamed of being in professional sports; he wanted to be a baseball player.  "On the farm, when I had a chance, if dad was napping or doing something, I'd throw that ball against the barn wall."  He played baseball in school, and he also wanted to play basketball.  "I think I screwed it up.  I was told not to play basketball, but who's gonna tell me what to do?  So, I went to play, and I got kicked in the back of the leg.  The coach came up to me and said, 'Frank, that did it.'  He knew I wouldn't be very good [at baseball] with that type of injury, which did bother me later in life when I played for the Legion and city teams."

Upon graduation from Phillips High School in 1957, Frank didn't head to baseball training camp; instead, he ventured to Portage, Wisconsin where he worked in a canning factory for the summer.  After spending some time back home, he joined the Army in 1958, and he remained there for over 2 1/2 years.  He was stationed in Fort Sheridan, Illinois, but he chuckled when he said, "That area didn't satisfy me."

He moved back to Phillips, and he was going to work on the farm, but "I saw all the rocks to pick, and I said 'no,'" he said with a chuckle.  So, he went to work at the Standard Oil station.  Fred Knez owned the station, and Frank asked him if he would like to sell it.  Fred said he would need to talk with his wife, Mabel, and before Frank knew it, as he says, "I bought myself a job."

While running the Standard station, Lloyd Hilgendorf, a man from Tomahawk, approached him about getting into the LP gas business.  Frank, a budding entrepreneur, decided to add that line of business.  He soon found out, however, that Standard Oil was not going to allow him to also provide LP at the station.  He had to choose which path he wanted his business to take, so, in 1962, he chose the LP gas business.

To get the venture going, Frank went to Texas to buy a bulk truck.  He drove it back home, went straight to the Price County Fair, and his first LP customers signed up to his services.

In 1967, he purchased the land across from the current grocery store, built his store, and that remained the home of Dusek's LP Gas until the time of his retirement in 2003 when he sold the business after 41 years as a businessman.

While building his business, Frank got married to his first wife, who was from Waukegan, Illinois.  She did not acclimate well to the area, and fourteen years later they divorced.

After some time living the single life, in the mid-1970s, someone caught his eye while he was watching a softball game south of town.  He asked someone, "Who is the lady on first base?"  He found out her name was Carol, and she was playing softball for the local bowling alley.  Naturally, Frank decided to frequent the bowling alley so he could make her acquaintance.  Once doing so, he realized he wanted to get to know her better.  After a couple years of dating, Carol's daughter, Tracy, who was ten years old at the time, advised that Frank might want to marry Carol, which Frank says was likely the best piece of advice he has ever received, even though he joked he has probably received a lot of advice in his life.  In 1977, they took Tracy's advice to get married, and Frank whole-heartedly feels it was the best decision of his life.

Not only is Carol his best friend, he said that she helped straighten out his life and make him a better person.  He shared that he started drinking coffee when he was 25 years old with the other salesmen.  However, as time progressed, the salesmen started going to the supper club for "drinks."  When he met Carol, he was making a few choices with drinking that were not suiting his health, and by her suggestion and guidance, he did stop drinking, much to his doctor's delight.

"Being I went through this deal with drinking a little more alcohol than I maybe should have, I'm fortunate that I stopped before it got out of control, but today the kids are out there and you just wonder.  The kids don't know what they are doing with trying the drugs and everything that is out there, and it makes it hard for these kids.  If only they would realize, be taught, and know not to do it," Frank shared his advice to today's youth, knowing they could find more good things in a clean lifestyle.

Throughout their married life, Frank and Carol have focused on the good things in life.  One good thing they love to do is travel in their motor home.  They have visited many places, but Alaska is a highlight for Frank.  They went on a cruise and a bus tour.  "The bus tour was really nice.  They had everything arranged for us.  There were other couples with us.  We got to see sites we normally wouldn't see.  They could take the bus right through the reserves, and they would explain everything to us."  Frank has traveled much of America, but he said they didn't get out west to as many places as he would have liked.

If Frank could have one wish for America, he'd wish that some people would not be so corrupt.  "This stuff we have going on now, it's just too bad.  I don't know where it all comes from, but the parents really should be responsible for what their kids do."  He explained that most parents are doing a good job but some need to discipline their children to help them grow to be good and proper citizens and appreciate this great country we have.  "I was disciplined when I was young.  I guess that's what it takes.  But I don't blame the parents for all of it.  When the kids get in trouble, you've got to tell them what is wrong and not just fight for them and say, 'Well, it's okay.'"  He said that some kids immediately go to their parents now to have them come to their aid, but when he was a kid, he didn't want his dad to know when he did something wrong.  "But some things I couldn't hide," Frank joked, with some glee in his eyes remembering his mischievous days as a young man.  It all started when his dad bought him a Sears & Roebuck Schwinn bike.  "I didn't like to pedal it," Frank said, so he had to soup it up by adding a motor to it.  Then, one time, he took his dad's car and accidentally rolled it.  "I couldn't hide that one," Frank joked.  With a few more fender benders under his belt, it's no surprise that Frank's dad got him his own car, and later in life Frank became interested in stock cars and racing snowmobiles.

Looking back on his long life, Frank said, "It's just a blessing that I am here.  I sure accomplished a lot of things.  I joined the Lion's Club in 1964, and I am still an active member.  I, and other Lions Club members, did a lot of work on what is now known as Elk Lake Park, working many hours to clear and prepare the land.  I belong to the American Legion.  I was involved with the early part of the campground clean-up in Phillips and did work with the Park Falls Industrial Development.  I did a lot of snowmobile trail work, got permission from the landowners."

While Frank's love of snowmobiling is evident, not everyone knows about all the time and attention he has put into the Price County snowmobile trails and snowmobiling in general.

Those who know him as the "Father of Price County’s Snowmobile Trails Program” know he has done a lot.  In 1969, Frank was a charter member of the Phillips Chaparrals, which was the first snowmobile club in Price County.  In 1972, he was the founder and first president of the Price County Trails Association, which is now made up of ten clubs, and Frank is a member of each club.  In 1984, the governor took notice, and Frank was appointed to the Wisconsin Governor’s Snowmobile Recreation Council.

In the early years, Frank worked tirelessly to develop Price County's network of trails, establishing relationships with private landowners who allowed the trails to be placed on their properties.

All the trails need to be maintained, and Frank was the most instrumental in securing state funding for trail maintenance.  However, he didn't just seek funding, he also did the work.  He started grooming snowmobile trails with bed springs being towed behind snowmobiles until more heavy-duty grooming equipment became available.  He personally signed for a loan to buy the first Tucker Sno-Cat for Price County.  He even provided valuable input for the design of how a drag should most effectively process the snow.  This insight helped in the process of creating the commercial groomers that are now used.  In 2022, Frank was awarded the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs (AWSC) Groomer of the Year.

To this day, Frank continues to be actively involved with the AWSC and all the local clubs.

Frank enjoys riding with family and friends, and he also enjoys riding for a cause.  Many times he has helped to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis.

According to the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame, "Frank has earned the respect of everyone he interacts with.  He is regarded as the ambassador for snowmobiling in Price County and the state of Wisconsin.  Frank is very adamant about ensuring everyone stays safe when grooming and snowmobiling.  It is for his unwavering commitment to the sport of snowmobiling that places Frank Dusek in the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame, Class of 2023."  The induction ceremony will take place in Eagle River on September 15 and 16, 2023.

Frank appreciates being recognized for his contributions, but he most appreciates what he has in life.  If Frank won the lottery, he said, "My personal thought is that I don't want it."  He said he'd either give it to the kids or charity.  He knows people can have bad results when they win, so he wouldn't tell anyone he got it.  Frank also doesn't care to meet any famous people.  The people he is most interested in spending his time with and proud of are his wife, Carol; his two step-children (who he loves as his own children), Jeff Williams and Tracy (Williams) Hand; his five grandchildren; and his nine great-grandchildren with one on the way which will make ten.

"It turned out for the good and the best in my life," Frank reminisced.  He said the motto he currently lives by is, "I'm getting older and slower but not old."  With all the accomplishments in his life and having that positive mindset, Frank will likely continue to make positive contributions to his community and his loved ones both on and off the trails.

You can share this article on Facebook via this link.

Update, 2-22-2024:  You can view a video that was created by Discover Wisconsin three months after our article was published.  Click this link.


Written By:  Lynne Bohn, MyPriceCounty.com]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-198.html Wed, 28 Sep 2022 18:39:50 +0000 My Northern Wisconsin]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-198.html
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John Brylski has investigating in his blood.  Whether it be exploring and climbing trees as a young boy with his childhood best friend, Amy Buske; exploring along the river with his brother, David, as a teenager; investigating during his 28 years in law enforcement with Outagamie County; finding cougar tracks in Phillips in 2019; or working to solve the Shelly Hansen missing person mystery, John puts a whole-hearted effort into it all.

John was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Ronald (Ron) and Geraldine (Gerry) Brylski.  He explained he was a shy child but his life experiences turned him into a confident adult who always likes a challenge.

As a boy, he moved a few times, calling West Allis, Brookfield, and New London home, along with his two younger siblings, David and Lisa, who he treasures.  While a student at New London Senior High School, he was active in sports, such as track and football.  A memory that stands out in John's mind is when the football team played against Bay Port during Homecoming.  "At that point, our school had won seven Homecomings in a row.  My Dad promised me a shotgun if I scored two touchdowns in the game as his dad had done when he played football in the same position in high school.  I did score two touchdowns and remember the feeling I had when I crossed the goal line.  I hopped over the line!  I was so happy our team also won the game."

During and after high school, John, along with his brother and his dad, enjoyed competitive cross country skiing.  They would travel all over Wisconsin and into Minnesota to compete at distances of 10K to 15K.  "In my first year at Northland College, I went with the intent of being a half time student and training and racing as part of Telemark Academy, an academy that helped create Olympic skiers; but, it was not meant to be."  John explained that the 1980 Winter Olympics Cross Country Ski Team hadn't performed well and the Academy was dissolved.

At that time, John started considering a new goal, which was to become a police officer.  His interest was greatly sparked when a New London police officer asked him if he wanted to go on a call with him.  The police officer remembered John as a fast runner in high school, and he needed help catching a "Peeping Tom."  Handing John a flashlight, he gave him instructions.  "He told me he would drop me off in the area he was last seen.  I was to try and find him, run him down, and yell for help because the officer would be driving in circles around the streets.  I never found him, but I never forgot the screeches of the police officer's tires as he went around me and the feeling of walking in people’s back yards looking for the peeper.  With the nervousness and adrenaline rush I felt, I then knew I wanted to make my career a police officer."

With schooling underway, John met Cindy, who he married in 1985.  During the early part of their marriage, they moved to Texas.  John went to Marine Corps boot camp and then to military police school at Lackland Airforce Base.  "The most memorable moment there was a forced 10 mile march which I believe at 50 pounds back pack this march was to be the last with all men so they wanted to do it faster than normal, so we double timed or ran at times in the end of the hot, grueling march.  One other Marine MP recruit candidate and I finished out of 50 Marines."

Next, John got stationed in Cherry Point, North Carolina.  "There I was a CPL Non-commissioned Officer and was a Patrol Supervisor going to regular calls like cops do - fights, domestics, thefts, and traffic.  I was also at the main gate security waving in vehicles with base decals."  It was also at this base that John and Cindy welcomed their first child, Ken, who he named after his late great uncle, Kenny Hartenberger.  "He used to be a Marine Vietnam Vet and was a great guy," John reflected.

Getting stationed at Bogue Field NC Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Base, he was the Non-commissioned Field MP Officer in charge of training, scheduling, post security, and writing standard operating procedure.  He received a Meritorious Mast for his duties at Bogue.

The final part of his military career took place in Iwakuni, Japan.  "Cindy and I lived off base in a normal Japanese home with a kerosene heater to heat the home."  John left the Marine Corps shortly thereafter with an Honorable Discharge and Good Conduct Medal.


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Settling back in Wisconsin, John was hired by the Outagamie County Sheriff's Department.  He started in the jail as a guard and then was transferred to patrol and then as the first full-time Police School Liaison Officer.  "I gave class presentations and investigated all crimes from harassment, theft, battery, child abuse, and sexual assault.  I did security at school events."  Improving camaraderie with the students, John was the head coach of the boys and girls track teams and coached middle school football.  "At one practice, I was in charge of 7th grade 2nd team offense.  I challenged the 1st team to a scrimmage because I felt I should be coaching 1st team.  Using the right motivation and not standard plays, the 2nd team beat the 1st team.  I said to the 1st team coach, 'Now who is the 1st team?'"

Along with coaching, John was also excelling in his career and personal life.  His son and daughter, Zach and Abby, were born over the next few years.  He was also promoted to Sergeant (Law Enforcement Specialist).  He was the back-up for other officers and responded to bad traffic injuries and fatalities.  He also went to crime scenes to document and collect evidence, take measurements, take photos, and get fingerprints and DNA.

"I later was transferred to Investigations, which I enjoyed for the challenge and strategy involved in finding and arresting a suspect.  My most high profile case was Catholic Priest John Patrick Feeney in 2001.  I worked only on this case for six months.  The case received national attention.  I was interviewed by news media.  Feeney was found guilty and given, I believe, 12 years.  He later died in prison." 

John was nominated four times as Officer of the Year by his peers.  He added that there are so many incidents a police officer responds to, from crimes and high-speed chases to horrible accidents, suicides, and close calls.  "Life as a law enforcement Officer was not easy; it left its scars and also triumphs," he shared.

He also had some scars and triumphs in his personal life.  He and Cindy divorced.  While that was a low point in time, there had been high points in his marriage.  His children also brought him many more high points, and he is one proud dad.  He reminisced about a series of small vacations in 1996 with his sons on the lakes in Waupaca County.  "I enjoyed watching them catch fish, though I did not get in much fishing myself as I was untangling lines from their lack of fishing knowledge.  On the way home, we got ice cream at Dairy Queen and listened to the music CD, 'Journeys Greatest Hits.'  To this day, listening to one of their songs on that CD brings me back to that time."

Along with that memorable vacation, John is proud of his kids' accomplishments.  "I remember enjoying my kids growing up and watching their sports events like football, track, cross country running, basketball, and dance.  Later, I was so proud of my kids, Ken and Zach, graduating from college.  Ken started his own business on the Internet, Zach became a physician's assistant, and Abby went to college and began as an RN nurse."


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Another high point was when John met Amy, his current wife and soulmate, at a club in Appleton just when he was preparing to leave.  "I turned around and saw a woman sitting by herself.  Immediately, time slowed down for me.  Considering the location, [a club], it was like seeing a masterpiece at a rummage sale.  I wasn't sure I should go up and talk to her, because I knew my life would change drastically.  I walked up to her, tapped her on the shoulder, and she turned....with the most beautiful smile."  John and Amy married in 2006, and John welcomed two step-children, Ryan and Megan, into his life.  He added that Ryan is an auto mechanic who works on top-class cars, and Megan is a data processor for hospitals.

John stated all the good people he has met throughout his life are his guiding lights, along with his guardian angel, who he believes has kept busy but has been there for him.  He also has been guided by Mother Nature.  "Being out and part of nature, whether it is, as I call it, without its makeup on a rainy and windy day and you feel its power to when it is at its best with temperatures in the high 70s on a beautiful fall day."  John loves to enjoy the moment.


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Throughout John's life, he has had some amazing moments being outdoors and with sports, for which he has a true passion.  It was when John was stationed in Japan, where he ran his first marathon, the Kintai Marathon.  He ran a couple Ultra Marathons.  The first one was Fans 24 Hour Run around Lake Nokomis.  "Near the end I, with the assistance of Cindy's support, walking hand to hand, completed in 19 hours before I could go no further....Cindy walked the last couple laps with me, each 2.6 miles."  The next Ultra he did was at the Ice Age 50 in La Grange, Wisconsin going up and down hills and flat areas.  "I made it to the 45 mile mark and came to a hill.  My legs were cramping very badly and were useless, so I tried walking on my hands up the hill because I knew if I made it the rest was flat and I would finish.  My attempts to walk on my hands did not work.  I kept falling over and also hitting my head and shoulder into the ground and on rocks.  I was stopped by a work crew who said I had enough and took me to the finish line to the medical tent.  I came up with the following quote because of that race:  "If I can't finish on my feet, I will walk on my hands.”  Not to be stopped, in 2001, John went back to the Ice Age 50.  "This time I finished in 10 hours and admit I was overcome by tears."  John credits his father for leading by example and instilling in him the great determination that he has.


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In 2007, John took up snowshoe racing.  After about a month of feeling out his new hobby, he entered the Badger State Games in Wausau in -25 degree weather.  After about 1/2 a mile, he passed the leader.  When he finally looked back he was quite a distance ahead.  "I was shocked!  I was now on a high and went even faster," John remarked.  Finishing in first place, he said the next best part was what greeted him at the finish line.  "I came to the finish line.  Amy and all our kids ran to greet me as I came in as they were sitting in a warm vehicle."  John went on to compete in other races in places like Utah and Cable, Wisconsin, finishing near the top of the pack.

Since John loves the outdoors, he said if he could live in another time period, he'd still want to live in Wisconsin or an environment similar to it, because he loves the state.  "If I could go back before there were roads when there were mostly only trails, living in a wooden cabin on an unspoiled lake, and not have the sometimes stressful, complicated technology we have today, that would be nice."  He felt the 1800s might be a fun time to explore.  With that not being a real-life option, John was happy to find a less complicated life in the northwoods in present times.

In 2018, John and Amy attended the celebration of life for John's sister-in-law, Jane.  The ceremony was held in Medford, and the couple started thinking about moving to the northwoods, a place that he would also recommend to young people.  "Because of all it offers in the form of mostly good, hard-working people and the enjoyment of all the nature we have such as the woods and beautiful lakes, streams, and animals, all of this will make them better people."

Wanting to experience that life during retirement, after 28 years in law enforcement, John decided to retire from the Outagamie Sheriff's Office, and Amy retired from healthcare.  They found their slice of paradise on Soo Lake.  "Here on our lake it’s like paradise, fishing, hunting, and tracking as a volunteer carnivore tracker for the DNR.  Lucky enough while out for a run on Skinner Creek Road in 2019, I came across cougar tracks and a kill.  Documenting it, I contacted the DNR, learning it was the first documented cougar proof in Price County in eleven years.  (See related story, Cougar Believed To Be In The Area.)  I also track wolves and found some wolf kills.  Amy and I also enjoy kayaking out on our lake right from our house.  Plus, Amy enjoys volunteering through Price County delivering meals to homebound individuals."  His favorite hobby is fishing because he enjoys relaxing on a body of water while experiencing the challenge of trying to catch the big fish.

  John Brylski, Fishing.jpg (Size: 28.84 KB / Downloads: 1903)

Unfortunately, even in the best of times, tragedy strikes.  John's brother, David, informed his family that he was battling esophageal cancer that had spread to his lungs and he was told he had three months to three years to live.  His time came sooner than expected, and David passed on December 20, 2021.  "My brother was an incredible person whom I respected," John shared.

John shared that if he had one power, it would be to go back in time and prevent some of the horrible things that have happened.  Two horrible things in particular include warning his brother about cancer and saving Shelly Hansen, a woman from Price County who went missing in the late 1980s.

John learned about Shelly Hansen shortly after he moved to Phillips.  Being a police officer, he did an Internet search to see what kind of crimes had happened in Price County.  That is when he found the Shelly Hansen mystery.  He started a group on Facebook for her and other crime victims, Justice for Shelly Hansen Missing People Unsolved Crime Victims Northern WI.  While conducting interviews to try to solve Shelly's case, he learned other information that made him want to run for sheriff.  He also learned he cannot get all the records he needs to solve the Shelly Hansen case unless he is in law enforcement here.  "Our Facebook group turned over info concerning the investigation and places we believe Shelly is buried to the Price County Sheriff.  But, after learning more concerning the sheriff, I have no confidence the areas will be searched, so I currently am running as a write-in candidate for sheriff of Price County to improve the Price County Sheriff’s Office," John stated.  He knows running as a write-in candidate will be difficult, but he has never strayed from difficult situations.  "I seem to thrive when things become more difficult.  I'm not saying I always enjoy it, but it’s my determination that surprises me sometimes."  John simply doesn't believe in giving up or settling for second best.

"I want to awaken our community that it can be better and not accept anything below par such as unsolved crimes and poor community leaders."  You can view more information about John's campaign and investigation at his website.  You can also follow the the John Brylski for Price County Sheriff Facebook page, where he gives regular updates.  "I would appreciate if everyone would look at my experience and endorsements.  If you like what you see, I ask that you tell your friends and family about me.  Also, please write my name on a piece of paper so you know how to spell it and bring it with you when you vote on Election Day on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.  You will need to write my name in as the sheriff and fill in the oval.  I respectfully ask for your vote as I want to protect and serve Price County with dignity, respect, transparency, and communication," John shared.


  flyer for display.jpg (Size: 303.42 KB / Downloads: 1557)
JOHN BRYLSKI IS RUNNING AS AN INDEPENDENT, WRITE-IN CANDIDATE FOR PRICE COUNTY SHERIFF IN NOVEMBER 2022:  Visit John Brylski's website to learn about John, his philosophies on law enforcement, his endorsements, and more.  Follow John's Facebook page to receive updates and more information about his candidacy.]]>
  johnbrylskiforpricecountysheriffmpcspotlight.jpg (Size: 97.04 KB / Downloads: 1996)

John Brylski has investigating in his blood.  Whether it be exploring and climbing trees as a young boy with his childhood best friend, Amy Buske; exploring along the river with his brother, David, as a teenager; investigating during his 28 years in law enforcement with Outagamie County; finding cougar tracks in Phillips in 2019; or working to solve the Shelly Hansen missing person mystery, John puts a whole-hearted effort into it all.

