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The Highground Hosts 19th Annual Recognition Dinner

58 first-year contributors joined longtime supporters in bolstering the organization’s continued efforts to support Veterans and their families.

The generosity of many make the mission possible. Supporters of The Highground from Wisconsin and surrounding states braved the winter weather on the evening of March 11, 2023 to join The Highground Staff and members of the Board at the Castle Hill Supper Club in Merrillan, Wis. for the Friends of The Highground Dinner to recognize supporters for 2022. 

Chris Pettis, Executive Director, addresses attendees before dinner.

Chris Pettis, Executive Director, reflected on last year’s events and provided glimpses into 2023 with his Friends of The Highground address. Most pivotal is the ever-growing Veterans programming that the nonprofit offers to Veterans and their families as well as the great need to provide a welcoming environment for program attendees. The Highground anticipates breaking ground on the new Welcome Center in 2023 to meet those needs.

This annual recognition dinner is intended to show appreciation for the generous donors who give monetarily, provide services that save The Highground over $1,000 or assist in raising over $1,000 in the year prior to the event. 

Of the 200 individuals and organizations to be recognized, The Highground welcomed 58 first-year contributors in 2022. They were joined by faithful advocates Dr. John & Rebecca Scaletta, Donald Quicker and Central Wisconsin Broadcasting (WCCN/WKPG). These champions have supported the Highground for many years, including the 19 years that this recognition dinner has been around.

The Highground Liberty Bell was chosen for the award certificate because 2022 marked the 20th Anniversary of its dedication as a tribute.

As tradition guides, the “Spirit of The Highground” awards were presented to four individuals for not only their 2022 contribution but also for their ceaseless devotion through their volunteer service throughout the year. The recipients were Carol Shea, Julie Diesing, Bonnie Henchen and Wes Waterman.  

The Highground staff is a very small but tight group of 10 that would not be able to accomplish so much without the endless help of so many volunteers and contributors. For them The Highground is eternally grateful.

Below is the entire list of those who received the Friends of The Highground certificates. On behalf of our Veterans, the Board of Directors and The Highground Staff, thank you for your ongoing support. Your gift allows us to focus our efforts on our mission which includes offering crucial PTS/PTSD programs to our Veterans and their families. 

40TH YEAR RECOGNITION
Tom & Rose Miller

19TH YEAR RECOGNITION
Central Wisconsin Broadcasting (WCCN/WKPG)
Don Quicker
Dr. John & Rebecca Scaletta

18TH YEAR RECOGNITION
Joan Jungwirth

17TH YEAR RECOGNITION
Randy Meyer
Jerry Simon

16TH YEAR RECOGNITION

15TH YEAR RECOGNITION
Marguerite Listeman Foundation
Joan Cervenka
Walter Tollefson

14TH YEAR RECOGNITION
City of Neillsville
Jakel Plumbing, Heating & Electrical, Inc.
Mall Furniture of Marshfield
VFW Mar-Lin Post #10203

13TH YEAR RECOGNITION
Cougar Enterprise, Inc.
Curt & Oran Braatz Family
Michael & Joyce Huebsch
Wes Waterman

12TH YEAR RECOGNITION
Dennis & Sharon Herzberg
Joyce Hoffman
Steve & Karen Maddox
Dave Sharretts
Lucinda Zimmer

11TH YEAR RECOGNITION
Citizens State Bank of Loyal
Mike & Kathy Gleisner
Skip & Deb Klabon
Michael & Jody Olson
Steve & Betty Swanson
Gary & Kay Weirauch

10TH YEAR RECOGNITION
BP Drescher Oil Company
James Feneli
Bill & Kathy Flemal
Benard & Kathy Heit
Verla Lysy
Cole Peterson

9TH YEAR RECOGNITION
Michele Benson
Julie Diesing
Lief & Kimberly Knudsen
Paul Kokosz
Nick & Janet Lesar

8TH YEAR RECOGNITION
John Blank
Roy & Ginny Franz
Bonnie Henchen
Lorraine Short
Steve & Karen Swader

7TH YEAR RECOGNITION
Thrivent Financial
Fred & Kim Berg
George & Betty Blauvelt
Mark Dawson
Jay Froh
Joel & Heidi Hazzard
Jim & Nina Henchen
Mary Kokosz 
Sue Kokosz
Jim & Janice Ottman
Dave Reimer

