Barbara York, 86, mother, teacher, accomplished traveler, arts aficionado, expert bridge player, and fancy nails enthusiast, died on the evening of June 15 due to complications from Parkinson’s Disease.     The memory of the resident of Lomira for over 50 years is honored by her son, Jeff York in Chicago, IL, cousin, Marlene Lunow in Princeton, and many, many friends, relatives and former students. A mere 10 minutes with her likely left you laughing for nine of them. Once you met Barbara, you never forgot her. She was funny, smart, loved people, and engaging in the world around her.  Barbara was born to humble beginnings in Markesan. Vincent and Florence Ahrens, second generation German immigrants, were her parents. An only child, Barb was also the first woman in her family to get a college education. She gave birth to premature twin sons who became Wisconsin’s first babies to be saved by the medical advances of modern incubation. And she taught for 40 years, almost exclusively at Kewaskum High School. Barbara was beloved by the faculty and her students, earning her reputation as the funniest and most fearsome teacher in school. She may have only been 5’2” but her moniker as “The Little General” was born out of affection and her forthright manner.    Barbara visited Russia, China, South America, and Central America in her lifetime; all continents except Antarctica. (The winters in Wisconsin were cold enough already.) Barbara fished in Alaska, scaled the Great Wall of China, and almost went down in a biplane over Guatemala. She attended concerts at the Wisconsin State Fair, took in many Broadway musicals, and read every Stephen King novel. Her love of the arts inspired her sons as Greg became the Emmy-winning costume designer for “The Young & the Restless”, while Jeff became a Chicago advertising executive and artist. She married three times, and dated well into her 70s, too.    Yet, her joy-filled life saw its share of tragedy, too. Her father committed suicide when she was 28. Her three marriages ended in divorce. And most tragically, Greg died from AIDS in 1995 when he was only 34. Still, despite such heartbreak, Barbara York chose to dwell on the positive in life. She worked with prison self-help programs, stayed close to her college classmates all her life, and found joy in the simplest of pleasures, be it food, folks or singing along to Johnny Cash songs. Barb loved “Gone with the Wind”, Robert Redford, Liz Taylor, Edgar Allan Poe, creamy coleslaw, Culver’s, Club 49, Bridge games, Southern Comfort Old Fashions, and hosting teacher parties. She loved people and often described her friends as the best in the world.    In her final years, Barbara was lost to dementia, but she was well looked after by the staff at Hope Nursing Home in Lomira, the expert hospice workers of St. Croix, and her close friend, Joanne Bartz. All in all, Barbara York lived a vivid and amazing life, and as apropos for a teacher, she continually taught those she knew just how to make the most out of every day.  A visitation will be held at Trinity Methodist Church, 300 Church Street, Lomira, on Saturday, June 29, 2024 from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Following visitation, there will be a brief service with Reverend Mulongo Mpoyo officiating. A celebration of her life will follow at Camelot Country Club (W192 WI-67, Lomira, WI – 53048) from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m.  In lieu of flowers or donations, please consider making a contribution to the Parkinson’s Foundation at Parkinson.org  Myrhum-Patten Funeral & Cremation Service has been entrusted with Barbara’s arrangements. Additional information and guest book can be found at www.myrhum-patten.com.

Deborah A. “Deb” Bunkelman, 66, of the town of Kewaskum, passed away on Thursday, June 13, 2024. Deb was born on July 27, 1957, in Plymouth, the daughter of the late Wallace and Marion Kuehl. On December 31, 1995, she was united in marriage to Lee Bunkelman at their home in the town of Kewaskum. Deb earned her LPN license with honors from Moraine Park Technical College in 2003. Following her graduation, she worked at Cedar Community in West Bend, and later joined Kwik Trip, also in West Bend. A lover of nature, Deb took pleasure in gardening, bird-watching, and culinary arts. Her cherished possession was a 2012 Mini Cooper S, which she delighted in driving. Those Deb leaves behind to cherish her memory include her husband, Lee; two sons, Jason (Erin) Kuehl and Adam (Heather) Bunkelman; three grandchildren, Tyler Kuehl, Kendyl Kuehl, and Callen Bunkelman; three brothers, David, Keith, and Kevin Kuehl; her brothers-in-law, Larry (Jan), Lloyd (Linda), and Lowel (Lisa) Bunkelman; other relatives and friends. In honor of Deb’s wishes, no services will be held. The Myrhum – Patten Funeral & Cremation Service has been entrusted with Deb’s arrangements. Additional information and guestbook may be found at www.myrhum-patten.com.