John was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Ronald (Ron) and Geraldine (Gerry) Brylski.  He explained he was a shy child but his life experiences turned him into a confident adult who always likes a challenge.

As a boy, he moved a few times, calling West Allis, Brookfield, and New London home, along with his two younger siblings, David and Lisa, who he treasures.  While a student at New London Senior High School, he was active in sports, such as track and football.  A memory that stands out in John's mind is when the football team played against Bay Port during Homecoming.  "At that point, our school had won seven Homecomings in a row.  My Dad promised me a shotgun if I scored two touchdowns in the game as his dad had done when he played football in the same position in high school.  I did score two touchdowns and remember the feeling I had when I crossed the goal line.  I hopped over the line!  I was so happy our team also won the game."

During and after high school, John, along with his brother and his dad, enjoyed competitive cross country skiing.  They would travel all over Wisconsin and into Minnesota to compete at distances of 10K to 15K.  "In my first year at Northland College, I went with the intent of being a half time student and training and racing as part of Telemark Academy, an academy that helped create Olympic skiers; but, it was not meant to be."  John explained that the 1980 Winter Olympics Cross Country Ski Team hadn't performed well and the Academy was dissolved.

At that time, John started considering a new goal, which was to become a police officer.  His interest was greatly sparked when a New London police officer asked him if he wanted to go on a call with him.  The police officer remembered John as a fast runner in high school, and he needed help catching a "Peeping Tom."  Handing John a flashlight, he gave him instructions.  "He told me he would drop me off in the area he was last seen.  I was to try and find him, run him down, and yell for help because the officer would be driving in circles around the streets.  I never found him, but I never forgot the screeches of the police officer's tires as he went around me and the feeling of walking in people’s back yards looking for the peeper.  With the nervousness and adrenaline rush I felt, I then knew I wanted to make my career a police officer."

With schooling underway, John met Cindy, who he married in 1985.  During the early part of their marriage, they moved to Texas.  John went to Marine Corps boot camp and then to military police school at Lackland Airforce Base.  "The most memorable moment there was a forced 10 mile march which I believe at 50 pounds back pack this march was to be the last with all men so they wanted to do it faster than normal, so we double timed or ran at times in the end of the hot, grueling march.  One other Marine MP recruit candidate and I finished out of 50 Marines."

Next, John got stationed in Cherry Point, North Carolina.  "There I was a CPL Non-commissioned Officer and was a Patrol Supervisor going to regular calls like cops do - fights, domestics, thefts, and traffic.  I was also at the main gate security waving in vehicles with base decals."  It was also at this base that John and Cindy welcomed their first child, Ken, who he named after his late great uncle, Kenny Hartenberger.  "He used to be a Marine Vietnam Vet and was a great guy," John reflected.

Getting stationed at Bogue Field NC Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Base, he was the Non-commissioned Field MP Officer in charge of training, scheduling, post security, and writing standard operating procedure.  He received a Meritorious Mast for his duties at Bogue.

The final part of his military career took place in Iwakuni, Japan.  "Cindy and I lived off base in a normal Japanese home with a kerosene heater to heat the home."  John left the Marine Corps shortly thereafter with an Honorable Discharge and Good Conduct Medal.


  John Brylski, Police Officer.jpg (Size: 43.09 KB / Downloads: 2010)
Settling back in Wisconsin, John was hired by the Outagamie County Sheriff's Department.  He started in the jail as a guard and then was transferred to patrol and then as the first full-time Police School Liaison Officer.  "I gave class presentations and investigated all crimes from harassment, theft, battery, child abuse, and sexual assault.  I did security at school events."  Improving camaraderie with the students, John was the head coach of the boys and girls track teams and coached middle school football.  "At one practice, I was in charge of 7th grade 2nd team offense.  I challenged the 1st team to a scrimmage because I felt I should be coaching 1st team.  Using the right motivation and not standard plays, the 2nd team beat the 1st team.  I said to the 1st team coach, 'Now who is the 1st team?'"

Along with coaching, John was also excelling in his career and personal life.  His son and daughter, Zach and Abby, were born over the next few years.  He was also promoted to Sergeant (Law Enforcement Specialist).  He was the back-up for other officers and responded to bad traffic injuries and fatalities.  He also went to crime scenes to document and collect evidence, take measurements, take photos, and get fingerprints and DNA.

"I later was transferred to Investigations, which I enjoyed for the challenge and strategy involved in finding and arresting a suspect.  My most high profile case was Catholic Priest John Patrick Feeney in 2001.  I worked only on this case for six months.  The case received national attention.  I was interviewed by news media.  Feeney was found guilty and given, I believe, 12 years.  He later died in prison." 

John was nominated four times as Officer of the Year by his peers.  He added that there are so many incidents a police officer responds to, from crimes and high-speed chases to horrible accidents, suicides, and close calls.  "Life as a law enforcement Officer was not easy; it left its scars and also triumphs," he shared.

He also had some scars and triumphs in his personal life.  He and Cindy divorced.  While that was a low point in time, there had been high points in his marriage.  His children also brought him many more high points, and he is one proud dad.  He reminisced about a series of small vacations in 1996 with his sons on the lakes in Waupaca County.  "I enjoyed watching them catch fish, though I did not get in much fishing myself as I was untangling lines from their lack of fishing knowledge.  On the way home, we got ice cream at Dairy Queen and listened to the music CD, 'Journeys Greatest Hits.'  To this day, listening to one of their songs on that CD brings me back to that time."

Along with that memorable vacation, John is proud of his kids' accomplishments.  "I remember enjoying my kids growing up and watching their sports events like football, track, cross country running, basketball, and dance.  Later, I was so proud of my kids, Ken and Zach, graduating from college.  Ken started his own business on the Internet, Zach became a physician's assistant, and Abby went to college and began as an RN nurse."


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Another high point was when John met Amy, his current wife and soulmate, at a club in Appleton just when he was preparing to leave.  "I turned around and saw a woman sitting by herself.  Immediately, time slowed down for me.  Considering the location, [a club], it was like seeing a masterpiece at a rummage sale.  I wasn't sure I should go up and talk to her, because I knew my life would change drastically.  I walked up to her, tapped her on the shoulder, and she turned....with the most beautiful smile."  John and Amy married in 2006, and John welcomed two step-children, Ryan and Megan, into his life.  He added that Ryan is an auto mechanic who works on top-class cars, and Megan is a data processor for hospitals.

John stated all the good people he has met throughout his life are his guiding lights, along with his guardian angel, who he believes has kept busy but has been there for him.  He also has been guided by Mother Nature.  "Being out and part of nature, whether it is, as I call it, without its makeup on a rainy and windy day and you feel its power to when it is at its best with temperatures in the high 70s on a beautiful fall day."  John loves to enjoy the moment.


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Throughout John's life, he has had some amazing moments being outdoors and with sports, for which he has a true passion.  It was when John was stationed in Japan, where he ran his first marathon, the Kintai Marathon.  He ran a couple Ultra Marathons.  The first one was Fans 24 Hour Run around Lake Nokomis.  "Near the end I, with the assistance of Cindy's support, walking hand to hand, completed in 19 hours before I could go no further....Cindy walked the last couple laps with me, each 2.6 miles."  The next Ultra he did was at the Ice Age 50 in La Grange, Wisconsin going up and down hills and flat areas.  "I made it to the 45 mile mark and came to a hill.  My legs were cramping very badly and were useless, so I tried walking on my hands up the hill because I knew if I made it the rest was flat and I would finish.  My attempts to walk on my hands did not work.  I kept falling over and also hitting my head and shoulder into the ground and on rocks.  I was stopped by a work crew who said I had enough and took me to the finish line to the medical tent.  I came up with the following quote because of that race:  "If I can't finish on my feet, I will walk on my hands.”  Not to be stopped, in 2001, John went back to the Ice Age 50.  "This time I finished in 10 hours and admit I was overcome by tears."  John credits his father for leading by example and instilling in him the great determination that he has.


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  brylskiquednow, smaller.jpg (Size: 35.19 KB / Downloads: 1478)
In 2007, John took up snowshoe racing.  After about a month of feeling out his new hobby, he entered the Badger State Games in Wausau in -25 degree weather.  After about 1/2 a mile, he passed the leader.  When he finally looked back he was quite a distance ahead.  "I was shocked!  I was now on a high and went even faster," John remarked.  Finishing in first place, he said the next best part was what greeted him at the finish line.  "I came to the finish line.  Amy and all our kids ran to greet me as I came in as they were sitting in a warm vehicle."  John went on to compete in other races in places like Utah and Cable, Wisconsin, finishing near the top of the pack.

Since John loves the outdoors, he said if he could live in another time period, he'd still want to live in Wisconsin or an environment similar to it, because he loves the state.  "If I could go back before there were roads when there were mostly only trails, living in a wooden cabin on an unspoiled lake, and not have the sometimes stressful, complicated technology we have today, that would be nice."  He felt the 1800s might be a fun time to explore.  With that not being a real-life option, John was happy to find a less complicated life in the northwoods in present times.

In 2018, John and Amy attended the celebration of life for John's sister-in-law, Jane.  The ceremony was held in Medford, and the couple started thinking about moving to the northwoods, a place that he would also recommend to young people.  "Because of all it offers in the form of mostly good, hard-working people and the enjoyment of all the nature we have such as the woods and beautiful lakes, streams, and animals, all of this will make them better people."

Wanting to experience that life during retirement, after 28 years in law enforcement, John decided to retire from the Outagamie Sheriff's Office, and Amy retired from healthcare.  They found their slice of paradise on Soo Lake.  "Here on our lake it’s like paradise, fishing, hunting, and tracking as a volunteer carnivore tracker for the DNR.  Lucky enough while out for a run on Skinner Creek Road in 2019, I came across cougar tracks and a kill.  Documenting it, I contacted the DNR, learning it was the first documented cougar proof in Price County in eleven years.  (See related story, Cougar Believed To Be In The Area.)  I also track wolves and found some wolf kills.  Amy and I also enjoy kayaking out on our lake right from our house.  Plus, Amy enjoys volunteering through Price County delivering meals to homebound individuals."  His favorite hobby is fishing because he enjoys relaxing on a body of water while experiencing the challenge of trying to catch the big fish.

  John Brylski, Fishing.jpg (Size: 28.84 KB / Downloads: 1903)

Unfortunately, even in the best of times, tragedy strikes.  John's brother, David, informed his family that he was battling esophageal cancer that had spread to his lungs and he was told he had three months to three years to live.  His time came sooner than expected, and David passed on December 20, 2021.  "My brother was an incredible person whom I respected," John shared.

John shared that if he had one power, it would be to go back in time and prevent some of the horrible things that have happened.  Two horrible things in particular include warning his brother about cancer and saving Shelly Hansen, a woman from Price County who went missing in the late 1980s.

John learned about Shelly Hansen shortly after he moved to Phillips.  Being a police officer, he did an Internet search to see what kind of crimes had happened in Price County.  That is when he found the Shelly Hansen mystery.  He started a group on Facebook for her and other crime victims, Justice for Shelly Hansen Missing People Unsolved Crime Victims Northern WI.  While conducting interviews to try to solve Shelly's case, he learned other information that made him want to run for sheriff.  He also learned he cannot get all the records he needs to solve the Shelly Hansen case unless he is in law enforcement here.  "Our Facebook group turned over info concerning the investigation and places we believe Shelly is buried to the Price County Sheriff.  But, after learning more concerning the sheriff, I have no confidence the areas will be searched, so I currently am running as a write-in candidate for sheriff of Price County to improve the Price County Sheriff’s Office," John stated.  He knows running as a write-in candidate will be difficult, but he has never strayed from difficult situations.  "I seem to thrive when things become more difficult.  I'm not saying I always enjoy it, but it’s my determination that surprises me sometimes."  John simply doesn't believe in giving up or settling for second best.

"I want to awaken our community that it can be better and not accept anything below par such as unsolved crimes and poor community leaders."  You can view more information about John's campaign and investigation at his website.  You can also follow the the John Brylski for Price County Sheriff Facebook page, where he gives regular updates.  "I would appreciate if everyone would look at my experience and endorsements.  If you like what you see, I ask that you tell your friends and family about me.  Also, please write my name on a piece of paper so you know how to spell it and bring it with you when you vote on Election Day on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.  You will need to write my name in as the sheriff and fill in the oval.  I respectfully ask for your vote as I want to protect and serve Price County with dignity, respect, transparency, and communication," John shared.


  flyer for display.jpg (Size: 303.42 KB / Downloads: 1557)
JOHN BRYLSKI IS RUNNING AS AN INDEPENDENT, WRITE-IN CANDIDATE FOR PRICE COUNTY SHERIFF IN NOVEMBER 2022:  Visit John Brylski's website to learn about John, his philosophies on law enforcement, his endorsements, and more.  Follow John's Facebook page to receive updates and more information about his candidacy.]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-142.html Wed, 29 Jun 2022 07:59:53 +0000 My Northern Wisconsin]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-142.html
  Cathy Peterson.jpg (Size: 92.42 KB / Downloads: 1155)
Photo By:  Sally Wylie

Cathy Peterson was born to Clarence and Mary (Conrad) Mess and is the oldest of her six siblings.  They all grew up on a dairy farm in southern Wisconsin.  "My favorite family memories are our Christmas celebrations which began with the Feast of St. Nicholas in December and continued until the birthdays of my Grandpa and Grandma Conrad in early January.  For me, it was the happiest time of the year," Cathy reminisced.

Cathy attended parochial school for ten years.  She graduated from Sun Prairie High School in 1959.  After attending college in Milwaukee for one year, she finished her degree and graduated from Columbia County Teachers College in May 1962.

A college diploma was not the only certificate she received that year, as one month later, she married Walter Peterson, a native of Catawba, who she met at a community dance at Angell Park in Sun Prairie when she was a senior in high school.  Since Walter was in the U.S. Army at Fort Benning, the couple moved to Georgia, where Cathy started her career as a teacher.  "I loved being able to inspire students to open their minds and acquire more knowledge.  I loved to use real life stories as one way of doing that; history was probably my favorite subject to teach," Cathy said.

Two years later, the couple moved to Watertown, Wisconsin.  There, the first three of their eight children were born, plus they were foster parents for two brothers and a couple of other boys.

In 1971, Cathy and Walter moved to Catawba after purchasing a farm owned by her husband's uncle.  The transition from a larger area to a small town was initially difficult for Cathy, but she made the best of it and found plenty of things to keep her occupied.  "While raising our children and helping with farm chores, I also continued my interest in education and community service.  I was a 4-H club leader for about 25 years and taught religious education classes for a similar length of time," Cathy shared.  She taught religious studies throughout her adult life in Georgia, Sun Prairie, Watertown, and Catawba.

Along with educating youth, Cathy had another passion she turned into a career.  "I started doing some free-lance writing by authoring a variety of articles and creating greeting cards which I would send out to various publishers.  For several years, I wrote the weekly Catawba News for "The-BEE," our local weekly newspaper and some years later was hired as a community news reporter and features writer.  I especially enjoyed reporting on the involvement of area residents who worked as loggers, truck drivers, and community support workers during the time logging was taking place in the Superior National Forest."  Adding to her writing career, Cathy currently makes contributions to My Price County / My Northern Wisconsin.

Aside from her careers, family has always been important to Cathy.  She has eight children, 24 grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.  Her oldest son, Joe, is a truck mechanic.  Mary, her oldest daughter, is an auditor for the State of Wisconsin.  Steve is a guidance counselor.  Her middle daughter, Karin, is a research scientist with the National Institutes of Health at the Rocky Mountain Lab in Montana.  Mike, lives in Catawba, and he is a beef farmer and truck driver.  Her youngest three children took an interest in education; Peter is a middle school principal while Johnny and Sarah are teachers.

Unfortunately, Cathy's husband passed on in 2007.  One of her sons asked her if she planned to remain in Price County or return to southern Wisconsin where most of her siblings and their families live.  Cathy shared, "It didn't take me long to reply that I would be staying here; just as growing up in Price County has given my children two very important things, roots and wings, living here has done the same for me."

Cathy continued, "As I reflect on my life, in spite of the difficulties I encountered, I feel very blessed.  I had loving parents who served as wonderful role models and had some unique experiences such as living in the South as the Civil Rights movement was just beginning.  The move to Price County was a difficult time for me, but, in retrospect, our children benefitted from growing up in the less hectic pace of life in Price County.  The slower pace of life here also gives me time to enjoy reading, my favorite hobby, and being involved in several community organizations."

Her greatest community involvement has been with five organizations.  "For at least 30 years, I was very involved in the Price County UW-Extension's 4-H program, more than half of them spent as a leader for the K-C Clovers 4-H Club; as well as the Price County Farm Bureau; and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Therese of Lisieux Conference.  I am still a member of the Jump River Valley Historical Society and the Taylor-Price chapter of the Wisconsin Farmers Union."

Cathy's involvement in various organizations, along with being an educator at school and church, is reflected in her favorite quote from the Bible, "What does the Lord require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."  These words sum up the life Cathy aims to achieve, while doing so with roots and wings.

Written By:  Lynne Bohn, MyPriceCounty.com

---

Want to see more free news stories, events, help wanted ads, and more?  "Like" the My Price County Facebook page and the My Northern Wisconsin Facebook page.  Don't have Facebook?  Register to see free news in Price County and beyond.]]>
  Cathy Peterson.jpg (Size: 92.42 KB / Downloads: 1155)
Photo By:  Sally Wylie

Cathy Peterson was born to Clarence and Mary (Conrad) Mess and is the oldest of her six siblings.  They all grew up on a dairy farm in southern Wisconsin.  "My favorite family memories are our Christmas celebrations which began with the Feast of St. Nicholas in December and continued until the birthdays of my Grandpa and Grandma Conrad in early January.  For me, it was the happiest time of the year," Cathy reminisced.

Cathy attended parochial school for ten years.  She graduated from Sun Prairie High School in 1959.  After attending college in Milwaukee for one year, she finished her degree and graduated from Columbia County Teachers College in May 1962.

A college diploma was not the only certificate she received that year, as one month later, she married Walter Peterson, a native of Catawba, who she met at a community dance at Angell Park in Sun Prairie when she was a senior in high school.  Since Walter was in the U.S. Army at Fort Benning, the couple moved to Georgia, where Cathy started her career as a teacher.  "I loved being able to inspire students to open their minds and acquire more knowledge.  I loved to use real life stories as one way of doing that; history was probably my favorite subject to teach," Cathy said.

Two years later, the couple moved to Watertown, Wisconsin.  There, the first three of their eight children were born, plus they were foster parents for two brothers and a couple of other boys.

In 1971, Cathy and Walter moved to Catawba after purchasing a farm owned by her husband's uncle.  The transition from a larger area to a small town was initially difficult for Cathy, but she made the best of it and found plenty of things to keep her occupied.  "While raising our children and helping with farm chores, I also continued my interest in education and community service.  I was a 4-H club leader for about 25 years and taught religious education classes for a similar length of time," Cathy shared.  She taught religious studies throughout her adult life in Georgia, Sun Prairie, Watertown, and Catawba.

Along with educating youth, Cathy had another passion she turned into a career.  "I started doing some free-lance writing by authoring a variety of articles and creating greeting cards which I would send out to various publishers.  For several years, I wrote the weekly Catawba News for "The-BEE," our local weekly newspaper and some years later was hired as a community news reporter and features writer.  I especially enjoyed reporting on the involvement of area residents who worked as loggers, truck drivers, and community support workers during the time logging was taking place in the Superior National Forest."  Adding to her writing career, Cathy currently makes contributions to My Price County / My Northern Wisconsin.

Aside from her careers, family has always been important to Cathy.  She has eight children, 24 grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.  Her oldest son, Joe, is a truck mechanic.  Mary, her oldest daughter, is an auditor for the State of Wisconsin.  Steve is a guidance counselor.  Her middle daughter, Karin, is a research scientist with the National Institutes of Health at the Rocky Mountain Lab in Montana.  Mike, lives in Catawba, and he is a beef farmer and truck driver.  Her youngest three children took an interest in education; Peter is a middle school principal while Johnny and Sarah are teachers.

Unfortunately, Cathy's husband passed on in 2007.  One of her sons asked her if she planned to remain in Price County or return to southern Wisconsin where most of her siblings and their families live.  Cathy shared, "It didn't take me long to reply that I would be staying here; just as growing up in Price County has given my children two very important things, roots and wings, living here has done the same for me."

Cathy continued, "As I reflect on my life, in spite of the difficulties I encountered, I feel very blessed.  I had loving parents who served as wonderful role models and had some unique experiences such as living in the South as the Civil Rights movement was just beginning.  The move to Price County was a difficult time for me, but, in retrospect, our children benefitted from growing up in the less hectic pace of life in Price County.  The slower pace of life here also gives me time to enjoy reading, my favorite hobby, and being involved in several community organizations."

Her greatest community involvement has been with five organizations.  "For at least 30 years, I was very involved in the Price County UW-Extension's 4-H program, more than half of them spent as a leader for the K-C Clovers 4-H Club; as well as the Price County Farm Bureau; and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Therese of Lisieux Conference.  I am still a member of the Jump River Valley Historical Society and the Taylor-Price chapter of the Wisconsin Farmers Union."

