1

Bio: Cox, Ruth (Engagement 1983)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Cox, Bauer

----Source: Marshfield News-Herald (25 November 1983)

Announcement is made of the engagement off Miss Ruth Cox, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Cox, Route 1, Abbotsford, to William Bauer, son of Mrs. Dale Bauer, Durand. The bride-to-be, is a 1979 graduate of Abbotsford High School and a 1982 graduate of of District 1 Technical Institute-Eau Claire, is a histotechnician at St. Joseph's Medical Center, Brainerd, Minnesota. Her fiance, a histotechnician with Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, graduated in 1980 from Durand schools and in 1982 from Eau Claire Technical Institute. Their August 25 wedding will be in Medford.

2

Bio: Mitchell, Holly (Engagement 1983)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Trester, Mitchell

----Source: Marshfield News-Herald (25 November 1983)

Mitchell, Holly Michele

Mr. and Mrs. Bobby E. Mitchell of Stanley announce the engagement of their daughter, Holly Michele, to James Matthew Trester of Madison, son of Mrs. Janice Trester, Denton, Texas, and the late Walter Trester. Miss Mitchell, a 1980 graduate of Thorp High School, is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Her fiance, a 1983 graduate of the UW-Eau Claire, is a field auditor of Wisconsin Department of Internal Revenue, Madison. They will marry July 14 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Eau Claire.

3

Obit: Jakel, Louis (1900-1983)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Jakel, Marcott, Pedretti, Hollman, Haberman, Peterson, Bach, Feala, Hackel

----Source: Marshfield News-Herald (25 November 1983)

Jakel, Louis L. (12 September 1900 - 24 November 1983)

COLBY - Louis J. Jakel, 83, Colby, died early Thursday morning at his home.

Services will be Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Colby. The Rev. Raymond J. Pedretti will officiate. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be at the Rux Funeral Home.

He was born September 19, 1900 in Stetsonville, to the late Mr. and Mrs. Vincent (Josephine Marcott) Jakel and received his education in schools there. as a youth he worked in logging camps in northern Wisconsin.

He married Mary Hollman November 28, 1933 in Colby. The couple farmed in the Stetsonville/Colby area and he also served as clerk on the Colby School Board.

A member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Mr. Jakel is survived by his wife; three sons, Thomas of Beloit, Richard of Menomonee Falls and Ben Manitowoc; nine grandchildren, one great-grandchild; and six sisters, Mrs. Henry (Hermina) Haberman of Medford, Mrs. Dave (Josephine) Peterson of Stetsonville, Mrs. Paul (Elizabeth),Bach of Medford, Miss Anna Feala of Colby, Mrs. Otto (Martha) Hackel of Abbotsford and Clara Jakel of Spencer. He was predeceased by two brothers and two sister.

4

Obit: Kosla, Karmena (1908-1983)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Kosla, Schultz, Kaminski, Kolpa, Paul

----Source: Marshfield News-Herald (25 November 1983)

Kosla, Karmena (15 February 1908 - 24 November 1983)

LUBLIN - Mrs. Albert (Karmena) Kosla, 75, Victory Memorial Nursing Home, Stanley, died Thursday morning at Victory Memorial Hospital, Stanley.

Services will be Saturday at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, Lublin. The Rev. Casimir Paul will officiate. Burial will be in St. Hedwig's Cemetery, Thorp. Visitation will be at the Thorp Funeral Home.

The former Karmena Schultz was born February 15, 1908 in Chicago, to the late Mr. and Mrs. Frank (Anna Kaminski) Schultz. She was married Albert Kosla in Downers Grove, Illinois. She moved to the Thorp/Lublin area in 1854 and lived there until entering the nursing home in Stanley in 1982.

