Time Machine Trip to August 1969

Kaukauna Times - By Lyle Hansen

August 1, 1969

Mary DeCoster, the Holy Cross student who recently underwent kidney transplant surgery at Madison is home and doing well according to her family. Mary’s 21-year-old brother Tom, the donor, is serving out the remainder of a hitch in the U.S. Army at Camp McCoy doing desk work. 

Kaukauna will feel the impact of change and growth when the new Massey-Ferguson, Inc. assembly plant opens June 1, 1970 on what is now farmland at the north edge of the city.

A recent article appearing in a Milwaukee newspaper linked the career of former Milwaukee Brewer slugger Jack Kloza and Kaukauna’s Stormy Kromer. Kloza began his baseball career playing sandlot ball on church teams. In 1924 he advanced to the semi-pro Wisconsin State League and played with Kromer, a Kaukauna native who doubled as a ballplayer and locomotive engineer. In 1925, Kromer bought the Blytheville, Ark. franchise and signed up Kloza. Some of Kromer’s theories on baseball were peculiar. Kromer tried out 117 rookies. They came from all points. One of Kromer’s pet theories was that a batter should always take two before taking a swing at the ball. Blytheville loss 36 games in a row that year according to Kloza. 

August 13, 1969

Spec/4 Ted Schmitt, Kaukauna, has returned home after completing two years of active duty in the U. S. Army. He had been stationed at Ft. Campbell, Ky.; Fort Leonard Wood Mo., Ft. Hood Texas and served one year as a Combat Construction specialist in Vietnam. 

Kaukauna’s Building Inspector Harold Loeser has suggested a joint meeting with area towns to establish a dumping ground for junk automobiles. He stated the cars could be burnt out and used to fill ravine and swamp areas.

August 15, 1969

The Lectro-Lite Majorette Corps competitive teams were named State Champs in their division in the open competition held at the Wisconsin State Fair at West Allis on Tuesday.

A new coin operated automatic laundry has been opened on Tobacnoir street in the former Frank Grocery store building. Mr. John McKinley is the operator.

August 20, 1969

Four young men from Kaukauna are among the inductees into the U.S. Army from Outagamie county.  They are Wayne Gartmann, Gerald Van Domelen, Raymond Gruenstern and Denis Vande Hey. 

The outstanding batters and pitchers in the north side softball leagues are left to right Jim Vande Hey, Pete Kobin, Tim Mattek and James Mattek. 

Ed Van Zeeland, right, was presented a trophy honoring him as “All Around Boy” in the north side recreation program this year. Ed received the award from Mark Kobin of the Recreation Department.

A record number of students will pass through the doors of Outagamie County Teachers College in Kaukauna this year. School administration announce 145 students have registered for the first semester which is 35 more than last year’s number.

Hill Top Bakery, on the corner of 7th and Main has been purchased by Harry Wirth, a former Kaukaunan. Fred Gerhard, who owned the Hilltop since 1948, will stay on as a consultant for the first year. An important part of Hilltops business has been built up by Gerhard in his famous Honey Houses. Last year Hilltop shipped 250,000 units in the USA and Canada.

August 22, 1969

Victor H. Haen funeral services will be held Saturday morning. Victor Haen, president of the Board of Education and founder and part owner of the Haen Insurance Agency, died suddenly Wednesday morning. He was 55. Haen was at his cottage near Eagle River when he was stricken. An ambulance was called, but he was dead on arrival at the hospital.

Army Second Lieutenant Jeffrey DeBruin, 24, of Kaukauna, has received the Bronze Star Medal in South Vietnam. Lt. DeBruin received the award for heroism in action while engaged in ground operations against a hostile force in Vietnam as a forward observer with the 11^th Artillery of the 9^th Infantry Division. 

The Kaukauna Lectro-Lite Majorettes are pictured with trophies they won from State Fair competition in West Allis. Kneeling left to right Carrie Benotch, Sue Schommer, Director Mary Beth Tease, Kay Smith and Shelly Lust. Standing, Sharon Wynboom, Betty Vander Zanden, Kay Kaphingst, Sue Hanby and Pam Blajeski.

August 27, 1969

Three promotions for personnel in the Kaukauna police department were confirmed last week. William Nagel will replace the retired Chief Harold Engerson. Nagel has been on the force since 1944. Others promoted are Lt. Dean Ball and Sergeant James Egan. 

Kaukauna’s Dutch elm disease continues to soar in the hot weather. City Forester Victor Luedtke stated there are now 150 diseased trees thus far this year with 47 being removed.