6TH YEAR RECOGNITION
American Legion Loyal Post # 175
Cummins Filtration
Gross Motors, Inc.
Independent Hardee’s Franchisee Association
Wuethrich Foundation
Duane Schwab

5TH YEAR RECOGNITION
City of Neillsville Public Works Dept.
L.E. Phillips Family Foundation Inc. 
Renee Bernard
Mary Boortz
Kathy & Joseph Houzner
John & Donna Koutre
Julie McNeely

4TH YEAR RECOGNITION
American Legion Riders District 2
American Legion Willis-Chapel Post#306
Neillsville Chamber of Commerce
VFW Dr. G. G. Mueller Post #10452
James & Diana Buechner
Ray & Pat Maertens
Ralph & Peggy Ottum
Delmar Scanlon
Terri & Michael Stott
Shannon Wachuta

3RD YEAR RECOGNITION
Kuhl Equipment, Inc.
Marine Corp League McCullen Kimpel Det. #552
Marshfield Clinic Health Systems – Marshfield
VVA Chapter 101
Donald Bonack
Rodney Hawkins
Elaine Quast
Carol Shea
Adel Thiede

2ND YEAR RECOGNITION
American Legion Alois Dreikosen Post #469
American Legion Brask-Fossum-Janke Post #185
American Legion Carl Nelson Post #324
American Legion Haugen-Richmond Post #73
AMVETS Elmo Dahl Post #1
BS of Wisconsin, LLC
Chili Implement Co.
Clark County Economic Development Corporation & Tourism Bureau
Festival Foods
Kulas Body Shop
Loyal Car Show
MEC, Inc.
Nam Knights Brew City Chapter Inc.
Northside Elevator, Inc.
Partners Bank of Wisconsin
Russell’s of Neillsville
State Bank Financial – Marshfield
Unity Bank – Augusta
VFW Craig S. Olson Post #8514
Weau 13 News
William J. & Gertrude R Casper Foundation
WWIS Radio
Dominic Anderson
Don Anibas
Bob & Kathy Barth
Dale Bauer
Carl Bogar Jr.
James & Janice Brady
Scott Church
Richard & Laura Culver
Arthur & Julie Elliott
Leonard & Connie Frye
Wayne Guenther
Marge Hansen
Wade Hartung
Joseph & Connie Havlovick
Lori Hebbe
Maureen Hornung
Gregory Ichel
Kathy Johnson
Jim & Christine Krizenesky
Richard & Rebecca Mauch
Seth & Susan Miller
Michael Platt
Kenneth Roehl
Paul & Joann Schreiner
Wayne & Bonnie Short
Carol Wedl
Don Wittmann

1ST YEAR RECOGNITION
American Legion Abramowicz-Kaczmarczyk-Cwikla Post #547
American Legion Hutchins-Stendahl Post #191
American Legion Riders Association of Wisconsin
American Legion Riders District 10
American Legion Sura-Wiersgalla Post #186
American Legion Tickfer-Erickson Post #17
Charles E. Kubly Foundation, Inc.
Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association 45-6
Custom Heating & Cooling, Inc.
Grotefeld Hoffmann 
Hansen’s IGA
Jerry’s Painting & Staining
Mayville Engineering Company (MEC) Fabricating Specialists – Neillsville
Randy S Electric
Roper Trust
Stumpy & Grumpy’s Tree Service
The National Society of the Dames of the Court of Honor
Trempealeau County Council of the American Legion 
VFW 3rd District
VFW Edgar Memorial Post # 10187
VFW Germantown Memorial Post #9202
VFW RC Gulick Post #5351
VFW Springbrook-Trego-Earl Post #10568
VFW A Learman-Schaller Post # 2732
Whitehall School District 
Avis Becker
Lana Bradfish
Jo Burr
Jerry Christensen
Sharon Cleveland
Jean Detert
Don & Renee Funseth
Barbara Groskopf
Arlon & Gail Haessly
Mary & Ed Haupt
Darleen Jarocki
Larry Kizewski
Steven & Kay Kuhn
William & Marcia Laney
Debra McNeely
Thomas Napierala
Thomas Olk
Don & Judith Pentz
Dave Pientok
Jim Powers
Ike Rebout
Barb Shain & Walt Wesenberg
Victoria Shoemaker
Cedric & Cindy Thayer
Jennifer Tieman
Fred & Bonnie Vance
Diane Vollrath
Russell & Janet Wagner
Robert Windus & Darlene Fredrick
Melanie & Elizabeth Wrensch

Thank You All!