22 April 2024

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Donna L. Ogi

Donna L. Ogi


In the early morning hours of April 17, 2024, Donna L. Ogi (nee Mowrer), our Mom was called to her Eternal home, reuniting and reaching for the hand of the love of her life. She left this earth surrounded by the love of her family in the home we grew up in. Mom was born on November 5, 1928, to the late Floyd and Edith Mowrer and raised on a farm in Burbank, Ohio, along with her three brothers and two sisters. Following high school, she went to business school. She met our Dad when she was on a double date. For the cute story behind this, ask any one of us! They married on May 1, 1949, and spent the next 71 years together, raising Ken, Mitch, Greg and Liz, and building the Kewaskum Veterinary Clinic, which they ran out of their home. Mom was the office manager and handled a huge portion of the business side to enable Dad to be the best veterinarian around! She made our house a home. Mom’s biggest pride and joy was being involved and loving her husband, four children and spouses, her 17 grandchildren and their spouses, and her 32 great-grandchildren. She was loved by all who crossed her path. What better way to know who Mom was than through the words from her grandchildren. She was: “a vibrant woman, had pride for all of her family, pretty in pink, completely her authentic self, determined, compassionate, her hugs felt like a warm blanket, faithful servant, depth and genuineness, silly but strong, humor that could make your belly laugh, just her presence, charming, but didn’t need to try, she just was, the person you wanted to be near, because she cared about everyone, she made you feel like you were the only person, in the room, classy, stylish, beautiful, thoughtful and so loving, how she tucked us in at night and gave us kisses, with her, we got time.” Mom lives on through her children, Ken and Linda Ogi, Shirley Ogi and the late Mitch Ogi, Greg and Julie Ogi, Liz and Todd Dock; her grandchildren, Brett and Anooshka Ogi, Kellen and Amanda Ogi, Matthew and Amy Ogi, Emily and Matthew Welt, Ryan and Anna Ogi, Rebecca and Clint Herrick, Bob and Kallie Ogi, Tom and Michelle Ogi, Kaitlyn and David Lerdahl, Eric and Shrestha Ogi, Megan Ogi, Rachel Ogi, Charlie Ogi, Jessica and Zach Rieger, Ashley Dock, Andrew and Lauren Dock, Melissa and Dustin Laatsch; great-grandchildren, Alara, Braven, Abigail, Annah, Caleb, Eliana, Judah, Lila, Thane, Hudson, Tessa, Lacey, Kristen, Esme, Julia, Charlie, Nelle, Isaac, Eli, Henry, Sam, Aubrie, Benji, Rosalie, Eliyas, Livi, Ella, Goldie, Ava, Blakely, Emma. Celebrate Mom on Saturday by wearing her favorite colors of pink, aqua/turquoise, purple, or anything vibrant that honors this amazing woman! SERVICE: A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 1 p.m. at Peace United Church of Christ, 343 First St., Kewaskum. Thank you to those who provided her with compassionate long-term care in her home: Kim Hutchins, Brooke Smith, Tabitha Poppy, Dani Rodenkirch, Barb Breitag, and Sherryl Anklam and to anyone who filled in as needed. Thanks to the granddaughters, who lovingly spent many nights with Mom. She was blessed. She and Grandpa know. Myrhum-Patten Funeral & Cremation Service has been entrusted with Donna’s arrangements. Additional information and Tribute Wall may be found at www.myrhum-patten.com.

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19 April 2024

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Kenneth Robert Bird

Kenneth Robert Bird


Kenneth Robert Bird, age 77 years, passed away Sunday, April 7, 2024, at New Perspectives, West Bend. Ken was born on February 2, 1947 in Milwaukee to the late Kenneth and Theresa Bird. He was the youngest of six children. He is survived by his older brother, Allen Bird (Arlen); his older sister, Allene Friede (Ken); and twin sister, Kathleen Hudson. He is preceded in death by his sisters, Beverly Juech and Barbara Bird; his brothers-in-law, Harry Juech and Bill Hudson; and his beloved nephew, Steve Juech. Ken started his education at Mount Calvary Lutheran School and went to Milwaukee Lutheran High School before transferring to Kewaskum High School. He was a graduate of the University of Oshkosh. He had an amazing work ethic and started his career early, tidying shelves and cleaning for Mrs. Devorken in their hardware store to get quarters that he would use to go to the movies with his friends on Saturday. He spent his career at several companies in sales and marketing, retiring at the age of 72 from Mitchell Furniture Systems as their Sales and Marketing Director. Ken married Linda Bird (Maglio) and they had two daughters, Melissa Arps (Dan) and Katie Ingham (Mark). Later in life, he married Carol Bird (Woolhouse) and had two more daughters, Theresa and Rebecca. Ken was very proud of his five grandchildren: Kailyn, Nick, Cody, Brandon and Tyler. Ken loved to garden and spent many hours planting beautiful flowers, tending to his vegetable garden, or sitting on his John Deere mower. He was also a gifted carpenter, renovating antique furniture and working on various projects in his home in Hubertus. Ken had a great passion for sports, especially his beloved Brewers and Packers. He also had a great love for history, for reading and listening to classical music. He was a man of strong faith and was very involved in his church as an elder, usher, and in many leadership roles over the years. Above all, Ken loved to sing and was a dedicated member of the church choir for many years. Ken will be missed by his wife, daughters, grandchildren, siblings, and many nieces, nephews and friends. He will always be remembered for his caring nature, his wonderful smile, his great stories, and his faithful devotion to his Savior. VISITATION: Ken’s family will greet relatives and friends on Monday, April 29, 2024, at Northbrook Church (4014 WI-167, Richfield), starting at 10 a.m. until 11: 45 a.m. SERVICE: A memorial service will be held following the visitation at Northbrook Church, beginning at 12 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Ken requested that donations be made to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association or to Northbrook Church. Myrhum-Patten Funeral & Cremation Service has been entrusted with Ken’s arrangements. Additional information and Tribute Wall may be found at myrhum-patten.com.
17 April 2024

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Life in a Sanatorium

Life in a Sanatorium


Life in a Sanatorium ANNE TRAUTNER JOURNALIST Jim Westphal is a retired Kewaskum High School teacher. When covid hit in 2020 and people were quarantined at home, it made him think back to his childhood and the nine months he was quarantined in a sanatorium. In 1960, Westphal was a freshman at Jefferson High School in Jefferson. In those days, as Westphal recalls, one of the things

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When Autumn Comes

When Autumn Comes


| PUBLISHER LETTER | When Autumn Comes Dear Reader, There is an indescribable sadness in dying. Dying, while a solitary act, invites the many connections and networks of love a person has affected prior, to be a part of this final physical farewell. Every being dies. All living things animated by the spark of life eventually will be extinguished. Those who die through some earthly tragedy

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No More Wet Feet!

No More Wet Feet!


| FROM THE FOREST | No More Wet Feet! JACKIE SCHARFENBERG RETIRED DNR NATURALIST For many of us who walk the Tamarack Nature Trail around Mauthe Lake, we remember often getting wet, muddy feet as we tried to dodge water puddles found between the campground and the bridge over the Milwaukee River – East Branch. As of this spring, this is no longer the case! The trail in that section

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RURAL WRITES

RURAL WRITES


| RURAL WRITES | G.A. SCHEINOHA CONTRIBUTOR So far this time round, April hasn’t lived up its reputation as the cruelest month. That is, if you overlook the couple days of snow which blew in right after the holiday. Making the landscape round these parts appear more like it was closer to Christmas than Easter. While the temperatures have moderated to pleasant, sunny, absolutely gorgeous

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