Cathy's involvement in various organizations, along with being an educator at school and church, is reflected in her favorite quote from the Bible, "What does the Lord require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."  These words sum up the life Cathy aims to achieve, while doing so with roots and wings.

Written By:  Lynne Bohn, MyPriceCounty.com

---

Want to see more free news stories, events, help wanted ads, and more?  "Like" the My Price County Facebook page and the My Northern Wisconsin Facebook page.  Don't have Facebook?  Register to see free news in Price County and beyond.]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-133.html Wed, 15 Jun 2022 07:56:43 +0000 My Northern Wisconsin]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-133.html
  Toni Brendel.jpg (Size: 62.79 KB / Downloads: 1348)

Charles and Velma Brendel started their family with two daughters.  Like many couples after having two of the same gender, they anticipated their third child may be of the opposite gender.  They hoped for a boy they could name Charles Anton with Charles honoring the baby's father and Anton honoring the grandfather.  Instead, they happily welcomed a third baby girl, Charlotte Antoinette, keeping as close to the original name as possible.  She was quickly nicknamed "Toni" by a cousin, and that is the woman many of us know today, Toni Brendel.

Toni grew up in Phillips.  "I wouldn’t trade the 1940-1950’s time period for any other.  It was a safe, quiet, middle of the road existence.  No one was considered better than anyone else, and lives were being put back together after losses and injuries, aftermaths of the war.  People were reaching out to those who lost loved ones and to those who came back maimed or with “shell shock,” a term used then."

Thinking back to that time in Phillips, she said, "I remember the days when South and North Lake Street were still called 'Front Street' and then 'Main Street' without any street signs.  When street signs were installed, the streets were named South Lake and North Lake, and the three streets behind them became South and North Avon plus South and North Argyle rather than Second Street and Third Street, which they were prior to being officially named."

She remembers one great announcement on Main Street regarding the war.  Her uncle, Bill, was in the service.  "I was three years old when the USA entered the war in December of 1941.  In the evenings, Aunt Cleo would stop by for me, and we would walk to the train depot where she gave her nightly letter to the conductor.  I was seven when the war ended in September of '45.  I was playing in front of City Bakery in the block we lived in on Main Street that day and heard a ruckus.  It was Mike Sedovic, in front of Mike and Lil’ Café next to Brendel Brother’s Garage, banging two pot lids together yelling, 'The War is over!  The war is over!' and I ran home to tell my mother!"

Toni has many fond memories that involve her family.  One vacation, in particular, stands out in her mind.  "In Southern California, my dad, mother, brother and I rode the California Zepher Train that had a Vista Dome.  We took the Soo Line RR to Minneapolis, and that’s where we caught the California train.  We visited my mother’s brother in Sacramento and they took us to see the sights of the vast area.  We were there for three weeks."

While exploring on vacation is great, Toni loves being home with family for the holidays.  Her favorite one is Christmas.  "I treasure the memories of everyone in the family pitching in to give the house a thorough cleaning for the holidays.  We did a lot of baking and there was such excitement in shopping for presents for other family members; then my sister and I would wrap them up.  My mother baked babofka and lots of cookies and then made apple strudel, the hard way, with stretching the dough until it was transparent.  It was a treat!  Putting the tree up together and putting the presents underneath it was always fun.  Setting the table with the special dishes from the China cabinet and silverware that we only used for Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving, and the linen tablecloth and napkins with a 'B' on them, was part of it.  We would change into the Christmas “outfits” my mother sewed for us, and go to the candlelight service at Saint John Lutheran Church to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  We would come home and get the prepared foods out and last minute things that needed to be done to finish the meal.  Grandpa and Grandma would come and my dad’s brother and wife.  It was a very special “Christmas only” meal that we had, and I still make it for my family.  Family is what made it so special, I believe, but everything changes, and the older folks are gone now and replaced with the newer 'older folks,' and that’s the way it has to be."

Remembering some of those "older folks," Toni said her favorite childhood memory was sitting at the piano with her aunt, Cleo.  "She was gifted with the talent of being able to play by ear, and would teach me the words to songs of the day."  This interest and talent with music has followed Toni throughout her life.  She shared that Lorna Warfield, her voice teacher in Milwaukee, opened a new world to her sharing opera and symphony music.  Toni feels "Sentimental Me" is the song that sums her up best, if she had to pick one, and she said she wishes she could sing again.  "I studied voice for so many years, ten, and now can barely speak, let alone sing."

However, other things have kept Toni figuratively singing in life.  She married Richard "Pete" Haas, and they had Tami; twins, Valerie and Vicki, plus Bill Haas.  Unfortunately, the couple shared a terrible loss when one of the twins, Vicki, died of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) at one month old.  About half a decade later, Pete was killed in a car accident at the rather young age of 38 when their children were 3, 7, and 8 years old.  When Toni re-married, she and Lyle Rohrig had one son, Ryan.  Toni shared that her children have brought her the most happiness in life and said she loves when her family comes home.  "It's always so much fun!"  She admitted she dearly misses Pete; her mother; and her sister, Helen.

In regard to her career path, Toni thought she would be an airplane stewardess, but that was not in the cards.  Instead, she had her dream job as a medical secretary in the Patient Education Department at Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield.  "I learned something new every day, and the job was varied so much that I learned from it.  At times I worked with doctors and nurses who were writing booklets or pamphlets about some disease process or medication."  Toni would type it, have it proofed, work with the Graphic Arts Department, and have it sent to the print shop.  The finished product would come back to the department, and it would be sent out to the satellite clinics.  "I filled orders for educational items that the different departments ordered, answered phones, taught BSE, and checked out blood pressure cuffs.  My boss, Donna Bauman, R.N., and I catalogued all of the patient education items and put them on library shelves in alphabetical order.  No day was like the other, and I liked that very much.  Eventually, I got an assistant and that was helpful because she began filling orders and that freed me up to type up new materials."

While that was her reality, she revealed a possible dream "job" when asked who she would be for a day.  "I would be Queen Elizabeth.  I would travel Europe.  I would blend in with the common people and learn of their thoughts about the Monarchy."  While she wouldn't mind being queen for a day, she said she would never want the job of a United States president.  "You are damned if you do and damned if you don’t.  If I had the misfortune to find myself in that spot, I would ask one of the legislators to introduce a bill to put limits on campaign donations.  Everyone the same.  And I would do away with the crazy idea that a president can pardon people from jail time once they are incarcerated UNLESS they were found innocent of a crime."

Toni feels politics is the biggest issue of our time.  "How awful it has become.  What has happened to civility and respect for others, and what has happened to the definition of 'public service?'  It’s become overwhelmingly terrible!  Lies, deceit, corruption, under the guise of religion, in some cases.  How can it be made better?  Perhaps it is naive to think it could be made better when we consider the people we are dealing with, but if we don’t get back to basic honesty, integrity, and respect of others, I do not know what will become of us as a nation.  I don’t think people realize how close we are to a dictatorship, and they won’t be happy when and if it happens," Toni shared.

Keeping the focus more local, Toni founded the Phillips Czechoslovakian Community Festival.  She chaired or co-chaired the festival for its first 23 years and then handed it off to Bill Moravek, though Toni remains involved with organization of the annual festival.  She also helped reincarnate the annual service for the Lidice Memorial.  "I don’t recall for how long I chaired the Lidice Memorial services, but Laddie Zellinger chaired the first one in 1984, and Therese Trojak chaired several of them, also.  Other than that, I still chair the hour-long memorial service that we have now at the Baptist Church each year."  To add to her local contributions, and by request of John Fiala and Doris Ourecky, who created and chaired the national Miss Czech Slovak USA pageant in Wilber, Nebraska, Toni brought the Miss Czech Slovak State Pageant to Wisconsin.  She directed the pageant for 12 years before Vernette Moravek took the reins.

Given her work with the Miss Czech/Slovak State Queen Pageant, she was awarded a key to the City of Montgomery in Minnesota in the 1990’s.  This honor was to recognize her work done to promote the Czech/Slovak heritages and for helping to keep the memory of the small village of Lidice, Czechoslovakia alive.  "Phillips has one of two memorials to the village in the USA.  Thanks to Therese Trojak’s work, it was recognized as a World War II monument and accepted on both the National Registry of WWII Monuments and the State of Wisconsin Registry.  2022 marks the 80th year since the tragedy of Lidice befell its inhabitants."

Along with the key to the city honor, "being chosen Citizen of the Year would tie with the first honor," she said, adding that she was taught, by example, to be community-minded.  That example is likely what led her to be the first woman to serve on the City of Phillips Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, as well.  She also served on the committee that planned some of the activities after the county took over Pop Schmidt’s Rock Garden, now known as Fred Smith's Wisconsin Concrete Park.

Additional work by Toni has included the publication of her books, "Slovak American Touches," "Lidice Remembered Around the World," and "Slovak Recipes."

All her projects needed a lot of energy, and Toni wishes she had the same energy she had even twenty years ago.  Knowing that young people have that energy, she advised, "Never give up, never give in.  Keep your eye on the prize!"

One prize, she believes, is Phillips and Price County as a whole.  "It is a wonderland of lakes, streams, and rivers, lush green forests, wildlife, and is surrounded by small communities where one might consider living....If attracted to an environment where “the great outdoors,” fishing, hunting, trapping, and winter and summer sports are “lures,” there is much more to come!"  She stated the attributes are many, including current job opportunities, many churches of various denominations, the theater group, pool leagues, volleyball tournaments, baseball and softball leagues, Bingo, card tournaments, snowmobile and cross country trails, quilters’ and craft groups, an indoor swimming pool, genealogy group, the Price County Fair, rodeos, plus 4-H clubs and Cub & Boy Scouts.  "The county courthouse is in the center of town in Phillips and easy to get to.  All of these attributes, activities, and events, the churches, business areas, schools, recreational opportunities, exist in Price County.  A vibrant, progressive, county invites young people to settle within, and a friendly populace will welcome them!"

Toni realizes there are some things that can be improved in Price County, as well.  "Top of my head, I would like to see the drug problems eradicated in Price County.  Top of my heart, I would like to see a progressive, younger group of people become more community-minded, like those who put the splash pad in Elk Lake Park.  I hope that hard-working group doesn’t stop improving the community with that one accomplishment under their belts.  That kind of dedication and hard work, we need more of!  Also, the dedication and never-say-die attitude the three women showed when they followed the the bank clock, saved it from the junk yard, and began the long road to restoration, and those who traveled that road with them.  Both of those groups are to be commended for the “heart” they showed and for being unwilling to meet failure and for being people to look up to in Price County!"

While Toni has been busy making a difference in Price County over the years, she also enjoys a myriad of hobbies at home.  "I like making greeting cards, making jewelry, and also baking some of the Slovak sweets that my kids like."  She enjoys cooking shows, too.  "I like to cook and like to see what is new, and I also like to see and hear about the ethnic dishes they sometimes make."  Toni's favorite sport to watch is either basketball, because her son and brother excelled at it, or hockey, because three of her grandsons played.  On a broader scale, she likes to travel.  "Vienna, Austria, plus Illiasovce, Smizany, and Spisska Nova Ves, Slovakia, were places I visited."

Traveling with Toni in life are her guiding lights.  When asked who they are, she shared, "As I grow older I try to live up to the teachings of Jesus."  She added that she hopes young people return to God and his teachings.  "If lies, deceit, and chicanery become the ways of the world, at some point, all will be lost."  For those who guided her as a younger person, she said she looked to my mother and Evelyn Haas, her mother-in-law, who both helped her raise her children "to be the wonderful adults they came to be....These two women exemplified the highest standards of decency, understanding, kindness, warmth, and love.  If I could snatch only a piece of who they were and what they stood for, I would be grateful, but self-examination tells me I fall short."  However Toni's friends may not feel she falls short as a number of them have told her she is thoughtful.  She added, "I hope I am.  I want to be."

If you are interested in seeing some of Toni's thoughtful community service in action, the hour-long Lidice Memorial services will be held on Friday, June 17, 2022 at 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Phillips.  Doug Moquin will be emceeing the program.  The Consulate General from Czech Republic, based in Chicago, will be the guest speaker.

Written By:  Lynne Bohn, My Price County

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  Toni Brendel.jpg (Size: 62.79 KB / Downloads: 1348)

Charles and Velma Brendel started their family with two daughters.  Like many couples after having two of the same gender, they anticipated their third child may be of the opposite gender.  They hoped for a boy they could name Charles Anton with Charles honoring the baby's father and Anton honoring the grandfather.  Instead, they happily welcomed a third baby girl, Charlotte Antoinette, keeping as close to the original name as possible.  She was quickly nicknamed "Toni" by a cousin, and that is the woman many of us know today, Toni Brendel.

Toni grew up in Phillips.  "I wouldn’t trade the 1940-1950’s time period for any other.  It was a safe, quiet, middle of the road existence.  No one was considered better than anyone else, and lives were being put back together after losses and injuries, aftermaths of the war.  People were reaching out to those who lost loved ones and to those who came back maimed or with “shell shock,” a term used then."

Thinking back to that time in Phillips, she said, "I remember the days when South and North Lake Street were still called 'Front Street' and then 'Main Street' without any street signs.  When street signs were installed, the streets were named South Lake and North Lake, and the three streets behind them became South and North Avon plus South and North Argyle rather than Second Street and Third Street, which they were prior to being officially named."

She remembers one great announcement on Main Street regarding the war.  Her uncle, Bill, was in the service.  "I was three years old when the USA entered the war in December of 1941.  In the evenings, Aunt Cleo would stop by for me, and we would walk to the train depot where she gave her nightly letter to the conductor.  I was seven when the war ended in September of '45.  I was playing in front of City Bakery in the block we lived in on Main Street that day and heard a ruckus.  It was Mike Sedovic, in front of Mike and Lil’ Café next to Brendel Brother’s Garage, banging two pot lids together yelling, 'The War is over!  The war is over!' and I ran home to tell my mother!"

Toni has many fond memories that involve her family.  One vacation, in particular, stands out in her mind.  "In Southern California, my dad, mother, brother and I rode the California Zepher Train that had a Vista Dome.  We took the Soo Line RR to Minneapolis, and that’s where we caught the California train.  We visited my mother’s brother in Sacramento and they took us to see the sights of the vast area.  We were there for three weeks."

While exploring on vacation is great, Toni loves being home with family for the holidays.  Her favorite one is Christmas.  "I treasure the memories of everyone in the family pitching in to give the house a thorough cleaning for the holidays.  We did a lot of baking and there was such excitement in shopping for presents for other family members; then my sister and I would wrap them up.  My mother baked babofka and lots of cookies and then made apple strudel, the hard way, with stretching the dough until it was transparent.  It was a treat!  Putting the tree up together and putting the presents underneath it was always fun.  Setting the table with the special dishes from the China cabinet and silverware that we only used for Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving, and the linen tablecloth and napkins with a 'B' on them, was part of it.  We would change into the Christmas “outfits” my mother sewed for us, and go to the candlelight service at Saint John Lutheran Church to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  We would come home and get the prepared foods out and last minute things that needed to be done to finish the meal.  Grandpa and Grandma would come and my dad’s brother and wife.  It was a very special “Christmas only” meal that we had, and I still make it for my family.  Family is what made it so special, I believe, but everything changes, and the older folks are gone now and replaced with the newer 'older folks,' and that’s the way it has to be."

Remembering some of those "older folks," Toni said her favorite childhood memory was sitting at the piano with her aunt, Cleo.  "She was gifted with the talent of being able to play by ear, and would teach me the words to songs of the day."  This interest and talent with music has followed Toni throughout her life.  She shared that Lorna Warfield, her voice teacher in Milwaukee, opened a new world to her sharing opera and symphony music.  Toni feels "Sentimental Me" is the song that sums her up best, if she had to pick one, and she said she wishes she could sing again.  "I studied voice for so many years, ten, and now can barely speak, let alone sing."

However, other things have kept Toni figuratively singing in life.  She married Richard "Pete" Haas, and they had Tami; twins, Valerie and Vicki, plus Bill Haas.  Unfortunately, the couple shared a terrible loss when one of the twins, Vicki, died of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) at one month old.  About half a decade later, Pete was killed in a car accident at the rather young age of 38 when their children were 3, 7, and 8 years old.  When Toni re-married, she and Lyle Rohrig had one son, Ryan.  Toni shared that her children have brought her the most happiness in life and said she loves when her family comes home.  "It's always so much fun!"  She admitted she dearly misses Pete; her mother; and her sister, Helen.

In regard to her career path, Toni thought she would be an airplane stewardess, but that was not in the cards.  Instead, she had her dream job as a medical secretary in the Patient Education Department at Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield.  "I learned something new every day, and the job was varied so much that I learned from it.  At times I worked with doctors and nurses who were writing booklets or pamphlets about some disease process or medication."  Toni would type it, have it proofed, work with the Graphic Arts Department, and have it sent to the print shop.  The finished product would come back to the department, and it would be sent out to the satellite clinics.  "I filled orders for educational items that the different departments ordered, answered phones, taught BSE, and checked out blood pressure cuffs.  My boss, Donna Bauman, R.N., and I catalogued all of the patient education items and put them on library shelves in alphabetical order.  No day was like the other, and I liked that very much.  Eventually, I got an assistant and that was helpful because she began filling orders and that freed me up to type up new materials."

While that was her reality, she revealed a possible dream "job" when asked who she would be for a day.  "I would be Queen Elizabeth.  I would travel Europe.  I would blend in with the common people and learn of their thoughts about the Monarchy."  While she wouldn't mind being queen for a day, she said she would never want the job of a United States president.  "You are damned if you do and damned if you don’t.  If I had the misfortune to find myself in that spot, I would ask one of the legislators to introduce a bill to put limits on campaign donations.  Everyone the same.  And I would do away with the crazy idea that a president can pardon people from jail time once they are incarcerated UNLESS they were found innocent of a crime."

Toni feels politics is the biggest issue of our time.  "How awful it has become.  What has happened to civility and respect for others, and what has happened to the definition of 'public service?'  It’s become overwhelmingly terrible!  Lies, deceit, corruption, under the guise of religion, in some cases.  How can it be made better?  Perhaps it is naive to think it could be made better when we consider the people we are dealing with, but if we don’t get back to basic honesty, integrity, and respect of others, I do not know what will become of us as a nation.  I don’t think people realize how close we are to a dictatorship, and they won’t be happy when and if it happens," Toni shared.

Keeping the focus more local, Toni founded the Phillips Czechoslovakian Community Festival.  She chaired or co-chaired the festival for its first 23 years and then handed it off to Bill Moravek, though Toni remains involved with organization of the annual festival.  She also helped reincarnate the annual service for the Lidice Memorial.  "I don’t recall for how long I chaired the Lidice Memorial services, but Laddie Zellinger chaired the first one in 1984, and Therese Trojak chaired several of them, also.  Other than that, I still chair the hour-long memorial service that we have now at the Baptist Church each year."  To add to her local contributions, and by request of John Fiala and Doris Ourecky, who created and chaired the national Miss Czech Slovak USA pageant in Wilber, Nebraska, Toni brought the Miss Czech Slovak State Pageant to Wisconsin.  She directed the pageant for 12 years before Vernette Moravek took the reins.

Given her work with the Miss Czech/Slovak State Queen Pageant, she was awarded a key to the City of Montgomery in Minnesota in the 1990’s.  This honor was to recognize her work done to promote the Czech/Slovak heritages and for helping to keep the memory of the small village of Lidice, Czechoslovakia alive.  "Phillips has one of two memorials to the village in the USA.  Thanks to Therese Trojak’s work, it was recognized as a World War II monument and accepted on both the National Registry of WWII Monuments and the State of Wisconsin Registry.  2022 marks the 80th year since the tragedy of Lidice befell its inhabitants."

Along with the key to the city honor, "being chosen Citizen of the Year would tie with the first honor," she said, adding that she was taught, by example, to be community-minded.  That example is likely what led her to be the first woman to serve on the City of Phillips Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, as well.  She also served on the committee that planned some of the activities after the county took over Pop Schmidt’s Rock Garden, now known as Fred Smith's Wisconsin Concrete Park.

Additional work by Toni has included the publication of her books, "Slovak American Touches," "Lidice Remembered Around the World," and "Slovak Recipes."

All her projects needed a lot of energy, and Toni wishes she had the same energy she had even twenty years ago.  Knowing that young people have that energy, she advised, "Never give up, never give in.  Keep your eye on the prize!"

One prize, she believes, is Phillips and Price County as a whole.  "It is a wonderland of lakes, streams, and rivers, lush green forests, wildlife, and is surrounded by small communities where one might consider living....If attracted to an environment where “the great outdoors,” fishing, hunting, trapping, and winter and summer sports are “lures,” there is much more to come!"  She stated the attributes are many, including current job opportunities, many churches of various denominations, the theater group, pool leagues, volleyball tournaments, baseball and softball leagues, Bingo, card tournaments, snowmobile and cross country trails, quilters’ and craft groups, an indoor swimming pool, genealogy group, the Price County Fair, rodeos, plus 4-H clubs and Cub & Boy Scouts.  "The county courthouse is in the center of town in Phillips and easy to get to.  All of these attributes, activities, and events, the churches, business areas, schools, recreational opportunities, exist in Price County.  A vibrant, progressive, county invites young people to settle within, and a friendly populace will welcome them!"