Mary LaMarche, age 94, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2024, at Kettle Moraine Gardens in Kewaskum, surrounded by her loving family. Mary was born on May 31, 1929, in Merrill to Jacob and Eleanor Callsen. She was united in marriage to Eugene “Gene” LaMarche on March 27, 1948, in Maquoketa, Iowa. Mary was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Gene, on July 22, 2011. Mary was also preceded in death by her six older half siblings and her youngest sister, Connie (Bruce) Peterman. Mary and Connie were very close throughout their lives and shared many happy memories of growing up in northern Wisconsin along the Prairie River. Mary graduated from Our Lady of the Holy Cross High School in Merrill. She later earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Her long career included teaching in a one-room schoolhouse in the Town of Wayne and 30 years as a teacher at Barton Elementary School. Mary was a dedicated teacher who truly loved her students. She reluctantly retired in 1989. Mary was a member of Holy Trinity Parish in Kewaskum for 70 years. Mary and Gene volunteered at the St. Vincent de Paul Society and were instrumental in establishing a chapter in Kewaskum. Mary loved to sing and was a long-time member of the Holy Trinity Choir. She was also a pianist and talented artist. Mary passed her love and appreciation of music and art down to her children and grandchildren. An avid reader her whole life, Mary was a member of the Kewaskum Book Review. Mary enjoyed all card games and puzzles, especially cribbage and bridge. Mary and Gene traveled throughout the United States before and after their retirements, and especially enjoyed visiting national parks and historic sites. In 1974, they purchased a cottage on Spider Lake in Mercer, where they spent many summers and provided a lifetime of happy memories for their children and grandchildren. Mary and Gene were the parents of five children, John (Maggie) LaMarche, Connie (Cliff) McDonald, Jim (Toni Pinamonti) LaMarche, Jeanne (Chris Hanson) LaMarche, and Jeff (Maud) LaMarche; 14 grandchildren, Jeremy (Dina) LaMarche, Claire (Greg) Barnes, Christian (Lanice) McDonald, Megan (Jason) Stulberg, Mario (Justine) LaMarche, Jean Paul (Rebecca Centeno) LaMarche, Dominic (Angela Pedroncelli) LaMarche, Luke (Libby Kantner) Hanson, Joshua Hanson, Elijah Hanson, Julia Hanson, Jesha LaMarche, Simone LaMarche, and Dominique Smith; and 15 great-grandchildren, Eleanor, John, and Elena LaMarche, Everly and Maya Barnes, Zoey and Owen Stulberg, Jesiah McDonald, Jonah and Kiera LaMarche, Charlotte LaMarche, Olivia Hanson, Tesne Heindl, and Erika Smith and Zoe Towne. Mary is further survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends, including her cherished friend, Ann (Roger) Neumann. VISITATION: Mary’s family will greet relatives and friends on Monday, June 17, 2024, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church (331 Main Street, Kewaskum, WI – 53040), from 10 a.m., until 11 a.m. MASS: A Memorial Mass in remembrance of Mary will follow the visitation at the church, starting at 11 a.m. Memorials to the St. Vincent de Paul Society-Kewaskum Chapter or the Kewaskum Youth Scholarship (KEYS) Fund are appreciated. The family would like to thank the staff at Kettle Moraine Gardens and Preceptor Hospice for their care and compassion. Myrhum-Patten Funeral & Cremation Service has been entrusted with Mary’s arrangements. For additional information or to leave on online condolence on the tribute wall, please visit www.myrhum-patten.com.