Survivors include a son, Albert Jr. of Severna Park, Maryland; four grandchildren; two brothers, John Schultz of Thorp and Ted Schultz of Rockford, Illinois; and one sister, Eleanore Kolpa of Downers Grove.She was predeceased by her husband

5

Obit: Anderson, Mary E. (1902-1983)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Anderson, Peckham, Olson, Ross, Budrus, Sager, Broady

----Source: Marshfield News-Herald (25 November 1983)

Anderson Mary E. (23 December 1902 - 23 November 1983)

ABBOTSFORD - Mrs. Clifford (Mary E.) Anderson, 80, of 1388 N. Second Drive, Stevens Point, formerly of Abbotsford died Wednesday morning at River Pine Community Health Center, Stevens Point.

Services will be Saturday at the Maurine Funeral Home, Abbotsford. Officiating ill be LeRoy Sager and Alfred Broady. Burial will be in Dorchester Memorial Cemetery.

The former Mary E. Peckham was born December 23, 1902 in the Town of Holton, to the late Mr. and Mrs. William (Anna Olson) Peckham. She was married to Clifford Anderson October 15, 1924 in Wisconsin Rapids. The couple farmed in the Town of Holton, rural Abbotsford, for many years. They moved to Spokane, Washington, in 1957 and lived there until 1982. For the past year she had lived in Stevens Point.

Survivors include her husband; one son, Morris of Deer Park, Washington; one daughter, Mrs. Gerald (Bonita) Ross of Stevens Point; seven grandchildren; and one sister, Mrs. Joe (Olive) Budrus of Portland, Oregon.

She was predeceased by three brothers and three sisters.

6

Obit: Montag, Genevieve (1912-1983)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Montag, Struble

----Source: Marshfield News-Herald (25 November 1983)

Montag, Genevieve (27 June 1912 - 25 November 1983)

AUGUSTA _ Mrs. Craig N. (Genevieve) Montag, 71, or 423 Pine St., Augusta, died early today at Memorial Hospital, Neillsville.

Memorial services will be Monday at the Gesche Funeral Home, Neillsville. The Rev. Gary l. Clark of United Church of Christ will officiate. There will be no visitation. The body will be cremated.

The former Genevieve Struble of Neillsville is survived by her mother, Mrs. Lou Struble, and brother, Delbert, both of Neillsville.

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8

Obit: Montag, Genevieve #2 (1912-1983)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Montag, Page, Jacobson, Struble

----Source: Marshfield News-Herald (26 November 1983)

Montag, Genevieve (27 June 1912 - 25 November 1983)

NEILLSVILLE - Memorial services will be Monday at the Gesche Funeral Home, Neillsville, for Mrs. Craig (Genevieve) N. Montag, 71, of Augusta, who died early Friday morning at Memorial Hospital, Neillsville, following a lingering illness.

The Rev. Gary L. Clark, Pastor of the United Church of Christ, will officiate. There will be no visitation. Her cremated remains will be buried in the Yolo Cemetery near Chili at a later date.

She was born June 27, 1912 at Sparks, Nevada to Mr. and Mr. Edward (Lula Page) Jacobson and moved with her parents to the Town of Lynn, Clark County, at an early age. She received her education there and at schools in Neillsville and Danbury.

She worked in Evanston, Illinois, for a short time and was married at Waukegan, Illinois, September 27, 1930 to Craig E. Montag. They farmed in the Chili area until 1950 when they retired from farming and moved to Augusta, where they owned and operated the Augusta A&W stand until 1976.

Surviving are her husband; he mother, Mrs. Lula Struble of Neillsville; a brother, Delbert Struble of Neillsville; and two grandchildren.

She is predeceased by her father; a daughter, Margie; a sister, Chloe, and a bother, Lawrence "Chuck" Struble.

7

Bio: Downen, J, Terry (Owen-Withee Principal - 1983)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Downen

---Source: Marshfield News-Herald (25 November 1983)

OWEN - Enthusiasm is not a problem for the principal of Owen-Withee High School.

J. Terry Downen believes a tougher problem is tempering his zeal.

This educator, recently honored as Wisconsin's high school principal of the year, is obviously enthusiastic about his work. In a conversation meant to be centered on him, Downen continually shifted the focus to a recent achievement, goal or program at his school. He's enthusiastic about his students, his teachers, what's happened and will happen at Owen-Withee.