Toni realizes there are some things that can be improved in Price County, as well.  "Top of my head, I would like to see the drug problems eradicated in Price County.  Top of my heart, I would like to see a progressive, younger group of people become more community-minded, like those who put the splash pad in Elk Lake Park.  I hope that hard-working group doesn’t stop improving the community with that one accomplishment under their belts.  That kind of dedication and hard work, we need more of!  Also, the dedication and never-say-die attitude the three women showed when they followed the the bank clock, saved it from the junk yard, and began the long road to restoration, and those who traveled that road with them.  Both of those groups are to be commended for the “heart” they showed and for being unwilling to meet failure and for being people to look up to in Price County!"

While Toni has been busy making a difference in Price County over the years, she also enjoys a myriad of hobbies at home.  "I like making greeting cards, making jewelry, and also baking some of the Slovak sweets that my kids like."  She enjoys cooking shows, too.  "I like to cook and like to see what is new, and I also like to see and hear about the ethnic dishes they sometimes make."  Toni's favorite sport to watch is either basketball, because her son and brother excelled at it, or hockey, because three of her grandsons played.  On a broader scale, she likes to travel.  "Vienna, Austria, plus Illiasovce, Smizany, and Spisska Nova Ves, Slovakia, were places I visited."

Traveling with Toni in life are her guiding lights.  When asked who they are, she shared, "As I grow older I try to live up to the teachings of Jesus."  She added that she hopes young people return to God and his teachings.  "If lies, deceit, and chicanery become the ways of the world, at some point, all will be lost."  For those who guided her as a younger person, she said she looked to my mother and Evelyn Haas, her mother-in-law, who both helped her raise her children "to be the wonderful adults they came to be....These two women exemplified the highest standards of decency, understanding, kindness, warmth, and love.  If I could snatch only a piece of who they were and what they stood for, I would be grateful, but self-examination tells me I fall short."  However Toni's friends may not feel she falls short as a number of them have told her she is thoughtful.  She added, "I hope I am.  I want to be."

If you are interested in seeing some of Toni's thoughtful community service in action, the hour-long Lidice Memorial services will be held on Friday, June 17, 2022 at 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Phillips.  Doug Moquin will be emceeing the program.  The Consulate General from Czech Republic, based in Chicago, will be the guest speaker.

Written By:  Lynne Bohn, My Price County

---

Want to see more free news stories, events, help wanted ads, and more?  "Like" the My Price County Facebook page and the My Northern Wisconsin Facebook page.  Don't have Facebook?  Register to see free news in Price County and beyond.]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-73.html Tue, 15 Feb 2022 08:15:18 +0000 My Northern Wisconsin]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-73.html
He remarked that he noticed some of the most influential business people when he moved to the area.  "There were people I liked around here when I got to Phillips.  I looked at guys like Bob Cervenka who grew up in a very common type of family and look at what he's done.  And Carl Marschke and people like that, like the Baratkas.  You look at them and see what they did and really were making something of themselves."  Ken said those men proved you can build something from nothing if you put in the time and effort.  Ken decided to focus his time and effort on a carpet and furniture store.  He started his business in downtown Phillips.  About twenty years ago the business moved to its current location on the south end of town, located at 722 South Lake Avenue in Phillips.

Ken's Carpet and Consignment Store sells a wide array of products, including appliances, bedding, and flooring.  He also offers a consignment business for used furniture.  If you have furniture you would like to sell, or if you are looking for a quality used item to buy, stop by Ken's Carpet to see what he can offer you.  (Follow Ken's Carpet & The Consignment Store's Facebook page.)  He recently has gotten involved with the sale of solar systems, as well.  "We will be at the Home and Sport Show in March," Ken noted, so make sure to visit him at the booth or stop into Ken's Carpet and Consignment Store before then to get a brochure and talk with Ken.  "Talking to people from all walks of life is one of the things I enjoy most about my job," Ken shared.

Along with having a genuine interest in his customers, his work ethic has made him a successful business owner, and he feels that is the most important thing to be successful.  "Young people need to get an attitude that you are going to work for a living.  If you want to be a little bit more successful in your life, go on out and take advantage of our schools.  Not everybody needs a college degree.  Everybody isn't fit to go to college, but the State of Wisconsin has a very good rated tech school, so learn a trade and you can be more successful if that is what you are looking to do.  Take advantage of the education systems that are out there.  You don't need to be a genius, but you need to have a work ethic."

Ken shared that he notices a lack of carpet layers in the area as the ones that have been successful in the business are now getting older and retiring, and he isn't seeing many young people pursue that path.  Like many trades, Ken said young people need to realize that is where the money is.  "I think there are people who would like to get into it, but they don't know anything about that career.  If a kid doesn't want to go to a college or a tech school, that is an option they might want to get interested in.  Carpet layers make good money.  You take a carpet layer around here working 5 days a week, and they can knock out a 100 grand a year like a shot, and they don't need a big investment or anything.  If they want to go to a bigger city, they can make a lot more money than that.  In the Twin Cities area, I know guys who are very aggressive and work more than forty hours per week, and they are making $200,000 a year laying flooring.  The young kids don't know that because nobody tells them."  However, Ken admitted that money isn't everything, either.  "I did a lot of different things, but the thing I have really liked is working for myself.  I could go out to some factory and make a lot more money than I make out of this store, but I do like coming in here.  I like doing what I'm doing.  I think if you are fairly happy doing what you are doing, then you are doing okay.  You can look at somebody making a lot more money, but is that person always the happiest person on the block?  Not necessarily.  Money ain't everything."

Ken shared that young people should consider living in the area.  He said Phillips is certainly not a big city but that is the charm of it.  "It's the lifestyle here."  He stated that many people are moving to the area for the lifestyle because more jobs have moved to a work from home environment.  Ken feels the new school should attract younger families, and he appreciates the people who are doing things to make the area better, including those considering fixing up the fairgrounds, the campground put in place by the city, the development happening in Elk Lake Park, and everything that keeps making the area better and more inviting.  "I look at it from a business standpoint.  How do you know if a guy is pulling a motor home through town on vacation with his family, and he pulls up to Philips and notices they have a city campground, so he says 'We'll spend the night at the campground.'  Maybe this guy is from Illinois or Milwaukee and he's an owner of some kind of a factory.  Maybe he goes downtown for breakfast the next morning at a restaurant and decides they have an airport here and other good things, and we have been looking to expand our factory, so maybe this is a good place to bring a factory.  You don't know what could happen from this positive growth; it could happen."

As for Ken's family life, both as a child and adult, he has always had a large family.  He is one of twelve siblings.  Adding to that already large family, he and Mary had two daughters who gave them six grandchildren, and he now has seven great grandchildren, all sprinkled across the country.  "In general, I like the life that I have.  I have a good family.  I had very good parents and a lot of good brothers and sisters and their families and my daughters and grandchildren," Ken said, reminiscing over his life.

In his childhood, he remembers he, his siblings, and many of the neighborhood children would spend much of their time outside.  "It's a completely different world," he shared.  "Now most kids are inside on their devices, but we spent our time outside building a shack or swimming."  They also liked to ice skate and play ball.  "Everybody around there had kids.  There were families of four, five, or six kids.  There were hundreds of kids all around.  In the summertime, we'd go out there and play ball.  I was okay but wasn't going to be a big baseball star.  In the early '50s, when I was about 13 years old or so, Eau Claire had a Class C major league baseball team that was part of the Milwaukee Braves.  And we saw several ball players that came through there one summer.  The two that I really remember were Hank Aaron and Billy Bruton.  Both of them made it into the majors, and I got to see them.  They were big baseball players, and I remember that from my childhood."

Ken remembers other things he enjoyed as a child.  "With all the ice skating I did, I never learned hockey.  I don't know why, because they had hockey leagues in Eau Claire, but I never did.  I was a pretty good ice skater," Ken shared.  He mostly enjoyed playing ball sports.  As for watching them now, Ken shared, "I've lost a lot of interest in the major league sports due to the tremendous amount of money that these guys make for playing a kids' game and they lost the allegiance to their fans.  Back years ago, I had an interest, but in the early '60s when I was working in Milwaukee, those major league football players like Jerry Kramer were making about $8,500 a year.  They weren't making 25 million, so that's all changed and there are millions of fans paying several hundred dollars to watch those games."

Ken never had major league sports money, then or now, in his vision, but he did know it was important to work for a living.  "In my large family, if you wanted a dollar in your pocket, you didn't go play football; you went to work.  And I liked going to work better than I liked playing football, because I couldn't make any money playing football," Ken chuckled.  So, he worked at a restaurant in 7th and 8th grade and then worked at a grocery store during high school.  This helped instill a work ethic in him that carried him throughout his life.

If he could go back in time to when he was eighteen and give himself one piece of advice, Ken said, with a chuckle, he would have told himself to invest any money he drank up into the stock market.  Joking aside, Ken said one's outlook in life changes at different stages, and it is best not to live with regrets.  "As each segment of your life goes on, you get a different outlook on what is going on.  When you're young, well, when I was 18, I went into the service because back in my day you either enlisted or you got drafted.  Today, you don't have that.  It was an interesting part of my life to get out and see places and meet people.  Then you are single and you are out having a lot of fun.  Eventually, a person gets married and has kids.  Things change.  That doesn't mean you cannot go out and have fun, but it's different.  You are doing stuff with the family, going on trips.  You don't need to sit down in your living room and live the rest of your life.  You can still have fun but it's different fun.  Then the grand kids come.  These are all different segments of life.  They are not the same.  It might be easy to say 'When I was young, I should have done this,' but you didn't.  It's too late to change that, and I don't have regrets like that."

Follow Ken's Carpet & The Consignment Store's Facebook page.


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Written By:  Lynne Bohn, My Price County]]>
He remarked that he noticed some of the most influential business people when he moved to the area.  "There were people I liked around here when I got to Phillips.  I looked at guys like Bob Cervenka who grew up in a very common type of family and look at what he's done.  And Carl Marschke and people like that, like the Baratkas.  You look at them and see what they did and really were making something of themselves."  Ken said those men proved you can build something from nothing if you put in the time and effort.  Ken decided to focus his time and effort on a carpet and furniture store.  He started his business in downtown Phillips.  About twenty years ago the business moved to its current location on the south end of town, located at 722 South Lake Avenue in Phillips.

Ken's Carpet and Consignment Store sells a wide array of products, including appliances, bedding, and flooring.  He also offers a consignment business for used furniture.  If you have furniture you would like to sell, or if you are looking for a quality used item to buy, stop by Ken's Carpet to see what he can offer you.  (Follow Ken's Carpet & The Consignment Store's Facebook page.)  He recently has gotten involved with the sale of solar systems, as well.  "We will be at the Home and Sport Show in March," Ken noted, so make sure to visit him at the booth or stop into Ken's Carpet and Consignment Store before then to get a brochure and talk with Ken.  "Talking to people from all walks of life is one of the things I enjoy most about my job," Ken shared.

Along with having a genuine interest in his customers, his work ethic has made him a successful business owner, and he feels that is the most important thing to be successful.  "Young people need to get an attitude that you are going to work for a living.  If you want to be a little bit more successful in your life, go on out and take advantage of our schools.  Not everybody needs a college degree.  Everybody isn't fit to go to college, but the State of Wisconsin has a very good rated tech school, so learn a trade and you can be more successful if that is what you are looking to do.  Take advantage of the education systems that are out there.  You don't need to be a genius, but you need to have a work ethic."

Ken shared that he notices a lack of carpet layers in the area as the ones that have been successful in the business are now getting older and retiring, and he isn't seeing many young people pursue that path.  Like many trades, Ken said young people need to realize that is where the money is.  "I think there are people who would like to get into it, but they don't know anything about that career.  If a kid doesn't want to go to a college or a tech school, that is an option they might want to get interested in.  Carpet layers make good money.  You take a carpet layer around here working 5 days a week, and they can knock out a 100 grand a year like a shot, and they don't need a big investment or anything.  If they want to go to a bigger city, they can make a lot more money than that.  In the Twin Cities area, I know guys who are very aggressive and work more than forty hours per week, and they are making $200,000 a year laying flooring.  The young kids don't know that because nobody tells them."  However, Ken admitted that money isn't everything, either.  "I did a lot of different things, but the thing I have really liked is working for myself.  I could go out to some factory and make a lot more money than I make out of this store, but I do like coming in here.  I like doing what I'm doing.  I think if you are fairly happy doing what you are doing, then you are doing okay.  You can look at somebody making a lot more money, but is that person always the happiest person on the block?  Not necessarily.  Money ain't everything."

Ken shared that young people should consider living in the area.  He said Phillips is certainly not a big city but that is the charm of it.  "It's the lifestyle here."  He stated that many people are moving to the area for the lifestyle because more jobs have moved to a work from home environment.  Ken feels the new school should attract younger families, and he appreciates the people who are doing things to make the area better, including those considering fixing up the fairgrounds, the campground put in place by the city, the development happening in Elk Lake Park, and everything that keeps making the area better and more inviting.  "I look at it from a business standpoint.  How do you know if a guy is pulling a motor home through town on vacation with his family, and he pulls up to Philips and notices they have a city campground, so he says 'We'll spend the night at the campground.'  Maybe this guy is from Illinois or Milwaukee and he's an owner of some kind of a factory.  Maybe he goes downtown for breakfast the next morning at a restaurant and decides they have an airport here and other good things, and we have been looking to expand our factory, so maybe this is a good place to bring a factory.  You don't know what could happen from this positive growth; it could happen."

As for Ken's family life, both as a child and adult, he has always had a large family.  He is one of twelve siblings.  Adding to that already large family, he and Mary had two daughters who gave them six grandchildren, and he now has seven great grandchildren, all sprinkled across the country.  "In general, I like the life that I have.  I have a good family.  I had very good parents and a lot of good brothers and sisters and their families and my daughters and grandchildren," Ken said, reminiscing over his life.

In his childhood, he remembers he, his siblings, and many of the neighborhood children would spend much of their time outside.  "It's a completely different world," he shared.  "Now most kids are inside on their devices, but we spent our time outside building a shack or swimming."  They also liked to ice skate and play ball.  "Everybody around there had kids.  There were families of four, five, or six kids.  There were hundreds of kids all around.  In the summertime, we'd go out there and play ball.  I was okay but wasn't going to be a big baseball star.  In the early '50s, when I was about 13 years old or so, Eau Claire had a Class C major league baseball team that was part of the Milwaukee Braves.  And we saw several ball players that came through there one summer.  The two that I really remember were Hank Aaron and Billy Bruton.  Both of them made it into the majors, and I got to see them.  They were big baseball players, and I remember that from my childhood."

Ken remembers other things he enjoyed as a child.  "With all the ice skating I did, I never learned hockey.  I don't know why, because they had hockey leagues in Eau Claire, but I never did.  I was a pretty good ice skater," Ken shared.  He mostly enjoyed playing ball sports.  As for watching them now, Ken shared, "I've lost a lot of interest in the major league sports due to the tremendous amount of money that these guys make for playing a kids' game and they lost the allegiance to their fans.  Back years ago, I had an interest, but in the early '60s when I was working in Milwaukee, those major league football players like Jerry Kramer were making about $8,500 a year.  They weren't making 25 million, so that's all changed and there are millions of fans paying several hundred dollars to watch those games."

Ken never had major league sports money, then or now, in his vision, but he did know it was important to work for a living.  "In my large family, if you wanted a dollar in your pocket, you didn't go play football; you went to work.  And I liked going to work better than I liked playing football, because I couldn't make any money playing football," Ken chuckled.  So, he worked at a restaurant in 7th and 8th grade and then worked at a grocery store during high school.  This helped instill a work ethic in him that carried him throughout his life.

If he could go back in time to when he was eighteen and give himself one piece of advice, Ken said, with a chuckle, he would have told himself to invest any money he drank up into the stock market.  Joking aside, Ken said one's outlook in life changes at different stages, and it is best not to live with regrets.  "As each segment of your life goes on, you get a different outlook on what is going on.  When you're young, well, when I was 18, I went into the service because back in my day you either enlisted or you got drafted.  Today, you don't have that.  It was an interesting part of my life to get out and see places and meet people.  Then you are single and you are out having a lot of fun.  Eventually, a person gets married and has kids.  Things change.  That doesn't mean you cannot go out and have fun, but it's different.  You are doing stuff with the family, going on trips.  You don't need to sit down in your living room and live the rest of your life.  You can still have fun but it's different fun.  Then the grand kids come.  These are all different segments of life.  They are not the same.  It might be easy to say 'When I was young, I should have done this,' but you didn't.  It's too late to change that, and I don't have regrets like that."

Follow Ken's Carpet & The Consignment Store's Facebook page.


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Written By:  Lynne Bohn, My Price County]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-46.html Tue, 28 Dec 2021 21:13:41 +0000 My Northern Wisconsin]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-46.html
  daryl, cropped.jpg (Size: 75.49 KB / Downloads: 2110)
Photo by:  David Palmer

Daryl Varner grew up near Kenosha, Wisconsin, the youngest son of two boys born to Daniel and Dorothy "Dot" Varner.  He describes his dad sort of like Archie Bunker and his mom as June Cleaver.  "My mom was wise beyond her years.  She taught me there is good in everyone.  She instilled wisdom and gave me two ways to look at things.  I take after her a lot," Daryl shared, and he felt his mother was the most influential person in his life.

As a young 18-year old man, with that influence in him, he was eager to take on the world and make a good living for himself.  He started working in the degreasing department of a brake lathe factory doing piece work.  OSHA was not around at that time, and while he outworked all the other employees there, he came into a lot of contact with a chemical, tricor ethylene.  After working there for three months, he knew he had to find another job, which he found at American Motors where he built cars.  "It was the smartest thing I ever did," he said.

Daryl would go on to build cars and also train many people on the most efficient and easy way to build cars.  He worked at that factory across three decades, though he would have never expected he would even live three decades when he started working there.  "It was 11 months into my job that I was in complete kidney failure," Daryl shared.  The kidney failure happened due to the chemicals he worked with at the brake lathe factory.  The doctors were able to keep his kidneys working well enough for 14 years.  "I took 22 pills per day."

By 1985, at the age of 32, Daryl's health was very deteriorated, and he was undergoing dialysis three times per week.  His father, feeling that no son of his should have to struggle with kidney failure, discovered he was a match and gave Daryl a kidney.  "His kidney lasted for 30 years," Daryl explained.  His father went on to live a full life, passing on many years later at 78 years old (not due to kidney issues), and living all those years knowing he had given his son a great gift, the gift of a second chance at life.

Though still needing to take medication so that his body would not reject the kidney, Daryl had a new lease on life.  He moved onto a new career, which he enjoyed for 16 years.  "It was my dream job," Daryl explained about working as the custom carpenter for a hospital.  "I built computer work stations, the nurses' stations, everything.  I absolutely just loved that job.  I had free-range to create anything that I wanted to.  It was an awesome job."

Years later, Daryl moved to Phillips, calling the northwoods home.  He currently works at the local grocery store where he is a familiar face to many residents.  "I enjoy seeing all the customers," he said.

Along with working at the grocery store, Daryl sells firewood through his business, Daryl's Firewood, https://www.DarylsFirewood.com, which he started in Phillips in 2008.  However, he first got started in the firewood business in the 1970s when he installed a wood burner in his house.  Since then, he has learned a lot about the business.  People often tell him he should charge more for his firewood products, as he sells wood for stoves and also for campfires, but he said he is happy to provide a quality product at an inexpensive price.  "My clients appreciate the quality and that pleases me," Daryl said of his internal compensation for a job well done.  He really enjoys meeting with his clients, and he also enjoys the solitude of being out in the woods.

His solitude was broken, however, around 2017 when he, once again, went into kidney failure.  He was in search of a kidney, but had reached only dead ends until a man named Dan came into a local supper club where Daryl often dines and said, "I hear somebody needs a kidney."  Daryl was not present in that moment, but the man was given his phone number, and he called Daryl, who was sitting in his car taking a break from a class he had been attending that day.  While Daryl was doctoring at Froedtert in Milwaukee, the man wanted to use Mayo Clinic, which Daryl said was fine.  In the meantime, Dan went to Froedtert and found that, sadly, he was not a match for Daryl.  However, Dan went one more step above and beyond and told the hospital that if they could find Daryl a kidney from a match, Dan would donate his to someone in need.  As luck would have it, Rose, then a stranger but now a friend to Daryl, stopped by Froedtert Hospital asking how she could donate a kidney to someone in need, and she was Daryl's match.  The transplant was a success.  "The most special thing anyone has ever done for me," Daryl reflected on the two kidneys he has received, "was giving me life...twice."

While happy with those new leases in life, Daryl admitted that if he was granted one wish, it would be "to have not had my life-threatening diseases.  If I had better health, I wonder how different my life would have been."  Regardless of that thought, Daryl said he doesn't look at it as "Why me?"  He looks at it as "Why not me?"  "Other people have had hard times, too."  Daryl reflected on September 11, 2001.  "The day the United States of America could be made to look like a war zone....I just looked at something like that which happened on our soil and seeing those folks jumping out of windows was just awful.  It just moved me and made a giant impression."  That was certainly a terrible time for our country and those people directly impacted by the attack who had to overcome their hard times, too.  More locally, a customer at the grocery store shared a hard time with Daryl.  While experiencing a trying medical situation, he told Daryl, "If you could do it, I knew I could do it, too."  Daryl reflected, "Maybe that's my purpose."

