Time Machine: 2025

Thursday, November 27, 2025

Time Machine Trip to November 1975

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

November 4, 1975

Deadline extensions on the completion of the Thilmany Mill’s air pollution reduction projects have been officially extended by the state department of natural resources. The extensions will allow the mill more time to complete the construction and testing of the new apparatus and the conversion of existing equipment, mill managers said.

November 6, 1975

Bill Biekkola, first year Kaukauna head football coach was recently named Fox Valley Association "Coach of the Year" by a panel of sportswriters. Roloff resigned after seven years as head mentor. Biekkola's Ghosts claimed a tie for the conference championship with Menasha, with a 6-1 record on the year, bringing Kaukauna its first title in 14years.

Walter Roloff, chairman of the board of Farmers and Merchants Bank since 1971, resigned that position as of October 22, the bank announced Wednesday. He will continue to serve as a member of the board of directors. Named to proceed him as chairman of the board is

Gail E. Janssen, president and general manager of Badger Northland Inc. here. Jansen had been a director of the bank since January 1974.

Dan De Koch, wildlife artist, will give a presentation on his interest in the ancient art of Falconry on Sunday November 9 at the Fall Family Nite at Immanuel United Church in Kaukauna.

November 11, 1975

11 persons including two from Kaukauna and one from Kimberly, remain hospitalized at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton following a Saturday two vehicle crash north of Little Chute which killed a passenger in one of the vehicles.

November 18, 1975

For the second consecutive year, quarterback Reed Giordana of Kaukauna has been voted the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point’s most valuable football player of the season as well as the most valuable offensive back. This past season Giordana broke 28 school conference and nationwide records and now holds all 5 individual National Association of intercollegiate athletic records the Pointers have set. Giordana holds conference game records for the most offensive plays, most passing attempts and completions and most interceptions thrown.

Miss Peggy Pomeroy has been selected as Kaukauna’s Bicentennial Queen for 1976 by the city’s Bicentennial Commission. Miss Pomeroy’s selection came after a two-month contest.

November 20, 1975

Mrs. Alice Poppleton of Sarasota, Florida, returned to Kaukauna for a two week visit after a 48-year absence. She was amazed to see the changes as she toured the city, stating “I'm happy to see that so many of the old landmarks have been retained.” Now a retired nurse, Mrs. Poppleton reminisce about the “good times” when Kaukauna was her home.

The Hollandtown Golden Raiders compiled an unbeaten 19-0 record this season.

November 25, 1975

The official opening of the Little Lake Butte Des Morts Bridge and interchange on December 1st marks culmination of long efforts and brings to mind the history of the previous bridge. In November 1860 bids were requested for the original bridge to be constructed of wood. Six months later in May 1861 contracts were awarded and pilings were placed in July of that year.

November 27, 1975

Outagamie county’s 1976 budget will include $500,000 for the acquisition of properties along the proposed Hwy. 55 freeway corridor west of the city of Kaukauna. Land will be purchased initially will be the “hardship” cases land on which no development of any kind has been undertaken.

Kenneth Schoenike, Kaukauna’s new city engineer, has a background in municipal improvement projects, but his engineering experience also includes a stint with an aerospace contractor working on manned spacecraft safety projects. Such diverse jobs are part of obtaining experience for a young engineer. Not only is Schoenike young, but at 29 he's also the youngest city official at city hall. Schoenike started in Kaukauna on November 17th.

As foreign oil prices soar and domestic fuel supplies become critical, the search goes on for alternative methods of doing the jobs that conventionally powered machines have now been done for us. One often advanced suggestion is the electric vehicle. But a rapid switch over to electric implements seems unlikely for farmers. The electric vehicle is gaining popularity and on Wisconsin farms. But there is no rush by farmers to convert to all electric operations until initial costs come down, and gasoline prices go even higher.

The Kaukauna high school volleyball squad won the FVA championship for the sixth time in eight years.

Private Gary Vandenberg, Little Chute, graduated from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at San Diego.

Airman Christopher J. Weiler, Kaukauna, has completed Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB, Tex.

Airman Michael P. Binish, Greenleaf, completed basic training at Lackland AFB, Tex.