As far as Downen is concerned, the message on his personalized license plates - "OWHS1" - is not mere prep propaganda, It's a fact.

Since he arrived at Owen-Withee in 1979, the number of student discipline referrals has dropped, parent participation in conferences is up, teacher and student morale (as he sees it), has increased, some programs have undergone major revisions, graduation requirements have been strengthened, the school's computer program is ahead of the pack and the list goes on.

These accomplishments didn't just happen to coincide with Downen's tenure as principal, but he's not willing to take much credit for them. As he sees it, the principal is "only a catalyst".

"I liken the role of principal to that of a catalyst," Downen said. "A catalyst is somebody who is necessary, but allows the thing to happen."

A principal should provide the "appropriate educational climate," set the goals and instill the necessary enthusiasm and let students, teachers, parents and others take it from there.

Downen believes a principal should set a standard for the rest of the community.

"You're as educator first, so that means you must model your behavior for kids, you must model your behavior for the teachers and you must model your behavior for parent," he said. "Parents in a small community, you become as education standard-bearer for the entire community."

To fulfill his responsibilities as catalyst and standard-bearer, Downen follows a tiring schedule. He's in his office until nearly midnight many nights and regularly spends several hours reading and planning on the week-ends. Being single, Downen said, "I can afford to live my career 24 hours a day. I think I have to do that."

"You don't wave a magic wand and programs going. You have to get things done and you have to make time for it."

His schedule provides a few idle moments for enjoying Badger football, golfing "very badly" and listening to music.

Downen selected education as a career when he was in the fourth grade. Originally from Cambria, a small town north of Madison, he graduated from Carroll College in Waukesha and the University of Madison. He taught English and Latin at Milton Oconto Falls and was principal at St. Croix High School in Solon Springs before going to Owen-Withee.

Downen doesn't like to talk about himself. Others, however, have praised his dedication and qualifications. A teacher said Downen is a "real asset to the school." His apparent popularity contradicts on of his beliefs.

"One of the things people in this world have to realize is that you can't afford to be popular because there are tough decisions that have to be made and decisions that are made in education today are not going to be popular," he said.

not comfortable talking about his strengths, Downen does mention a few perceived weaknesses.

"I wish I had more tolerance and I wish I could accept excuses better," he said. "I don't accept people's excuses well.

Goals always have been important to Downen. Goals that will not necessarily produce solid, measurable results, but which might influence the attitudes and actions of students and faculty.

Every year he's been at Owen-Withee, for example, Downen has had a different theme. The first year's theme was "Responsibility is the Fourth R." Others were "Learning is Our First Priority" and "Focus on Achievement."

This year's theme is "PRIDE" which is an acronym for performance, responsibility, integrity, diligence and enthusiasm

Downen said such themes and goals are important for everyone, especially educators.

"I guess one of my favorite sayings is ;Aim you arrow at the sun. You may not hit that target, but your arrow will fly higher than if aimed at an object at a level with yourself." I think that applies to everything we do in education. If we're constantly looking back and apologizing for everything that we've done, nothing would be accomplishment.

Downen's decision to leave the classroom for the school office was not an easy one. He had his master's degree in education administration six years before becoming a principal. He sees his role as a principal as one which can have an impact on the entire school and student.

The switch brought changes in relations with students and teachers. The principal, after all, is seen differently by students than teachers. For teachers, the principal is a supervisor.

To maintain contact with students, Downen attempts to maintain an open door policy, chats with students at lunch and in the hall between classes and is participating with students in a daily 15-minute reading program.

Despite that, Downen said, "I don't think students see principal as human beings. I think they have difficulty getting past the authority. I think teachers also do and parents I know do.

With teachers there's a wall between supervisor and employee which restricts relations to "a professional friendship."

Despite the enthusiasm. Downen said his job is "not all roses. It's a job fraught with challenges, It's a job fraught with pitfalls."

It's very definitely not a perfect," but, he added, "It's a worthwhile one. It's a significant one."