To provide hope to others is something Daryl strives to achieve.  "Never give up," he said.  "I am passionate about life and people.  The day you decide not to get out of bed is the day you die.  I always look forward to a new day."  He said the thing that has brought him the most happiness is simply realizing what happiness is and knowing how to find it daily.  "If I fulfill something positive each day, I'm happy.  That brings me contentment to know I did the best I could and to do something positive.  You need to fulfill something positive each day."

In that regard, Daryl said his advice to the next generation would be not to participate in idle gossip and to follow the expression 'To thy own self be true.'  "You have to be true to yourself.  You've got to take life on life's terms.  It's not going to be an easy road but with determination and a need and a want, you'll get there.  Nobody's going to hand it to you, and if they do hand it to you, it isn't going to last.  It takes work and determination and then you will appreciate it a lot more than if somebody tried to pad your way."  Daryl admitted he tries to be the best person he can be.  That's his motto in life.  While it "hasn't all been a picnic," mostly due to his medical situation, Daryl admitted, "I have a lot of things to kind of be thankful for."  One of those things is that the doctors have told him no one has survived as long as he has on anti-rejection drugs.  He also said people have to keep their chin up and that finding love makes life easier.  "I think everybody should have love, whether its for nature, trees, grass, pets, people.  It gives us hope."

Daryl has found love in things, people, and dogs.  As for things, he collects antiques.  He hopes to add on a room so he can better display his beer sign collection.  It's one of those many goals that gives him the desire to get up in the morning.

As for the dogs in his life, Daryl and David have adopted eight rescue dogs thus far.  He treats his dog, Max, for diabetes, and since his companion, Bella, recently passed on due to cancer, Daryl knew it was time to rescue another dog.  While at an appointment for the skin cancer he gets as an effect of the anti-rejection drugs he has to take, he stopped by a pet shelter and met a Boston Terrier, Moria, that stole his heart and now also steals some space on the sofa as she is the latest addition to the family.

In regard to people, Daryl said his favorite vacation was one he took a few years back with David Palmer.  They took a 35 foot motor home to Mt. Rushmore.  On the way there, however, Daryl was driving and noticed that no moisture was coming off the tires of the other cars in South Dakota.  "My dad always taught me, when you don't see the moisture coming off the tires of the other cars coming past you, that means the road's freezing.  All of a sudden I realized there was no moisture coming off the other cars' tires, and I felt the motor home slip, and I thought we don't need this thing falling off the road.  I didn't want to say anything to Dave, but I knew it was icy so I turned off."  He didn't want to be driving such a large vehicle on icy roads, so he found a truck stop and they spent the night there with the locals.  They also grilled salmon, watched TV, and took in the moment while the weather went wild outside.  "It was just a great time and one of the most memorable times.  That was very special," Daryl shared.

While enjoying the people, pets, and things in his life, Daryl will continue to enjoy interacting with customers at the grocery store and clients of his firewood business.  To see a short, interesting video of how Daryl makes his firewood, view his Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/darylsfirewood.  While there, follow his page, as Daryl plans to share additional interesting posts in the future.

If you would like more information on saving a life through organ donation, you can take the simple step of noting your intent on your driver's license or you can do further research and take additional steps at https://www.organdonor.gov/

Written By:  Lynne Bohn, MyPriceCounty.com]]>
  daryl, cropped.jpg (Size: 75.49 KB / Downloads: 2110)
Photo by:  David Palmer

Daryl Varner grew up near Kenosha, Wisconsin, the youngest son of two boys born to Daniel and Dorothy "Dot" Varner.  He describes his dad sort of like Archie Bunker and his mom as June Cleaver.  "My mom was wise beyond her years.  She taught me there is good in everyone.  She instilled wisdom and gave me two ways to look at things.  I take after her a lot," Daryl shared, and he felt his mother was the most influential person in his life.

As a young 18-year old man, with that influence in him, he was eager to take on the world and make a good living for himself.  He started working in the degreasing department of a brake lathe factory doing piece work.  OSHA was not around at that time, and while he outworked all the other employees there, he came into a lot of contact with a chemical, tricor ethylene.  After working there for three months, he knew he had to find another job, which he found at American Motors where he built cars.  "It was the smartest thing I ever did," he said.

Daryl would go on to build cars and also train many people on the most efficient and easy way to build cars.  He worked at that factory across three decades, though he would have never expected he would even live three decades when he started working there.  "It was 11 months into my job that I was in complete kidney failure," Daryl shared.  The kidney failure happened due to the chemicals he worked with at the brake lathe factory.  The doctors were able to keep his kidneys working well enough for 14 years.  "I took 22 pills per day."

By 1985, at the age of 32, Daryl's health was very deteriorated, and he was undergoing dialysis three times per week.  His father, feeling that no son of his should have to struggle with kidney failure, discovered he was a match and gave Daryl a kidney.  "His kidney lasted for 30 years," Daryl explained.  His father went on to live a full life, passing on many years later at 78 years old (not due to kidney issues), and living all those years knowing he had given his son a great gift, the gift of a second chance at life.

Though still needing to take medication so that his body would not reject the kidney, Daryl had a new lease on life.  He moved onto a new career, which he enjoyed for 16 years.  "It was my dream job," Daryl explained about working as the custom carpenter for a hospital.  "I built computer work stations, the nurses' stations, everything.  I absolutely just loved that job.  I had free-range to create anything that I wanted to.  It was an awesome job."

Years later, Daryl moved to Phillips, calling the northwoods home.  He currently works at the local grocery store where he is a familiar face to many residents.  "I enjoy seeing all the customers," he said.

Along with working at the grocery store, Daryl sells firewood through his business, Daryl's Firewood, https://www.DarylsFirewood.com, which he started in Phillips in 2008.  However, he first got started in the firewood business in the 1970s when he installed a wood burner in his house.  Since then, he has learned a lot about the business.  People often tell him he should charge more for his firewood products, as he sells wood for stoves and also for campfires, but he said he is happy to provide a quality product at an inexpensive price.  "My clients appreciate the quality and that pleases me," Daryl said of his internal compensation for a job well done.  He really enjoys meeting with his clients, and he also enjoys the solitude of being out in the woods.

His solitude was broken, however, around 2017 when he, once again, went into kidney failure.  He was in search of a kidney, but had reached only dead ends until a man named Dan came into a local supper club where Daryl often dines and said, "I hear somebody needs a kidney."  Daryl was not present in that moment, but the man was given his phone number, and he called Daryl, who was sitting in his car taking a break from a class he had been attending that day.  While Daryl was doctoring at Froedtert in Milwaukee, the man wanted to use Mayo Clinic, which Daryl said was fine.  In the meantime, Dan went to Froedtert and found that, sadly, he was not a match for Daryl.  However, Dan went one more step above and beyond and told the hospital that if they could find Daryl a kidney from a match, Dan would donate his to someone in need.  As luck would have it, Rose, then a stranger but now a friend to Daryl, stopped by Froedtert Hospital asking how she could donate a kidney to someone in need, and she was Daryl's match.  The transplant was a success.  "The most special thing anyone has ever done for me," Daryl reflected on the two kidneys he has received, "was giving me life...twice."

While happy with those new leases in life, Daryl admitted that if he was granted one wish, it would be "to have not had my life-threatening diseases.  If I had better health, I wonder how different my life would have been."  Regardless of that thought, Daryl said he doesn't look at it as "Why me?"  He looks at it as "Why not me?"  "Other people have had hard times, too."  Daryl reflected on September 11, 2001.  "The day the United States of America could be made to look like a war zone....I just looked at something like that which happened on our soil and seeing those folks jumping out of windows was just awful.  It just moved me and made a giant impression."  That was certainly a terrible time for our country and those people directly impacted by the attack who had to overcome their hard times, too.  More locally, a customer at the grocery store shared a hard time with Daryl.  While experiencing a trying medical situation, he told Daryl, "If you could do it, I knew I could do it, too."  Daryl reflected, "Maybe that's my purpose."

To provide hope to others is something Daryl strives to achieve.  "Never give up," he said.  "I am passionate about life and people.  The day you decide not to get out of bed is the day you die.  I always look forward to a new day."  He said the thing that has brought him the most happiness is simply realizing what happiness is and knowing how to find it daily.  "If I fulfill something positive each day, I'm happy.  That brings me contentment to know I did the best I could and to do something positive.  You need to fulfill something positive each day."

In that regard, Daryl said his advice to the next generation would be not to participate in idle gossip and to follow the expression 'To thy own self be true.'  "You have to be true to yourself.  You've got to take life on life's terms.  It's not going to be an easy road but with determination and a need and a want, you'll get there.  Nobody's going to hand it to you, and if they do hand it to you, it isn't going to last.  It takes work and determination and then you will appreciate it a lot more than if somebody tried to pad your way."  Daryl admitted he tries to be the best person he can be.  That's his motto in life.  While it "hasn't all been a picnic," mostly due to his medical situation, Daryl admitted, "I have a lot of things to kind of be thankful for."  One of those things is that the doctors have told him no one has survived as long as he has on anti-rejection drugs.  He also said people have to keep their chin up and that finding love makes life easier.  "I think everybody should have love, whether its for nature, trees, grass, pets, people.  It gives us hope."

Daryl has found love in things, people, and dogs.  As for things, he collects antiques.  He hopes to add on a room so he can better display his beer sign collection.  It's one of those many goals that gives him the desire to get up in the morning.

As for the dogs in his life, Daryl and David have adopted eight rescue dogs thus far.  He treats his dog, Max, for diabetes, and since his companion, Bella, recently passed on due to cancer, Daryl knew it was time to rescue another dog.  While at an appointment for the skin cancer he gets as an effect of the anti-rejection drugs he has to take, he stopped by a pet shelter and met a Boston Terrier, Moria, that stole his heart and now also steals some space on the sofa as she is the latest addition to the family.

In regard to people, Daryl said his favorite vacation was one he took a few years back with David Palmer.  They took a 35 foot motor home to Mt. Rushmore.  On the way there, however, Daryl was driving and noticed that no moisture was coming off the tires of the other cars in South Dakota.  "My dad always taught me, when you don't see the moisture coming off the tires of the other cars coming past you, that means the road's freezing.  All of a sudden I realized there was no moisture coming off the other cars' tires, and I felt the motor home slip, and I thought we don't need this thing falling off the road.  I didn't want to say anything to Dave, but I knew it was icy so I turned off."  He didn't want to be driving such a large vehicle on icy roads, so he found a truck stop and they spent the night there with the locals.  They also grilled salmon, watched TV, and took in the moment while the weather went wild outside.  "It was just a great time and one of the most memorable times.  That was very special," Daryl shared.

While enjoying the people, pets, and things in his life, Daryl will continue to enjoy interacting with customers at the grocery store and clients of his firewood business.  To see a short, interesting video of how Daryl makes his firewood, view his Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/darylsfirewood.  While there, follow his page, as Daryl plans to share additional interesting posts in the future.

If you would like more information on saving a life through organ donation, you can take the simple step of noting your intent on your driver's license or you can do further research and take additional steps at https://www.organdonor.gov/

Written By:  Lynne Bohn, MyPriceCounty.com]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-28.html Sun, 19 Dec 2021 13:00:51 +0000 My Northern Wisconsin]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-28.html
  kernerprofile.jpg (Size: 44.44 KB / Downloads: 1093)
Photo by: Melissa Schultz

Date Published:  June 24, 2021

Karen Kerner grew up on a farm in Price County. The third from the youngest sibling out of nine children, she learned a number of lessons growing up in a big farm family. One of those lessons, which would be her words of wisdom to younger generations, is to take care of what you have. She also learned the importance of family at a young age, which is why she is passionate about family getting along. Family trips at Sailor Lake are some of her most treasured memories from childhood.

Not long after Karen graduated from Phillips High School, she and her high school sweetheart, Greg Denzine, established Deer Creek Angus as a small livestock operation in Phillips. Greg, also coming from a farming family, was a great match for Karen as she said she always knew she wanted to be a farmer. Together, their passion for farming has grown.

The couple married and have two children, Alexis and Wyatt. They also have a Great Pyrenees farm dog named Bandit. Surrounded by beautiful woods and rolling pastures, they live on a picturesque farm. All their animals are raised on the farm in a stress-free environment fed with grass, hay, and grain grown on their farm and harvested by them. "All our calves are pasture-raised by 'Mother Cow.' Management traits of calving ease low birth weights and promote fast growth, marbling qualities, and high survivability, all of which mean a greater product. Our Angus cattle are docile, easy to handle, and have great longevity," Karen explained of their farming operation.

She also explained what happens beyond their farm. "Our animals are processed at Whiskey Ridge in Radisson, Wisconsin, a state-inspected and licensed facility. Whiskey Ridge is owned by Mark and Linda Heath, life-long residents of Radisson, who have been in business for 24 years."

Much of Karen's life has centered around farming and learning all that she can to be well-rounded in that line of work. If she could meet one of her ancestors, she said she would want to meet her grandfather who passed on when she was three months old. "I have tons of farming questions for him," she said. Luckily, she was able to meet a man named Franklin Loula, who was a farmer and close family friend. "I farm today by some of the things he taught me," she shared. If she could have one power, she would like x-ray vision. "Some days, in this line of work, it would really come in handy," she noted.

Karen lives by the motto that working hard pays off. She admitted she is a small woman but is ballsier than most men. The fact that she has ridden a bull can attest to that statement. To be able to ride bulls and wrangle cattle out west in the 1850s to 1900 is the time period she would be most interested in visiting if she could.

One of Karen's greatest accomplishments is the dairy breakfast she helped organize across Price County for two decades. "Many people think a dairy breakfast is for the farmers, but I also wanted it for the community so it would promote the dairy industry and for people to realize what goes on at a farm. That aspect was really important to me," she said.

Karen would like to see Price County grow. In ten years, she sees herself where she is right now, because she feels it is a great place to live. She said, "I will be here doing what I do best!"

Some of what she does best, besides farming, is staying connected to family. She stated her mother and sisters are her "guiding lights." Her children have brought her the most happiness, and she hopes the best for them. Along with family, Karen also has a soft spot for her friends. If she was stuck in an elevator with anyone, she'd like it to be her best friend. "We love to talk!" she explained. If she could go back and change one thing, though, she knows exactly what it would be. "I wish I could spend more time with my dear friend, Jacki (Kinnear) Kempf, before she passed away."

As for her hobbies, Karen likes making things with her hands. She enjoys sewing. One of her favorite projects was to make logging style quilts. "Mrs. Janetski got me hooked on that in high school," she shared. Karen said that, for a time, she was making so many that she sold some of her work.

If she could wish for one selfless thing, she would wish for food. "I would want to give it to the people who need it," she shared.

Karen and Greg definitely know a lot about feeding families as they have recently expanded into direct to customer sales from burgers for grilling to bacon-wrapped tenderloin and everything in-between. Customers can purchase Angus beef in individual packages or in quarters, halves, and whole. If you would like to purchase their wide array of products, visit Karen and Greg at the Minocqua Farmers' Market, by the information booth at 8216 Hwy. 51 S, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Friday. For more information on their products that you can also purchase at their farm in Phillips, view their website at https://www.DeerCreekAngusFarm.com and like their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/deercreekangusfarm

Written By:  Lynne Bohn

#1530]]>
  kernerprofile.jpg (Size: 44.44 KB / Downloads: 1093)
Photo by: Melissa Schultz

Date Published:  June 24, 2021

Karen Kerner grew up on a farm in Price County. The third from the youngest sibling out of nine children, she learned a number of lessons growing up in a big farm family. One of those lessons, which would be her words of wisdom to younger generations, is to take care of what you have. She also learned the importance of family at a young age, which is why she is passionate about family getting along. Family trips at Sailor Lake are some of her most treasured memories from childhood.

Not long after Karen graduated from Phillips High School, she and her high school sweetheart, Greg Denzine, established Deer Creek Angus as a small livestock operation in Phillips. Greg, also coming from a farming family, was a great match for Karen as she said she always knew she wanted to be a farmer. Together, their passion for farming has grown.

The couple married and have two children, Alexis and Wyatt. They also have a Great Pyrenees farm dog named Bandit. Surrounded by beautiful woods and rolling pastures, they live on a picturesque farm. All their animals are raised on the farm in a stress-free environment fed with grass, hay, and grain grown on their farm and harvested by them. "All our calves are pasture-raised by 'Mother Cow.' Management traits of calving ease low birth weights and promote fast growth, marbling qualities, and high survivability, all of which mean a greater product. Our Angus cattle are docile, easy to handle, and have great longevity," Karen explained of their farming operation.

She also explained what happens beyond their farm. "Our animals are processed at Whiskey Ridge in Radisson, Wisconsin, a state-inspected and licensed facility. Whiskey Ridge is owned by Mark and Linda Heath, life-long residents of Radisson, who have been in business for 24 years."

Much of Karen's life has centered around farming and learning all that she can to be well-rounded in that line of work. If she could meet one of her ancestors, she said she would want to meet her grandfather who passed on when she was three months old. "I have tons of farming questions for him," she said. Luckily, she was able to meet a man named Franklin Loula, who was a farmer and close family friend. "I farm today by some of the things he taught me," she shared. If she could have one power, she would like x-ray vision. "Some days, in this line of work, it would really come in handy," she noted.

Karen lives by the motto that working hard pays off. She admitted she is a small woman but is ballsier than most men. The fact that she has ridden a bull can attest to that statement. To be able to ride bulls and wrangle cattle out west in the 1850s to 1900 is the time period she would be most interested in visiting if she could.

One of Karen's greatest accomplishments is the dairy breakfast she helped organize across Price County for two decades. "Many people think a dairy breakfast is for the farmers, but I also wanted it for the community so it would promote the dairy industry and for people to realize what goes on at a farm. That aspect was really important to me," she said.

Karen would like to see Price County grow. In ten years, she sees herself where she is right now, because she feels it is a great place to live. She said, "I will be here doing what I do best!"

Some of what she does best, besides farming, is staying connected to family. She stated her mother and sisters are her "guiding lights." Her children have brought her the most happiness, and she hopes the best for them. Along with family, Karen also has a soft spot for her friends. If she was stuck in an elevator with anyone, she'd like it to be her best friend. "We love to talk!" she explained. If she could go back and change one thing, though, she knows exactly what it would be. "I wish I could spend more time with my dear friend, Jacki (Kinnear) Kempf, before she passed away."

As for her hobbies, Karen likes making things with her hands. She enjoys sewing. One of her favorite projects was to make logging style quilts. "Mrs. Janetski got me hooked on that in high school," she shared. Karen said that, for a time, she was making so many that she sold some of her work.

If she could wish for one selfless thing, she would wish for food. "I would want to give it to the people who need it," she shared.

Karen and Greg definitely know a lot about feeding families as they have recently expanded into direct to customer sales from burgers for grilling to bacon-wrapped tenderloin and everything in-between. Customers can purchase Angus beef in individual packages or in quarters, halves, and whole. If you would like to purchase their wide array of products, visit Karen and Greg at the Minocqua Farmers' Market, by the information booth at 8216 Hwy. 51 S, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Friday. For more information on their products that you can also purchase at their farm in Phillips, view their website at https://www.DeerCreekAngusFarm.com and like their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/deercreekangusfarm

Written By:  Lynne Bohn

#1530]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-27.html Sun, 19 Dec 2021 12:58:47 +0000 My Northern Wisconsin]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-27.html
  BWeisrockprofile.jpg (Size: 37.71 KB / Downloads: 935)
Submitted photo.

Date Published:  April 1, 2021

As soon as Brittany (Hernandez) Weisrock could string sentences together, she knew she had a love for writing. When she started writing little stories as a child, little did she know that one day she would be a published author. Fast forward to 2021, and that is Brittany’s reality, as she awaits the publication of her first novel, Triad, a new adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy work designed for adult readers who enjoy vampires, shifters, fae (fairies), and magic.

To rewind and start at the beginning, Brittany started her life in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Phillips native, Brian Skomaroske. Just before she entered kindergarten, she and her family moved to Phillips, where she spent all her adolescent years. Choosing to keep Phillips as her home after high school graduation, Brittany married Bryan Weisrock, and the couple has a daughter named Peyton, whom Brittany hopes to raise to speak her mind and understand her value. “She’s such a pleasure to watch grow and learn. Raising her is such an amazing thing. She’s this gift I never knew I always wanted,” Brittany said of her pride and joy. Regarding herself, “I’m that mom-type - messy bun, leggings, and a love for tacos I can’t contain! As a self-proclaimed OG bookworm, Netflix junkie, and wine enthusiast, I love losing myself in a great fictional world with a glass of good wine in my hand.”

Some of the books that Brittany has gotten lost in include Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas, Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, and Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan. Knowing she could list more books, she had to stop herself aside from also mentioning the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. “You should know I watched New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn 1 & 2 at midnight along with buying the books at the stores,” Brittany said of her enthusiasm for the series. She stated she is constantly finding new books to love as they offer limitless adventures. “I truly feel you can live more lives than imaginable by simply reading,” a thought encapsulated in one of Brittany’s favorite quotes by V.E. Schwab, “Books, she has found, are a way to live a thousand lives – or to find strength in a very long one.”

Transcending from the written word to on-screen, Brittany confessed she is a huge move nerd and enjoys a number of them, as well. However, her go-to movie and all-time favorite is one she discovered in her younger years, Jurassic Park. “That movie changed my life as a kid! I am a Jeff Goldblum fan!”

