Time Machine Trip to June 1969

Kaukauna Times - by Lyle Hansen

June 4, 1969

Miss Louise Ploederl has been named top-ranking home economics student at Kaukauna High School. The Sterling Silver Homemaking Award for 1969, a six piece place setting of sterling silver flatware was presented to Louise during the Junior-Senior awards program.

Pfc Dennis H. Wittman, Seventh St, Kaukauna, recently arrived in Chu Lai, Vietnam, where he works with and trains army scout dogs.

Miss Michele Steffens, Kaukauna, was named Miss Town ‘N Country Days at the Jaycee event to take place this weekend.

June 6, 1969

Senior Bernie Van Zeeland was named this week as most valuable on the 1969 Ghost thin clad squad. Van Zeeland participated in all the events this year including the 100 and 200 yard dash, in low hurdles and long jump, and a member of the 880 relay team.

June 11, 1969

Harold V. Engerson, 64, Chief of Police in Kaukauna since 1946 has announced his retirement effective August 10th of this year. He will have completed over 41 years in the Department. Engerson started as a relief man in the fire Department in 1927. He started with the Police Department on January 4th of 1928. At that time there was a four-man force with H. McCarthy as chief. He was part time motorcycle man for 3 years before being added full time. Engerson served in this capacity for 14 years. The chief related that he wore out seven bikes and himself during that period. When McCarthy resigned in 1942, he was promoted to assistant chief and in May of 1947 he was named chief of the seven-man department. Today the force consists of 15 men.  

Christine Koch is the 1969 winner of the Lang Trophy, the oldest award of the KHS Class Night.

1969 Champions of the Thursday Nite Ladies’ League in the team sponsored by Powers Pub at S&B Bowling Bar. Left to right are Mrs. Leo (Gert) Hennes, Mrs. Edwin (Ruth) Hawley, Mrs. Lyle (Arline) Fink, Mrs. Robert (Genny) Hartwig and Mrs. Robert (Betty) Derus.

The announcement by Badger Northland incorporated that they will build a new factory on the NW part of the city was hailed by mayor Gilbert Addison as one of the real big things that has happened to Kaukauna. Glenn O. DeAthey, Jr., president of Badger Northland announced that the plant will be located on a 104-acre site that stretches on the corner of OO and Hwy 55. The plant will produce garden tractors and snowmobiles. It's 192 thousand square foot will cover approximate 4 football fields and is scheduled to go into production June 1, 1970. 

June 20, 1969

Lieutenant William Nagel was named acting chief of police as of July 1 at a meeting of the Kaukauna Fire and Police Commission Tuesday evening. Nagel has been a member of the Kaukauna police force for 25 years, joining the department on April 22, 1944.

James Kahler, left is being congratulated by Col. Tod Meserow, commandant of the Air Force ROTC at the University of Wisconsin upon being commissioned second lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve.  

Pfc. Richard A. Koester, Kaukauna, graduated basic training at Fort Gordon, Georgia. He is now stationed at Fort Eustis, Virginia, where he will study aircraft maintenance. 

A1/C Conrad L. Voights, Kaukauna, is now serving at Tan Son Nhut Air Base.

Kaukauna high’s tennis team made a state appearance and won both the singles and doubles titles in the Mid-East match. Shown from left, Gary Weyers, Pat Kehoe, Jim Litscher, Karl Grebe, Mark Kobin and Pat Brautigan who was named most valuable player.

June 25, 1969

History of sorts was made during the girls' track season when Cheri Leddy placed first in the state finals in the running long jump with a leap of 15'10 1/2". Placing sixth in the state competition was Kaukauna's Sue Mueller, who last year captured second in the state finals. Mueller had a personal best of 16'1" during the season, which stands as an all-time record.

A. M. Schmalz, who served on the Kaukauna board of adult and vocational education for 37 years, was presented with the Kaukauna High School Alumni association award at the annual rally Saturday at Van Abel’s.

June 27, 1969

A sparkling pitching performance by Joan Van Dyke resulted in the first no-hitter of the season in Women’s League softball Tuesday night leading Rich and Sally’s to a 9-0 victory over Joyce and Tuggy’s. Only two opposition runners reached base in the game, one on a walk the other on an error. 

The undefeated KHS girls’ basketball team. Shown from left are Sue Mueller, Peg Niesen, Jane Simon, Vicki Vande Yacht, Jenny Schuler, Cindy Therriault, Mary Kay Hopfensperger, Donna Vande Loo, Jenny Gertz, Pat Effa, Kay De Coster and Char Welhouse.