It’s no doubt that Brittany enjoys action when the Weisrock family’s favorite sport is hockey. “We love going to Wisconsin Badgers hockey games. It’s just such a fast-paced sport to watch as they fly up and down the ice. Not to mention that where the Badgers play just has this vibe we love from the music playing, the players, and the alumni chants. It’s just awesome to be in the arena and watch the play,” Brittany shared.

While Brittany enjoys watching high energy sports like hockey, she also brings the high energy. “Obviously, I can’t speak for those who meet me, but I generally feel you won’t walk away from me wondering what I was thinking, because odds are, I’m going to tell ya!” She admits she can have a bit of a potty mouth but has zero shame at that. “I’m happy to speak my mind and started blogging, just to get my ideas out there. Authenticity is key for me. I think that’s why blogging was such a fun creative outlet for me.”

While blogging likely helped tune her writing skills, she credits some high school teachers for fostering her interest in the craft. “I knew in middle school I possessed a passion for writing but never knew exactly what to do with it. In high school, I took creative writing classes and advanced composition. Sue Weddle, Staci Mollman, and Eva Reilly really helped me understand just how much I loved writing with some projects we did in class. I even took senior assistantships with Mrs. Reilly and Mrs. Mollman.”

While those women helped guide Brittany in her journey with the written word, she has had other guiding lights throughout her life. “My entire family and the friends I’ve made family are my greatest source of strength, and I love them.” They are the people she knows have served her journey well. “My husband, Bryan Weisrock, and my daughter, Peyton, made me want to be someone they could be proud of. My entire family really is my backbone and foundation, along with these lasting friendships I’ve cultivated with people I believe are extraordinary - they know who they are. I’ve learned so much from them, individually, that it feels like a slight to pick just one. If I had to give a shout out, I’d have to say my dad, Brian Skomaroske, and my gram, Linda Patrick, are such consistent people, and Keri Krupp, who really pushed me to pursue this endeavor [of publishing a book]. But truly, my ENTIRE family has my back - I am the LUCKIEST person to have them. I definitely took traits from some family and friends and incorporated them into Triad.”

Taking note of different personality traits has been a life-long observation, but the actual writing of her book started in January of 2020. Dedicated to her project, her second draft was completed by June. She learned of a writing event where she could connect with agents and publishers if they had interest in the pitch for the work. “I got crazy lucky, and a smaller press liked my pitch. They ended up asking for a full manuscript and we decided, my book, Triad, and I were the right fit for them. After that, I spent six months heavily revising and going through the editorial process with them. It’s crazy how much a book changes from those beginning drafts to publishing. So, in all honesty, it took a full year and a couple months to have Triad where we all wanted it to be story-wise. I’m a better writer for it, and I appreciated the opportunity to work with these professionals.”

Brittany stated that the publishing process is intense. “I didn’t consider self-publishing, though I highly respect those who do. It’s crazy hard. The number of roles you have to take on to succeed is massive and rather impressive. I went the traditional publishing direction, with the query, synopsis aspects….Once you’re contracted, your writing life becomes deadlines, revisions, more edits, and all kinds of fun stuff like cover proposals, blurbs, bios, and brief interviews….I’m aware how lucky I am to have gotten such an early break. Many authors have to query for years.”

For Brittany, there have been many great moments in this rather short amount of time, including reading her book after it was formatted, seeing the cover design, and hearing from the ARC readers, who are the Advanced Review Copy readers who critique the pre-published book. Brittany said of the ARC readers, “That has to be my favorite. When a reader gets in touch with me and gushes about how much they connected with or loved a character, it tells me I did my job right as an author. It’s all I want as an author - to put out a book readers in my genre will love and give them characters they can’t forget!”

As Brittany’s book publication journey unfolds, she wants to tell young people who are pursuing writing not to give up. “There’s going to be a lot of ‘no’s’ in writing and a lot of feeling like you might not be good enough, but keep writing, keep learning, keep honing your skills, and expanding your depth as a writer. If you can learn from your constructive critiques and take those negatives to grow yourself, that’s really the best thing you can do.”

Growing and capturing your life’s purpose as quickly as you can is summed up in one of Brittany’s favorite quotes from V.E. Schwab, “Blink, and the years fall away like leaves.” The seasons of life do pass quickly for us all, and we must remember to embrace them all. At present, Brittany can delight in the season of her first book, another leaf on her tree of life.

Written By:  Lynne Bohn

#7507]]>
  BWeisrockprofile.jpg (Size: 37.71 KB / Downloads: 935)
Submitted photo.

Date Published:  April 1, 2021

As soon as Brittany (Hernandez) Weisrock could string sentences together, she knew she had a love for writing. When she started writing little stories as a child, little did she know that one day she would be a published author. Fast forward to 2021, and that is Brittany’s reality, as she awaits the publication of her first novel, Triad, a new adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy work designed for adult readers who enjoy vampires, shifters, fae (fairies), and magic.

To rewind and start at the beginning, Brittany started her life in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Phillips native, Brian Skomaroske. Just before she entered kindergarten, she and her family moved to Phillips, where she spent all her adolescent years. Choosing to keep Phillips as her home after high school graduation, Brittany married Bryan Weisrock, and the couple has a daughter named Peyton, whom Brittany hopes to raise to speak her mind and understand her value. “She’s such a pleasure to watch grow and learn. Raising her is such an amazing thing. She’s this gift I never knew I always wanted,” Brittany said of her pride and joy. Regarding herself, “I’m that mom-type - messy bun, leggings, and a love for tacos I can’t contain! As a self-proclaimed OG bookworm, Netflix junkie, and wine enthusiast, I love losing myself in a great fictional world with a glass of good wine in my hand.”

Some of the books that Brittany has gotten lost in include Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas, Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, and Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan. Knowing she could list more books, she had to stop herself aside from also mentioning the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. “You should know I watched New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn 1 & 2 at midnight along with buying the books at the stores,” Brittany said of her enthusiasm for the series. She stated she is constantly finding new books to love as they offer limitless adventures. “I truly feel you can live more lives than imaginable by simply reading,” a thought encapsulated in one of Brittany’s favorite quotes by V.E. Schwab, “Books, she has found, are a way to live a thousand lives – or to find strength in a very long one.”

Transcending from the written word to on-screen, Brittany confessed she is a huge move nerd and enjoys a number of them, as well. However, her go-to movie and all-time favorite is one she discovered in her younger years, Jurassic Park. “That movie changed my life as a kid! I am a Jeff Goldblum fan!”

It’s no doubt that Brittany enjoys action when the Weisrock family’s favorite sport is hockey. “We love going to Wisconsin Badgers hockey games. It’s just such a fast-paced sport to watch as they fly up and down the ice. Not to mention that where the Badgers play just has this vibe we love from the music playing, the players, and the alumni chants. It’s just awesome to be in the arena and watch the play,” Brittany shared.

While Brittany enjoys watching high energy sports like hockey, she also brings the high energy. “Obviously, I can’t speak for those who meet me, but I generally feel you won’t walk away from me wondering what I was thinking, because odds are, I’m going to tell ya!” She admits she can have a bit of a potty mouth but has zero shame at that. “I’m happy to speak my mind and started blogging, just to get my ideas out there. Authenticity is key for me. I think that’s why blogging was such a fun creative outlet for me.”

While blogging likely helped tune her writing skills, she credits some high school teachers for fostering her interest in the craft. “I knew in middle school I possessed a passion for writing but never knew exactly what to do with it. In high school, I took creative writing classes and advanced composition. Sue Weddle, Staci Mollman, and Eva Reilly really helped me understand just how much I loved writing with some projects we did in class. I even took senior assistantships with Mrs. Reilly and Mrs. Mollman.”

While those women helped guide Brittany in her journey with the written word, she has had other guiding lights throughout her life. “My entire family and the friends I’ve made family are my greatest source of strength, and I love them.” They are the people she knows have served her journey well. “My husband, Bryan Weisrock, and my daughter, Peyton, made me want to be someone they could be proud of. My entire family really is my backbone and foundation, along with these lasting friendships I’ve cultivated with people I believe are extraordinary - they know who they are. I’ve learned so much from them, individually, that it feels like a slight to pick just one. If I had to give a shout out, I’d have to say my dad, Brian Skomaroske, and my gram, Linda Patrick, are such consistent people, and Keri Krupp, who really pushed me to pursue this endeavor [of publishing a book]. But truly, my ENTIRE family has my back - I am the LUCKIEST person to have them. I definitely took traits from some family and friends and incorporated them into Triad.”

Taking note of different personality traits has been a life-long observation, but the actual writing of her book started in January of 2020. Dedicated to her project, her second draft was completed by June. She learned of a writing event where she could connect with agents and publishers if they had interest in the pitch for the work. “I got crazy lucky, and a smaller press liked my pitch. They ended up asking for a full manuscript and we decided, my book, Triad, and I were the right fit for them. After that, I spent six months heavily revising and going through the editorial process with them. It’s crazy how much a book changes from those beginning drafts to publishing. So, in all honesty, it took a full year and a couple months to have Triad where we all wanted it to be story-wise. I’m a better writer for it, and I appreciated the opportunity to work with these professionals.”

Brittany stated that the publishing process is intense. “I didn’t consider self-publishing, though I highly respect those who do. It’s crazy hard. The number of roles you have to take on to succeed is massive and rather impressive. I went the traditional publishing direction, with the query, synopsis aspects….Once you’re contracted, your writing life becomes deadlines, revisions, more edits, and all kinds of fun stuff like cover proposals, blurbs, bios, and brief interviews….I’m aware how lucky I am to have gotten such an early break. Many authors have to query for years.”

For Brittany, there have been many great moments in this rather short amount of time, including reading her book after it was formatted, seeing the cover design, and hearing from the ARC readers, who are the Advanced Review Copy readers who critique the pre-published book. Brittany said of the ARC readers, “That has to be my favorite. When a reader gets in touch with me and gushes about how much they connected with or loved a character, it tells me I did my job right as an author. It’s all I want as an author - to put out a book readers in my genre will love and give them characters they can’t forget!”

As Brittany’s book publication journey unfolds, she wants to tell young people who are pursuing writing not to give up. “There’s going to be a lot of ‘no’s’ in writing and a lot of feeling like you might not be good enough, but keep writing, keep learning, keep honing your skills, and expanding your depth as a writer. If you can learn from your constructive critiques and take those negatives to grow yourself, that’s really the best thing you can do.”

Growing and capturing your life’s purpose as quickly as you can is summed up in one of Brittany’s favorite quotes from V.E. Schwab, “Blink, and the years fall away like leaves.” The seasons of life do pass quickly for us all, and we must remember to embrace them all. At present, Brittany can delight in the season of her first book, another leaf on her tree of life.

Written By:  Lynne Bohn

#7507]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-26.html Sun, 19 Dec 2021 12:56:44 +0000 My Northern Wisconsin]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-26.html
  Emily Nerison.jpg (Size: 62.55 KB / Downloads: 717)
Submitted photo.

Date Published:  April 19, 2020

Saturday, April 11, 2020 should have been race day for Emily Nerison. However, COVID-19 had other plans, canceling many events across the world, including the Milwaukee Half Marathon.

Since Emily is a Master Sergeant in the Wisconsin Army National Guard, WIARNG, she is a runner with Team Red, White, and Blue, also known as Team RWB, which is a team comprised of America's veterans.

Proving her shoes weren't made for just walking, Emily laced up on Saturday to compete in a virtual race, which was a change decided upon by the Milwaukee Half Marathon. Emily shared, "I chose to still run my race on the day it was to be run; it was just a different course. Doing a race with others is a different mindset than doing it by yourself. To help motivate me, I decided to run a good portion of this run in the Team RWB way by carrying the American flag. A part of me was also hoping it would bring some motivation and hope to others. While I was running, I received a lot of waves and honks. It was very inspiring."

In one hour, fifty-four minutes, and fifty-six seconds, 1:54:56, Emily completed her 13.10 miles. "I have a passion for running. I try to do a few races or events per year. It is also my goal every year to run at least 1,000 miles," Emily said.

Not only does she have a passion for running, but she also enjoys reading. When asked about her favorite book, Emily picked the Harry Potter series. "Those books are what really got me into reading. I love the world J.K. created. When reading them, you can feel like you are a part of that world."

Along with those hobbies, she has a full schedule. Emily is married to Kevin, and they have two children that she describes as "wonderful." She enjoys spending time with her family, making lasting memories with them. She said that her favorite memory as a child was camping on Madeline Island. "We used to go as a whole family and got to bring my cousins. We would spend all day on the beach and the nights by the campfire," Emily reminisced happily.

Emily is currently creating memories and raising her family in Phillips. As a Phillips High School graduate and RN at Flambeau Hospital, she has established a good life in Price County. "Price County is a beautiful place. It's a great place to move to because you can enjoy its beauty every day. There is also a lot to do for those who look for it. The school district in Phillips is really good, too. We have some amazing teachers," Emily stated, addressing her reasons why she thinks Price County is a great place to live.

She would, however, like to see some changes in the county. "I would like to see some growth and new life breathed into the county. It would be nice to see some updates to it."

As for Emily's future, in ten years she sees herself as the mother of two very active teenagers, working as an RN, and retired from the WIARNG. Most likely, she will still be running, as well.

Written By:  Lynne Bohn

#2539]]>
  Emily Nerison.jpg (Size: 62.55 KB / Downloads: 717)
Submitted photo.

Date Published:  April 19, 2020

Saturday, April 11, 2020 should have been race day for Emily Nerison. However, COVID-19 had other plans, canceling many events across the world, including the Milwaukee Half Marathon.

Since Emily is a Master Sergeant in the Wisconsin Army National Guard, WIARNG, she is a runner with Team Red, White, and Blue, also known as Team RWB, which is a team comprised of America's veterans.

Proving her shoes weren't made for just walking, Emily laced up on Saturday to compete in a virtual race, which was a change decided upon by the Milwaukee Half Marathon. Emily shared, "I chose to still run my race on the day it was to be run; it was just a different course. Doing a race with others is a different mindset than doing it by yourself. To help motivate me, I decided to run a good portion of this run in the Team RWB way by carrying the American flag. A part of me was also hoping it would bring some motivation and hope to others. While I was running, I received a lot of waves and honks. It was very inspiring."

In one hour, fifty-four minutes, and fifty-six seconds, 1:54:56, Emily completed her 13.10 miles. "I have a passion for running. I try to do a few races or events per year. It is also my goal every year to run at least 1,000 miles," Emily said.

Not only does she have a passion for running, but she also enjoys reading. When asked about her favorite book, Emily picked the Harry Potter series. "Those books are what really got me into reading. I love the world J.K. created. When reading them, you can feel like you are a part of that world."

Along with those hobbies, she has a full schedule. Emily is married to Kevin, and they have two children that she describes as "wonderful." She enjoys spending time with her family, making lasting memories with them. She said that her favorite memory as a child was camping on Madeline Island. "We used to go as a whole family and got to bring my cousins. We would spend all day on the beach and the nights by the campfire," Emily reminisced happily.

Emily is currently creating memories and raising her family in Phillips. As a Phillips High School graduate and RN at Flambeau Hospital, she has established a good life in Price County. "Price County is a beautiful place. It's a great place to move to because you can enjoy its beauty every day. There is also a lot to do for those who look for it. The school district in Phillips is really good, too. We have some amazing teachers," Emily stated, addressing her reasons why she thinks Price County is a great place to live.

She would, however, like to see some changes in the county. "I would like to see some growth and new life breathed into the county. It would be nice to see some updates to it."

As for Emily's future, in ten years she sees herself as the mother of two very active teenagers, working as an RN, and retired from the WIARNG. Most likely, she will still be running, as well.

Written By:  Lynne Bohn

#2539]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-25.html Sun, 19 Dec 2021 12:54:27 +0000 My Northern Wisconsin]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-25.html
  Melissa Bellovary.jpg (Size: 55.22 KB / Downloads: 788)
Submitted photo.

Date Published:  November 7, 2019

Melissa Bellovary graduated from Phillips High School, http://www.phillips.k12.wi.us, in 1986. She raised three sons with her husband, Wayne DeLeasky. Melissa went to nursing school and became an LPN, working in that field for the last eighteen years. She spent part of her time as a private duty vent nurse and also worked at a state prison for over eight years. Melissa and Wayne remained in Phillips until 2001 and then moved to Elk Mound, Wisconsin.

In 2019, Melissa decided to make a career shift after discovering a line of products that target people and pets with anxiety, pain, and inflammation. Those products are CBD, short for cannabidiol, which are derived from an industrial hemp plant. They are offered in a variety of forms, including topical creams, oils, water solubles, ingestible gummies, and beverages.

Melissa started using this line of products for her knee and foot pain and had awesome results in a short time. "Then I found I was sleeping so much better, also, and I wanted to share with others."

Encouraged by her experience, Melissa opened her first store in Eau Claire in March of this year and had a great response. Seeing her customers pleased with this line of products, Melissa was encouraged to open two more stores, one in Menomonie in September and one in Phillips on October 31st. This new businesswoman hopes to open two more stores in other locations in the state within the next twelve months.

Enjoying interacting with new customers and forming friendships with repeat customers, Melissa strives to answer any questions and has a good number of resources that can be browsed in her relaxing store setting, complete with a sofa and armchairs.

Melissa stated that some people are skeptical to try the products because they incorrectly worry it will result in a high. "That's the first thing they say: 'It's not going to make me goofy, is it?'" According to Melissa, there is no chance of getting a high with CBD products, which is why they are legal to sell in Wisconsin.

Pleased with the open mind and great welcome she has received from small town Phillips, Melissa is happy she made the choice to open a store in Price County where she has fond memories of growing up and raising her children.

Adding to her family, Melissa now has three grandsons, ages five and three years and nine months. She also has two dogs, four cats, and an African Grey parrot that she describes as "sassy."

Perhaps her parrot has become "sassy" given Melissa's favorite TV show is "The Office." "I love the sarcastic humor, and I have lived through working with each one of those characters [in my previous career]!"

Melissa enjoys travel, and in ten years she would like to travel all over the United States, seeing the unique qualities of each area first-hand. She would also like to travel to Ireland to see the castles, hillsides, and sheep. Her favorite vacation spot so far has been Arizona. "I really like Flagstaff. The state was beautiful, and I liked the mountains, longer growing seasons, and the dry heat."

Melissa said that if she could go back and tell something to her eighteen year old self it would be that, "Time is so precious and to cherish what you have since it can be gone before you expect."

An issue that Melissa is passionate about that she feels is at the forefront of our time is bullying children both in school and out. "We need to make it cool to be kind and treat others decent," Melissa shared. "We need to follow through with consequences for treating kids poorly."

Her advice for students in high school includes, "Go to college, if you are able, and/or work hard to do the best you can at whatever you do. Pick something you enjoy and you look forward to." She added, "Surround yourself with positive people that support and want the best for you, not people than keep you from reaching your career or personal goals."

Surrounding herself with positive people is exactly what Melissa feels she has done. "None of this would have been possible without the love and support of my husband. He has been behind me 110%, which makes all of this worth it."

To welcome Melissa to Phillips, stop by Your CBD Store Phillips at 126 North Lake Avenue from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. There will be a grand opening event on Friday and Saturday with snacks and drawings (to win bath bombs, gummies, and more!) throughout those days.

Written By:  Lynne Bohn

#2052]]>
  Melissa Bellovary.jpg (Size: 55.22 KB / Downloads: 788)
Submitted photo.

Date Published:  November 7, 2019

Melissa Bellovary graduated from Phillips High School, http://www.phillips.k12.wi.us, in 1986. She raised three sons with her husband, Wayne DeLeasky. Melissa went to nursing school and became an LPN, working in that field for the last eighteen years. She spent part of her time as a private duty vent nurse and also worked at a state prison for over eight years. Melissa and Wayne remained in Phillips until 2001 and then moved to Elk Mound, Wisconsin.

In 2019, Melissa decided to make a career shift after discovering a line of products that target people and pets with anxiety, pain, and inflammation. Those products are CBD, short for cannabidiol, which are derived from an industrial hemp plant. They are offered in a variety of forms, including topical creams, oils, water solubles, ingestible gummies, and beverages.

Melissa started using this line of products for her knee and foot pain and had awesome results in a short time. "Then I found I was sleeping so much better, also, and I wanted to share with others."

Encouraged by her experience, Melissa opened her first store in Eau Claire in March of this year and had a great response. Seeing her customers pleased with this line of products, Melissa was encouraged to open two more stores, one in Menomonie in September and one in Phillips on October 31st. This new businesswoman hopes to open two more stores in other locations in the state within the next twelve months.

Enjoying interacting with new customers and forming friendships with repeat customers, Melissa strives to answer any questions and has a good number of resources that can be browsed in her relaxing store setting, complete with a sofa and armchairs.

Melissa stated that some people are skeptical to try the products because they incorrectly worry it will result in a high. "That's the first thing they say: 'It's not going to make me goofy, is it?'" According to Melissa, there is no chance of getting a high with CBD products, which is why they are legal to sell in Wisconsin.

Pleased with the open mind and great welcome she has received from small town Phillips, Melissa is happy she made the choice to open a store in Price County where she has fond memories of growing up and raising her children.

Adding to her family, Melissa now has three grandsons, ages five and three years and nine months. She also has two dogs, four cats, and an African Grey parrot that she describes as "sassy."

Perhaps her parrot has become "sassy" given Melissa's favorite TV show is "The Office." "I love the sarcastic humor, and I have lived through working with each one of those characters [in my previous career]!"

Melissa enjoys travel, and in ten years she would like to travel all over the United States, seeing the unique qualities of each area first-hand. She would also like to travel to Ireland to see the castles, hillsides, and sheep. Her favorite vacation spot so far has been Arizona. "I really like Flagstaff. The state was beautiful, and I liked the mountains, longer growing seasons, and the dry heat."

Melissa said that if she could go back and tell something to her eighteen year old self it would be that, "Time is so precious and to cherish what you have since it can be gone before you expect."

An issue that Melissa is passionate about that she feels is at the forefront of our time is bullying children both in school and out. "We need to make it cool to be kind and treat others decent," Melissa shared. "We need to follow through with consequences for treating kids poorly."

Her advice for students in high school includes, "Go to college, if you are able, and/or work hard to do the best you can at whatever you do. Pick something you enjoy and you look forward to." She added, "Surround yourself with positive people that support and want the best for you, not people than keep you from reaching your career or personal goals."

Surrounding herself with positive people is exactly what Melissa feels she has done. "None of this would have been possible without the love and support of my husband. He has been behind me 110%, which makes all of this worth it."

To welcome Melissa to Phillips, stop by Your CBD Store Phillips at 126 North Lake Avenue from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. There will be a grand opening event on Friday and Saturday with snacks and drawings (to win bath bombs, gummies, and more!) throughout those days.

Written By:  Lynne Bohn

#2052]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-24.html Sun, 19 Dec 2021 12:52:43 +0000 My Northern Wisconsin]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-24.html
  drljaca.jpg (Size: 23.14 KB / Downloads: 791)
Submitted photo.

Date Published:  January 9, 2019

Phillips High Alumnus Gives Back to the Community

“You can truly achieve anything you want in this life if you are willing to work for it,” was the advice given to Justin Drljaca, a 1996 Phillips High graduate, by his grandfather.  He feels that was the best piece of advice he has received, which has followed him throughout his life.

Justin moved to Phillips from Houston, Texas just prior to his freshman year of high school.  “Attending PHS was a major change from what I was used to.  The smaller class sizes and personal attention that was available helped me grow as a student.  The teachers showed a genuine interest in our growth.  I don't know if I would be where I am at today if it weren't for my mother’s decision to move to Phillips.  It is truly a special place,” Justin shared.

While in high school, Justin was involved in football, basketball, golf, soccer, and track.  After graduation, he attended the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, graduating with a degree in biology.  For the next ten plus years, he had a career in the finance field.  “I got into this career for the money and was good at it, but it also was a roller coaster financially.  During the recession, I ended up losing everything, including my business.  In 2013 I made the decision to pursue a new career path.  I spent the next nine months living off of savings while looking for the right opportunity.  In 2014, I landed a career in manufacturing automation.  I am a sales engineer for Barry Wehmiller Integrated Systems, and I absolutely love my career.  It is very mentally stimulating and allows me to see how everything we consume is made.  I travel the country working with engineers (from food, beverage, and household personal care manufacturers) on automating their production lines.  My company actually has ties to Phillips as they own Marquip (BW Papersystems, http://www.bwpapersystems.com).”

As for Justin’s personal life, he married Brook in January 2018 in Key West, Florida.  “My beautiful wife is my biggest supporter and fan.  I do not know where I would be without her.”  He said they are in the process of purchasing a home on the gulf in Florida and becoming snowbirds like his grandparents.  “Growing up on Soo Lake instilled a passion for fishing in me that still exists today.  Although my career has reduced the time I am able to spend on it, I still fish bass tournaments from time to time throughout the country.  Last summer I took 9th place out of 180 competitors in the FLW Tour on Lake St. Clair in Michigan.”  Justin also enjoys classic cars.  He said, “My father-in-law is an avid collector of classic cars and that bug has now bitten me, as well.  I am the proud owner of two numbers matching Pontiac GTOs, a 1965 and a 1969 convertible.  I spend my free time either fishing, going to car shows, or traveling with my wife.”

To obtain personal and professional success, Justin would advise young people to find a career they like that is also financially fulfilling.  He advised, “Find a career that interests you, but don't be afraid to think ahead and find something that will allow you to reach your financial goals.  There are careers out there that provide both.  As soon as you join the workforce, speak with a financial planner and start saving for your future.  If you start early, you can be retired at a very young age.”

In order to give back to the community that gave him his footing, and to help young people in the Phillips area meet their full potential, Justin has started an annual $2,500 scholarship.  A qualifying member of each graduating class, who is pursing a post high school degree in either automation or a trade, such as lineman, electrician, HVAC, plumbing, etc., will receive this scholarship.

Justin feels strongly about the success a person can have in automation or a trade, and he will also mentor the scholarship recipient.  According to him, “Automation is a fantastic career path for those that choose to pursue it.  It has been a blessing for me and my family.  I am still close with many friends from PHS, of which numerous went into the trades.  Automation, as well as the trades, are continuously seeking talent and provide a great opportunity for growth and income stability.  My goal with this scholarship is to not only help someone pursue their dreams but to help guide them in a career choice that will lead to prosperity.  I will personally make myself available to each recipient for advice and mentoring.”

Interested students will need to fill out the application, submit a 750 word or less essay regarding the chose career path and life goals, plus provide academic information such as ACT results and transcripts.  However, GPA will not discredit someone from receiving this scholarship.  For more details, the application can be obtained in the guidance office at the Phillips High School or you can click on the link, Drljaca Scholarship.pdf, provided to the left of this article.

If anyone is interested in donating to the scholarship fund, checks or money orders can be made payable to Phillips High School c/o The Justin Drljaca Automation and Trade Scholarship.  Money can be sent to 990 Flambeau Avenue, Phillips, WI 54555.  The school will mail any donor a receipt for tax purposes.

Written By:  Lynne Bohn

#2321]]>
  drljaca.jpg (Size: 23.14 KB / Downloads: 791)
Submitted photo.

Date Published:  January 9, 2019

Phillips High Alumnus Gives Back to the Community

“You can truly achieve anything you want in this life if you are willing to work for it,” was the advice given to Justin Drljaca, a 1996 Phillips High graduate, by his grandfather.  He feels that was the best piece of advice he has received, which has followed him throughout his life.

Justin moved to Phillips from Houston, Texas just prior to his freshman year of high school.  “Attending PHS was a major change from what I was used to.  The smaller class sizes and personal attention that was available helped me grow as a student.  The teachers showed a genuine interest in our growth.  I don't know if I would be where I am at today if it weren't for my mother’s decision to move to Phillips.  It is truly a special place,” Justin shared.

While in high school, Justin was involved in football, basketball, golf, soccer, and track.  After graduation, he attended the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, graduating with a degree in biology.  For the next ten plus years, he had a career in the finance field.  “I got into this career for the money and was good at it, but it also was a roller coaster financially.  During the recession, I ended up losing everything, including my business.  In 2013 I made the decision to pursue a new career path.  I spent the next nine months living off of savings while looking for the right opportunity.  In 2014, I landed a career in manufacturing automation.  I am a sales engineer for Barry Wehmiller Integrated Systems, and I absolutely love my career.  It is very mentally stimulating and allows me to see how everything we consume is made.  I travel the country working with engineers (from food, beverage, and household personal care manufacturers) on automating their production lines.  My company actually has ties to Phillips as they own Marquip (BW Papersystems, http://www.bwpapersystems.com).”

As for Justin’s personal life, he married Brook in January 2018 in Key West, Florida.  “My beautiful wife is my biggest supporter and fan.  I do not know where I would be without her.”  He said they are in the process of purchasing a home on the gulf in Florida and becoming snowbirds like his grandparents.  “Growing up on Soo Lake instilled a passion for fishing in me that still exists today.  Although my career has reduced the time I am able to spend on it, I still fish bass tournaments from time to time throughout the country.  Last summer I took 9th place out of 180 competitors in the FLW Tour on Lake St. Clair in Michigan.”  Justin also enjoys classic cars.  He said, “My father-in-law is an avid collector of classic cars and that bug has now bitten me, as well.  I am the proud owner of two numbers matching Pontiac GTOs, a 1965 and a 1969 convertible.  I spend my free time either fishing, going to car shows, or traveling with my wife.”

To obtain personal and professional success, Justin would advise young people to find a career they like that is also financially fulfilling.  He advised, “Find a career that interests you, but don't be afraid to think ahead and find something that will allow you to reach your financial goals.  There are careers out there that provide both.  As soon as you join the workforce, speak with a financial planner and start saving for your future.  If you start early, you can be retired at a very young age.”

In order to give back to the community that gave him his footing, and to help young people in the Phillips area meet their full potential, Justin has started an annual $2,500 scholarship.  A qualifying member of each graduating class, who is pursing a post high school degree in either automation or a trade, such as lineman, electrician, HVAC, plumbing, etc., will receive this scholarship.

Justin feels strongly about the success a person can have in automation or a trade, and he will also mentor the scholarship recipient.  According to him, “Automation is a fantastic career path for those that choose to pursue it.  It has been a blessing for me and my family.  I am still close with many friends from PHS, of which numerous went into the trades.  Automation, as well as the trades, are continuously seeking talent and provide a great opportunity for growth and income stability.  My goal with this scholarship is to not only help someone pursue their dreams but to help guide them in a career choice that will lead to prosperity.  I will personally make myself available to each recipient for advice and mentoring.”

Interested students will need to fill out the application, submit a 750 word or less essay regarding the chose career path and life goals, plus provide academic information such as ACT results and transcripts.  However, GPA will not discredit someone from receiving this scholarship.  For more details, the application can be obtained in the guidance office at the Phillips High School or you can click on the link, Drljaca Scholarship.pdf, provided to the left of this article.

If anyone is interested in donating to the scholarship fund, checks or money orders can be made payable to Phillips High School c/o The Justin Drljaca Automation and Trade Scholarship.  Money can be sent to 990 Flambeau Avenue, Phillips, WI 54555.  The school will mail any donor a receipt for tax purposes.

Written By:  Lynne Bohn

#2321]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-23.html Sun, 19 Dec 2021 12:50:32 +0000 My Northern Wisconsin]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-23.html
  Englund2.jpg (Size: 70.54 KB / Downloads: 879)
Submitted photo.

Date Published:  December 5, 2019

Josh Englund grew up in Prentice. If there were two things he wished he knew at age 18, it would be to have patience and work hard. "We live in a world where expectations are for things to happen fast. We have fast-food, same-day delivery, and instant everything. There has always been the saying, "Good things come to those who wait." This is true, but the other part of that is you need to work hard for the good things. This is where the saying, "Too good to be true" comes in. If it came easy, quickly, or without effort, it is probably not going to last or it is too good to be true. Work hard, earn it, and appreciate it because at any time it can be gone."

Josh started on his path to working hard by moving to Milwaukee upon graduating from high school. He attended college, receiving an associate's degree in criminal justice, and he feels he gained a wealth of life experience which helped pave the path for his future. In 2014, he decided to move back to Price County to pursue a career in law enforcement working with both the Phillips and Park Falls Police Departments. He eventually decided to make his home in Park Falls with his fiance, Rachel, and their two rescue dogs. He is a few months away from receiving his bachelor's degree in health care administration.

"Through my part-time work with the Park Falls Police Department and working in a security role at Flambeau Hospital, I was exposed to the health care field. It was at this time I applied for my current job and started a new career at Flambeau Hospital in January of 2017," Josh explained.

Along with growing professionally during that time frame, Josh was also growing in personal experiences. He recalls two of his favorite vacations. The first special vacation memory occurred in 2016 when his niece completed her K9 handler training with the Air Force in San Antonio, Texas. "I was able to fly down and attend her graduation. After her graduation, she had to drive back to her base in California. We spent the next couple of days driving across the southern part of the country visiting friends and family. Having that one-on-one time with my niece was something special," Josh shared.

His second favorite vacation happened when he took his fiance on her first surprise airplane ride! For Rachel's birthday, Josh took her and her best friend to visit California and Nevada. "I did not tell her where we were going until we arrived at the airport. She thought we were just going to Madison to visit her best friend. It wasn't until her friend grabbed her luggage and we started driving towards Minneapolis that my fiance realized there was more to the vacation," Josh shared, also stating that the fun moments they experienced and giving Rachel a surprise are the things that made it most special.

Josh seems to enjoy giving to others. "I have always had the need to want to help people. I think that is what steered me towards law enforcement. Being able to help others in their time of need has given me a sense of purpose in life. I have also worked with the Prentice Ambulance Service as an ambulance driver, worked with Catkins Animal Rescue organizing fundraisers and helping out around the shelter when needed, and volunteered my time coaching hockey with Price Ice Hockey. I enjoy helping others and seeing how happy people are when they receive the help they need. We live in an area with a high elderly population, many of who do not have the help they need. I have always been proud to help where I can."

Those facts are likely why Josh says that if he could have any super power, he would choose the power to heal. "We live in a world where there are many people who become sick, have a disease, or become injured. I would love to have the ability to change those people's lives by giving them the gift of health. Each and every one of us should not have to deal with the struggles that an illness or injury can bring along with it."

Josh knows, first hand, about dealing with injuries. In November of 2017, Josh's life took an unexpected turn when he and Rachel were involved in a terrible, head-on car accident. The accident was presumably caused by a drunk driver, though that person's court case is still pending.

Rachel sustained minor injuries. Josh is thankful she was not injured worse. As for Josh, he admits he is lucky to be alive, but he is not so lucky in that he has to deal with the physical, emotional, and financial pains and stresses, even two years later.

"To date, I have had eight surgeries and expect to have at least four more over the next two years. My injuries included a compound fracture of my left femur, a complete dislocation of my left ankle that resulted in a broken tibia and talus bone in my foot, my pelvis had hairline fractures in the front and a large fracture in the back that required surgery to repair, my ribs separated from my sternum, a torn bicep tendon in my left arm, and countless other cuts and bruises. To top things off, as a result of the ankle injury, I had skin that was damaged and turned necrotic. The necrotic tissue then got infected; the infection got into the tibia and talus bone. Since beating off the infection, I have had to have the talus bone removed and part of my tibia cut off because the infection had gotten into the bone. I then required an ankle fusion surgery, and, for the past year, I have had an external fixator device on my leg. My left leg is now two and a half inches shorter than my right. I am estimating that I will have another two years of healing and rehab before I can even walk again."

Josh is not physically able to work as a police officer at this time. He has been able to return to his job at the hospital on a 66% part-time basis. However, work is often difficult because Josh cannot walk on his own. At this time, he has to use crutches or a knee scooter to be ambulatory. He also has to rely on others to do tasks around his home that he would have been able to complete himself in the past. Facing these realities has been a challenge.

Josh spoke candidly about that challenge. "I have always tried to have a positive attitude throughout all of this, because I am just so lucky to be alive. Unfortunately, dealing with injuries, physical limitations, and finances can take its toll on a person. I have always thought to myself that I didn't need any help and I could do it on my own, which is probably why I never wanted or let anyone fundraise for me before this, or that there were others that needed the help more than me. I admit, I was wrong. I have really taken a financial hit as a result of this accident."

Infusing a bit of humor into the heaviness of his ordeal, Josh shared a line he once heard, which is a police joke. "I live with fear and danger every day, but occasionally I leave her to go and catch the bad guy," Josh joked. Fortunately for Rachel, that is just a joke, because he feels Rachel is his guiding light. "Relationships can be tough after a traumatic event such as the car crash we were involved in, but she has been there for me through all the bad days, surgeries, and emotional ups and downs. I cannot thank her enough for all that she has done and for being such an amazing human being who helps me during my long recovery. I couldn't do this without her," Josh shared with heartfelt gratitude.

He has also taken away much life insight from the accident, which he feels is the event that made the biggest impression on his life. "There was a lot of bad that came from it," Josh said, "but there was some good, too. I now have a new appreciation for the lives we are given. At any point, our life can be taken away. We are fragile creatures and sometimes we forget how precious life is. We think to ourselves that nothing bad will happen to us or our family and in a blink of an eye, everything changes. We should always remember to be grateful, live life to the fullest, and make a positive impression on those around you and in your community. We get one chance at this thing called life. You may not be remembered forever, but you will be remembered by those that you interact with for the rest of their lives." To sum up his feelings, Josh said he does live his life by The Golden Rule. "Treat people the way you would like to be treated."

"I look forward to finally recovering from my accident, returning to my jobs, and being a positive role model in my community," Josh expressed. "This accident has completely changed my life, but I won't let it define me. I will have more medical issues as I get older, but I will come back better and stronger than before to help limit those long-term issues. Thank you, and God bless!"


  Englund1.jpg (Size: 47.07 KB / Downloads: 865)


  EnglundCar.jpeg (Size: 59.23 KB / Downloads: 810)
Submitted photos.

Written By:  Lynne Bohn

#2911]]>
  Englund2.jpg (Size: 70.54 KB / Downloads: 879)
Submitted photo.

Date Published:  December 5, 2019

Josh Englund grew up in Prentice. If there were two things he wished he knew at age 18, it would be to have patience and work hard. "We live in a world where expectations are for things to happen fast. We have fast-food, same-day delivery, and instant everything. There has always been the saying, "Good things come to those who wait." This is true, but the other part of that is you need to work hard for the good things. This is where the saying, "Too good to be true" comes in. If it came easy, quickly, or without effort, it is probably not going to last or it is too good to be true. Work hard, earn it, and appreciate it because at any time it can be gone."

Josh started on his path to working hard by moving to Milwaukee upon graduating from high school. He attended college, receiving an associate's degree in criminal justice, and he feels he gained a wealth of life experience which helped pave the path for his future. In 2014, he decided to move back to Price County to pursue a career in law enforcement working with both the Phillips and Park Falls Police Departments. He eventually decided to make his home in Park Falls with his fiance, Rachel, and their two rescue dogs. He is a few months away from receiving his bachelor's degree in health care administration.

"Through my part-time work with the Park Falls Police Department and working in a security role at Flambeau Hospital, I was exposed to the health care field. It was at this time I applied for my current job and started a new career at Flambeau Hospital in January of 2017," Josh explained.

Along with growing professionally during that time frame, Josh was also growing in personal experiences. He recalls two of his favorite vacations. The first special vacation memory occurred in 2016 when his niece completed her K9 handler training with the Air Force in San Antonio, Texas. "I was able to fly down and attend her graduation. After her graduation, she had to drive back to her base in California. We spent the next couple of days driving across the southern part of the country visiting friends and family. Having that one-on-one time with my niece was something special," Josh shared.

His second favorite vacation happened when he took his fiance on her first surprise airplane ride! For Rachel's birthday, Josh took her and her best friend to visit California and Nevada. "I did not tell her where we were going until we arrived at the airport. She thought we were just going to Madison to visit her best friend. It wasn't until her friend grabbed her luggage and we started driving towards Minneapolis that my fiance realized there was more to the vacation," Josh shared, also stating that the fun moments they experienced and giving Rachel a surprise are the things that made it most special.

Josh seems to enjoy giving to others. "I have always had the need to want to help people. I think that is what steered me towards law enforcement. Being able to help others in their time of need has given me a sense of purpose in life. I have also worked with the Prentice Ambulance Service as an ambulance driver, worked with Catkins Animal Rescue organizing fundraisers and helping out around the shelter when needed, and volunteered my time coaching hockey with Price Ice Hockey. I enjoy helping others and seeing how happy people are when they receive the help they need. We live in an area with a high elderly population, many of who do not have the help they need. I have always been proud to help where I can."

Those facts are likely why Josh says that if he could have any super power, he would choose the power to heal. "We live in a world where there are many people who become sick, have a disease, or become injured. I would love to have the ability to change those people's lives by giving them the gift of health. Each and every one of us should not have to deal with the struggles that an illness or injury can bring along with it."

Josh knows, first hand, about dealing with injuries. In November of 2017, Josh's life took an unexpected turn when he and Rachel were involved in a terrible, head-on car accident. The accident was presumably caused by a drunk driver, though that person's court case is still pending.

Rachel sustained minor injuries. Josh is thankful she was not injured worse. As for Josh, he admits he is lucky to be alive, but he is not so lucky in that he has to deal with the physical, emotional, and financial pains and stresses, even two years later.

"To date, I have had eight surgeries and expect to have at least four more over the next two years. My injuries included a compound fracture of my left femur, a complete dislocation of my left ankle that resulted in a broken tibia and talus bone in my foot, my pelvis had hairline fractures in the front and a large fracture in the back that required surgery to repair, my ribs separated from my sternum, a torn bicep tendon in my left arm, and countless other cuts and bruises. To top things off, as a result of the ankle injury, I had skin that was damaged and turned necrotic. The necrotic tissue then got infected; the infection got into the tibia and talus bone. Since beating off the infection, I have had to have the talus bone removed and part of my tibia cut off because the infection had gotten into the bone. I then required an ankle fusion surgery, and, for the past year, I have had an external fixator device on my leg. My left leg is now two and a half inches shorter than my right. I am estimating that I will have another two years of healing and rehab before I can even walk again."

Josh is not physically able to work as a police officer at this time. He has been able to return to his job at the hospital on a 66% part-time basis. However, work is often difficult because Josh cannot walk on his own. At this time, he has to use crutches or a knee scooter to be ambulatory. He also has to rely on others to do tasks around his home that he would have been able to complete himself in the past. Facing these realities has been a challenge.

Josh spoke candidly about that challenge. "I have always tried to have a positive attitude throughout all of this, because I am just so lucky to be alive. Unfortunately, dealing with injuries, physical limitations, and finances can take its toll on a person. I have always thought to myself that I didn't need any help and I could do it on my own, which is probably why I never wanted or let anyone fundraise for me before this, or that there were others that needed the help more than me. I admit, I was wrong. I have really taken a financial hit as a result of this accident."

Infusing a bit of humor into the heaviness of his ordeal, Josh shared a line he once heard, which is a police joke. "I live with fear and danger every day, but occasionally I leave her to go and catch the bad guy," Josh joked. Fortunately for Rachel, that is just a joke, because he feels Rachel is his guiding light. "Relationships can be tough after a traumatic event such as the car crash we were involved in, but she has been there for me through all the bad days, surgeries, and emotional ups and downs. I cannot thank her enough for all that she has done and for being such an amazing human being who helps me during my long recovery. I couldn't do this without her," Josh shared with heartfelt gratitude.

He has also taken away much life insight from the accident, which he feels is the event that made the biggest impression on his life. "There was a lot of bad that came from it," Josh said, "but there was some good, too. I now have a new appreciation for the lives we are given. At any point, our life can be taken away. We are fragile creatures and sometimes we forget how precious life is. We think to ourselves that nothing bad will happen to us or our family and in a blink of an eye, everything changes. We should always remember to be grateful, live life to the fullest, and make a positive impression on those around you and in your community. We get one chance at this thing called life. You may not be remembered forever, but you will be remembered by those that you interact with for the rest of their lives." To sum up his feelings, Josh said he does live his life by The Golden Rule. "Treat people the way you would like to be treated."

"I look forward to finally recovering from my accident, returning to my jobs, and being a positive role model in my community," Josh expressed. "This accident has completely changed my life, but I won't let it define me. I will have more medical issues as I get older, but I will come back better and stronger than before to help limit those long-term issues. Thank you, and God bless!"


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  EnglundCar.jpeg (Size: 59.23 KB / Downloads: 810)
Submitted photos.

Written By:  Lynne Bohn

#2911]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-22.html Sun, 19 Dec 2021 12:46:05 +0000 My Northern Wisconsin]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-22.html
  GaryEdinger.jpg (Size: 25.61 KB / Downloads: 911)
Submitted Photo.

Date Published:  November 20, 2019

"Great Grandpa and Grandma Edinger came from Iowa in a covered wagon and were the first white people to live in this immediate area," Gary Edinger shared of his family's settlement in Price County. Born in 1951 to Jess and Albina (nee France), he was number six of eight children. "I went to a one room school, Meadow Creek, through the first four years, then Kennan Elementary, and graduated from Phillips High School in 1969." For the last 42 years he has been married to Leanne (nee Hill). They currently live on the North Fork of the Jump River on land that has been in the family since 1903. They raised their two children, Garrett and Aubrey, on the homestead. They now have one grandson, James.

As a child, Gary thought he would be a professional baseball player, but he says the fact he could not hit a curve ball halted that dream. Instead, Gary became a logger and has been self-employed since 1986. He made his logging career known to most of the community when he got in a terrible logging accident in 2007, which cost him part of his leg. "My leg was sheared off in a bad logging accident and I somehow managed to survive." The overwhelming kindness of everyone after he lost his leg is what stands out to Gary. "That includes family, friends, community and complete strangers. If I tried to list them all I would certainly leave someone out and that wouldn't be right. It's one of the finest things about living here. When a neighbor is in a bind, people will help you."

However, if you thought that was the most interesting thing about Gary Edinger's life, you would be mistaken. He has led a full one and has done, as he puts it, "all sorts of interesting things." "I raced sled dogs for 19 years, and after Leanne joined me, rose to the professional level and won a Worlds Championship in 1987. I was a commercial salmon fisherman with a fishwheel on the Yukon River in Alaska for 3 summers. I've been a log cabin builder, an elk hunting guide, and a mule packer out in the mountains of Montana and Idaho."

Using the logging accident as the "hook," Gary wrote a book about his life, which was published in 2010. There is a YouTube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79sVMMesYxk&t=3s which explores Gary's life a bit more. "Despite my fake leg, I'm still logging, hunting, and packing mules out west." Nothing slows Gary down, and he feels the younger generations should heed his advice on that. "Live life, don't just breath air and take up space. Like John Steinbeck said, don't trade quality of life for quantity of years."

In ten years, Gary wants to find himself "Still above ground and not in a nursing home!" However, if he had the chance to live in another time, he knows exactly when it would have been. "I would have liked to live in early 1700's in upper New York and Pennsylvania, in the period James Fennimore Cooper wrote about in his book The Deerslayer & Last of the Mohicans."

Given this was the time period Gary was destined to live in, though, he has made his mark and contributed to the community in many ways. "I coached Little League and Girls Softball, served on the Price County Fair Board, served on the County's Smart Growth Committee, was president of Price County Waterways Association, co-founder of Friends of the Jump River, served on the Citizens Advisory Committee to the DNR for Water Quality for Logging, worked hard to save the Kennan School (but lost that one), took fifth graders to the stream every spring to teach them about stream health for 21 years, talked to the Phillips Outdoor Education classes every spring for 15 years, and taught and called square dancing, although that last one can hardly be called a contribution because it is so much fun!" Gary remarked.

The one contribution Gary would love to make, if he could choose a super power, would be the power to heal, especially the diseases he called "wicked," like cancer and Alzheimer's. "Those diseases are so unfair."

With fairness and goodness being important to Gary, his favorite holiday is Christmas. The "favorite" things he might like to find around his Christmas tree are rifles, traps, canoes, horses and mules."

Just like a true outdoorsman, he made up his own favorite quote while pulling his pack string in the Frank Church Wilderness in Idaho as he started wondering how many people were doing what he was doing and what they were thinking. His thoughts at that time were, "When you are in the back country by yourself, you are not alone, I am there with you. I know why you are there, what you are thinking, what you are feeling. When you wake in the morning, I too hear the stream just outside the tent. Just before you fall asleep at night, I too hear the last feeble pop of the fire, before it lays down. The only thing I do not know is what you dream. I hope you go to the wild places every chance you get, so I can be there too!"

Written By:  Lynne Bohn

#3105]]>
  GaryEdinger.jpg (Size: 25.61 KB / Downloads: 911)
Submitted Photo.

Date Published:  November 20, 2019

"Great Grandpa and Grandma Edinger came from Iowa in a covered wagon and were the first white people to live in this immediate area," Gary Edinger shared of his family's settlement in Price County. Born in 1951 to Jess and Albina (nee France), he was number six of eight children. "I went to a one room school, Meadow Creek, through the first four years, then Kennan Elementary, and graduated from Phillips High School in 1969." For the last 42 years he has been married to Leanne (nee Hill). They currently live on the North Fork of the Jump River on land that has been in the family since 1903. They raised their two children, Garrett and Aubrey, on the homestead. They now have one grandson, James.

As a child, Gary thought he would be a professional baseball player, but he says the fact he could not hit a curve ball halted that dream. Instead, Gary became a logger and has been self-employed since 1986. He made his logging career known to most of the community when he got in a terrible logging accident in 2007, which cost him part of his leg. "My leg was sheared off in a bad logging accident and I somehow managed to survive." The overwhelming kindness of everyone after he lost his leg is what stands out to Gary. "That includes family, friends, community and complete strangers. If I tried to list them all I would certainly leave someone out and that wouldn't be right. It's one of the finest things about living here. When a neighbor is in a bind, people will help you."

However, if you thought that was the most interesting thing about Gary Edinger's life, you would be mistaken. He has led a full one and has done, as he puts it, "all sorts of interesting things." "I raced sled dogs for 19 years, and after Leanne joined me, rose to the professional level and won a Worlds Championship in 1987. I was a commercial salmon fisherman with a fishwheel on the Yukon River in Alaska for 3 summers. I've been a log cabin builder, an elk hunting guide, and a mule packer out in the mountains of Montana and Idaho."

Using the logging accident as the "hook," Gary wrote a book about his life, which was published in 2010. There is a YouTube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79sVMMesYxk&t=3s which explores Gary's life a bit more. "Despite my fake leg, I'm still logging, hunting, and packing mules out west." Nothing slows Gary down, and he feels the younger generations should heed his advice on that. "Live life, don't just breath air and take up space. Like John Steinbeck said, don't trade quality of life for quantity of years."

In ten years, Gary wants to find himself "Still above ground and not in a nursing home!" However, if he had the chance to live in another time, he knows exactly when it would have been. "I would have liked to live in early 1700's in upper New York and Pennsylvania, in the period James Fennimore Cooper wrote about in his book The Deerslayer & Last of the Mohicans."

Given this was the time period Gary was destined to live in, though, he has made his mark and contributed to the community in many ways. "I coached Little League and Girls Softball, served on the Price County Fair Board, served on the County's Smart Growth Committee, was president of Price County Waterways Association, co-founder of Friends of the Jump River, served on the Citizens Advisory Committee to the DNR for Water Quality for Logging, worked hard to save the Kennan School (but lost that one), took fifth graders to the stream every spring to teach them about stream health for 21 years, talked to the Phillips Outdoor Education classes every spring for 15 years, and taught and called square dancing, although that last one can hardly be called a contribution because it is so much fun!" Gary remarked.

The one contribution Gary would love to make, if he could choose a super power, would be the power to heal, especially the diseases he called "wicked," like cancer and Alzheimer's. "Those diseases are so unfair."

With fairness and goodness being important to Gary, his favorite holiday is Christmas. The "favorite" things he might like to find around his Christmas tree are rifles, traps, canoes, horses and mules."

Just like a true outdoorsman, he made up his own favorite quote while pulling his pack string in the Frank Church Wilderness in Idaho as he started wondering how many people were doing what he was doing and what they were thinking. His thoughts at that time were, "When you are in the back country by yourself, you are not alone, I am there with you. I know why you are there, what you are thinking, what you are feeling. When you wake in the morning, I too hear the stream just outside the tent. Just before you fall asleep at night, I too hear the last feeble pop of the fire, before it lays down. The only thing I do not know is what you dream. I hope you go to the wild places every chance you get, so I can be there too!"

Written By:  Lynne Bohn

#3105]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-21.html Sun, 19 Dec 2021 12:44:04 +0000 My Northern Wisconsin]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-21.html
  Kempkes.jpg (Size: 62.67 KB / Downloads: 904)
Submitted photo of Ted and Becky Kempkes shortly after they opened Long Lake North

Date Published:  May 22, 2019

Ted Kempkes moved to Phillips in the Summer of 1970 with his wife, Helen, and their infant son, Tim. The Kempkes family decided to make Phillips their home so that Ted could partner with his father, Robert, owning and operating the newspaper in Phillips. "After my dad returned to his career in education, Helen and I continued to own and operate THE-BEE," Ted said. They added the local shopper's guide and later purchased the Park Falls Herald. Ted is very proud of the job his staff did in providing local news of Price County and its various communities. The business was sold in 1998.

Ted and Helen raised three children, Tim, Jeff, and Sarah, who all graduated from Phillips High School. Following a two-year long illness, Helen passed on the year following Sarah's graduation from high school.

"Awhile after Helen's death, I met and married Becky, who shares my life to this day," Ted noted. This union added Becky's two children, Shawn and Jay, to the family. Together, Becky and Ted have taken on a number of activities, including owning Long Lake North, https://www.LongLakeNorth.com, a resort and residential property they built on Long Lake in Phillips.

"Phillips has been a great home for my family. When first arriving in Phillips, there was a billboard on the south side of town that read, "Welcome to Phillips, the Friendliest Little City in Wisconsin." Through the years, our friends, acquaintances, and associations proved that phrase completely true," Ted said. He added that the opportunity to travel while living in Phillips has emphasized his family's realization that Price County is, indeed, home. "There's nowhere we'd rather live," Ted stated.

Ted feels many associations in the area have made his time here gratifying. While active in civic and local government, he views serving on the board of Northcentral Technical College, and the final two years of his term serving as chairman of that board, especially rewarding.

"Over the years, I've learned that it is far more important to work for what you love than to fight what you hate. That's something I think of every day, along with how much family means to me," he said.

It is evident that family does mean a great deal to Ted. "What matters most to me, in spite of business and professional success, is being a husband and a dad. Helen and I raised three great children and, after I met Becky, the family grew to five children, their husbands and wives, and now ten grandchildren." Ted said that being a dad and grandpa is simply life-fulfilling.  I could not be happier living in Phillips and enjoying our family."


  adlln.jpg (Size: 265.33 KB / Downloads: 903)

Written By:  Lynne Bohn for My Price County

#1813]]>
  Kempkes.jpg (Size: 62.67 KB / Downloads: 904)
Submitted photo of Ted and Becky Kempkes shortly after they opened Long Lake North

Date Published:  May 22, 2019

Ted Kempkes moved to Phillips in the Summer of 1970 with his wife, Helen, and their infant son, Tim. The Kempkes family decided to make Phillips their home so that Ted could partner with his father, Robert, owning and operating the newspaper in Phillips. "After my dad returned to his career in education, Helen and I continued to own and operate THE-BEE," Ted said. They added the local shopper's guide and later purchased the Park Falls Herald. Ted is very proud of the job his staff did in providing local news of Price County and its various communities. The business was sold in 1998.

Ted and Helen raised three children, Tim, Jeff, and Sarah, who all graduated from Phillips High School. Following a two-year long illness, Helen passed on the year following Sarah's graduation from high school.

"Awhile after Helen's death, I met and married Becky, who shares my life to this day," Ted noted. This union added Becky's two children, Shawn and Jay, to the family. Together, Becky and Ted have taken on a number of activities, including owning Long Lake North, https://www.LongLakeNorth.com, a resort and residential property they built on Long Lake in Phillips.

"Phillips has been a great home for my family. When first arriving in Phillips, there was a billboard on the south side of town that read, "Welcome to Phillips, the Friendliest Little City in Wisconsin." Through the years, our friends, acquaintances, and associations proved that phrase completely true," Ted said. He added that the opportunity to travel while living in Phillips has emphasized his family's realization that Price County is, indeed, home. "There's nowhere we'd rather live," Ted stated.

Ted feels many associations in the area have made his time here gratifying. While active in civic and local government, he views serving on the board of Northcentral Technical College, and the final two years of his term serving as chairman of that board, especially rewarding.

"Over the years, I've learned that it is far more important to work for what you love than to fight what you hate. That's something I think of every day, along with how much family means to me," he said.

It is evident that family does mean a great deal to Ted. "What matters most to me, in spite of business and professional success, is being a husband and a dad. Helen and I raised three great children and, after I met Becky, the family grew to five children, their husbands and wives, and now ten grandchildren." Ted said that being a dad and grandpa is simply life-fulfilling.  I could not be happier living in Phillips and enjoying our family."


  adlln.jpg (Size: 265.33 KB / Downloads: 903)

Written By:  Lynne Bohn for My Price County

#1813]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-20.html Sun, 19 Dec 2021 12:40:46 +0000 My Northern Wisconsin]]> https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/news/thread-20.html
  Cheryl Mallakj.jpg (Size: 48.05 KB / Downloads: 701)
Photo by: Jean Engel

Date Published:  August 22, 2018

If Cheryl Mallak was stranded on a deserted island, she said she'd want to have her sunglasses with her, because she couldn't count how many times she has had to turn the car around to go back for her sunglasses. This seems to be a theme in Cheryl's life, as her outlook is often a sunny one.

Cheryl is a resident of Fifield. She has been married to Bill Mallak for 40 years. The marriage has brought them two children and five granddaughters.

For 33 years, Cheryl worked at Eyecare and Eyewear Associates as an optician. It was her dream job. "I enjoyed seeing different people every day and getting to hear their stories. I loved hearing about their families, and everybody I worked with was so kind that it was like having a second family," Cheryl said.

As for her hobbies, Cheryl enjoys kayaking. "I love kayaking down the Flambeau River. I enjoy soaking up the sun and enjoying the sights." The hobby she enjoys the most, however, revolves around horses. "I love horses. I've had them most of my life. I usually ride with my sister, Jean. I love to ride in the woods and look at Mother Nature." She said she also loves to shoot pool and throw horseshoes with her friends. When she is not doing all that, she is with family. "My five granddaughters consume my life, which I love."

The motto Cheryl lives by is to be kind to others. "This world needs more love. At a time when hate seems cool, kindness is the answer." On that note, if Cheryl could have one wish to make the world a better place, she would wish for no one to go hungry ever again. "I feel like food is something everybody should have access to."

Cheryl has been living a good life, but it has handed her some lemons, one of which includes the growth of tumors that keep coming back, a condition that affects less than 2% of the population. With those lemons, though, she has tried to make lemonade. "I found out about my first tumor because I started losing movement in my left hand. My pinky and ring finger became really hard to type with or do much of anything. I went to see Dr. Tim Wakefield for what I thought was a pinched nerve, but he informed it wasn't and advised me to get an MRI." Unfortunately, the MRI showed that Cheryl had a golf ball sized tumor, a Grade 1 Meningioma, and she had to have brain surgery to remove it. Since she has found that humor has helped her get through this and has always tried to see the positive in the world, she nicknamed the tumor Francis and had Francis removed in November of 2014. A year and a half later, Cheryl learned she had another tumor and hoped radiation would help, so she tried that route in 2016. However, in January of 2018, another tumor the size of an egg, which she named Flo, was found. A second surgery was scheduled, and she had Flo removed. After the surgery, Cheryl had radiation treatments. "I had 30 radiation treatments at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and in two months I will find out the success of my treatment. Fingers crossed."

Cheryl says the most special thing that has been done for her has definitely been what she is experiencing now. "The support that I have gotten through all my tumors has been tremendous. I am amazed and so thankful at how willing people are to help." If you would like to help Cheryl, you can attend her benefit on Saturday, August 25th at Movrich Park in Fifield from noon to 10 p.m. The band, Flashback, will start at 6 p.m. Ticket raffle sales are available prior to and during the benefit. There are many large items which will be raffled at the benefit, such as fishing rods, Packers gear, a fire ring, 1/4 beef, a gun, and many gift certificates. There will also be basket raffles. Beer, wine coolers, and food will be available at the event. Cheryl also has a GoFundMe page, which can be accessed at http://www.gofundme.com/cheryl-mallak

Written By:  Lynne Bohn

#7663gel]]>
  Cheryl Mallakj.jpg (Size: 48.05 KB / Downloads: 701)
Photo by: Jean Engel

Date Published:  August 22, 2018

If Cheryl Mallak was stranded on a deserted island, she said she'd want to have her sunglasses with her, because she couldn't count how many times she has had to turn the car around to go back for her sunglasses. This seems to be a theme in Cheryl's life, as her outlook is often a sunny one.

Cheryl is a resident of Fifield. She has been married to Bill Mallak for 40 years. The marriage has brought them two children and five granddaughters.

For 33 years, Cheryl worked at Eyecare and Eyewear Associates as an optician. It was her dream job. "I enjoyed seeing different people every day and getting to hear their stories. I loved hearing about their families, and everybody I worked with was so kind that it was like having a second family," Cheryl said.

As for her hobbies, Cheryl enjoys kayaking. "I love kayaking down the Flambeau River. I enjoy soaking up the sun and enjoying the sights." The hobby she enjoys the most, however, revolves around horses. "I love horses. I've had them most of my life. I usually ride with my sister, Jean. I love to ride in the woods and look at Mother Nature." She said she also loves to shoot pool and throw horseshoes with her friends. When she is not doing all that, she is with family. "My five granddaughters consume my life, which I love."

The motto Cheryl lives by is to be kind to others. "This world needs more love. At a time when hate seems cool, kindness is the answer." On that note, if Cheryl could have one wish to make the world a better place, she would wish for no one to go hungry ever again. "I feel like food is something everybody should have access to."

Cheryl has been living a good life, but it has handed her some lemons, one of which includes the growth of tumors that keep coming back, a condition that affects less than 2% of the population. With those lemons, though, she has tried to make lemonade. "I found out about my first tumor because I started losing movement in my left hand. My pinky and ring finger became really hard to type with or do much of anything. I went to see Dr. Tim Wakefield for what I thought was a pinched nerve, but he informed it wasn't and advised me to get an MRI." Unfortunately, the MRI showed that Cheryl had a golf ball sized tumor, a Grade 1 Meningioma, and she had to have brain surgery to remove it. Since she has found that humor has helped her get through this and has always tried to see the positive in the world, she nicknamed the tumor Francis and had Francis removed in November of 2014. A year and a half later, Cheryl learned she had another tumor and hoped radiation would help, so she tried that route in 2016. However, in January of 2018, another tumor the size of an egg, which she named Flo, was found. A second surgery was scheduled, and she had Flo removed. After the surgery, Cheryl had radiation treatments. "I had 30 radiation treatments at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and in two months I will find out the success of my treatment. Fingers crossed."

Cheryl says the most special thing that has been done for her has definitely been what she is experiencing now. "The support that I have gotten through all my tumors has been tremendous. I am amazed and so thankful at how willing people are to help." If you would like to help Cheryl, you can attend her benefit on Saturday, August 25th at Movrich Park in Fifield from noon to 10 p.m. The band, Flashback, will start at 6 p.m. Ticket raffle sales are available prior to and during the benefit. There are many large items which will be raffled at the benefit, such as fishing rods, Packers gear, a fire ring, 1/4 beef, a gun, and many gift certificates. There will also be basket raffles. Beer, wine coolers, and food will be available at the event. Cheryl also has a GoFundMe page, which can be accessed at http://www.gofundme.com/cheryl-mallak

Written By:  Lynne Bohn

#7663gel]]>