Marine Private First-Class Mark W. Vandenberg, Little Chute, has been meritoriously promoted to his present rank upon graduation from recruit training at San Diego, Cal. He received the early promotion for his superior performance in all phases of the training.

Daughter born to Mr. and Mrs. John Urban

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lange

Son born to Mr. and Mrs. Larry Smith

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey West

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Servais

Son born to Mr. and Mrs. James Brogan

Son born to Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Lelou

Son born to Mr. and Mrs. Keith Verstegen

Son born to Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Green

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Haring

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Donald Paalman

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. William Verboomen

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Westenberger

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Duaine Anderson

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Johnson

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Stellmacher

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Haen

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Schwaller

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Michael Vander Velden

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. John Kobussen

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Sultze

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Clark Baumann

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Schmidt

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Reinholz

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Hopfensperger

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Peter Schuh

Son to Mr. and Mrs. David Demitz

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Pingel

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. William Banks

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Vissers

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. John Hengel

Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Time Machine Trip to November 1965

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

November 3, 1965

The Kaukauna Galloping Ghosts dominated the entire game in winning 40-7 over Two Rivers in the last game of the season. Kaukauna tied with Kimberly for third place in the conference. Bob Promer was the offensive standout of the Kaukauna game. He carried 22 times for 94 yards and scored four touchdowns. He has scored nine touchdowns in the last two games, giving him a total of 11 in the conference. Bob Main ended his high school career with a tremendous effort completing five of nine passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

FUTURE PROSPECTS for the Kaukauna High School cross country team and head coach Donald Jensen are the boys pictured above. In the front from left to right are Kevin O’Connor, Daniel Courtney, Donald Tomazevic, John Lucassen, Peter DeBruin, David Hardy, Allen Hartzheim, Dan Siebers and manger Marvin Van Wychen. In the back row, Coach Kenneth Penniston, Peter Nagan, Kenneth Westphal, Scott Lewandowski, Robert Jansen, Thomas Zornow, John Mars and Ronald Meidam.

Airman Gregory E. Hartjes, Kaukauna, has been selected for training at Kessler Air Force Base, Miss., as an Air Force communications-electronics specialist. Hartjes is a 1965 graduate of Kaukauna high school.

It took the government over three years but finally Urban J. Coenen received his patent. His invention is a silage distributor and filed a patent application in March 1962. On October 5, 1965, he is the proud possessor of United States patent number 3,209, 925 Silage Distributor.

Many people have party line telephone. People should be aware that a law states if you refuse to yield the line to permit a person to call the police or fire department you can be fined for up to $500.

Over 1000 grade school aged children and teenagers turned out Sunday at the Halloween party at the Vaudette Theater, Park School and the high school. The teen party took the form of a dance at the old high school gym. Costumes competitions were held at all the events.

November 5, 1965

The 1965 Wisconsin legislature has taken action on a problem which has caused widespread concern among law enforcement officers. The motor vehicle department leaflet entitled “Don't Run Away”- namely, the problem of traffic law violators leading pursuing officers on dangerous high-speed chases.

Tom Huss Gene Biese Bob Main

Mark Nussbaum Bob Promer

Kaukauna placed five boys on all mid-east conference football squad selected by coaches. Honored from Kaukauna are Tom Biese, defense end, Gene Huss defensive tackle, Bob Main linebacker, the Mark Nussbaum offensive and Bob Promer offensive halfback.

Bob Promer, senior halfback from Kaukauna, led the Mid-Eastern Conference in scoring with 11 touchdowns for 66 points. He scored 10 touchdowns in the Ghosts’ last three games. Lee Nimmer tied for ninth place with 24 points and sophomore Marty Van Zeeland tied for tenth with 18 points strictly on his kicking.

William L. Hietpas

Services were held Saturday for William L. Hietpas, 18, who was killed in a one car automobile accident Thursday morning at the intersection of the Z and ZZ East of Kaukauna. Two other youths in the car, Clifford Holschuh, 18, and William Dercks, 18, were both hospitalized as a result of the accident.

November 10, 1965

Funeral services for Kenneth Tanner, age 82, were held in Eastland Texas, Sunday, November 7. Mr. Tanner was born July 20, 1883, in Kaukauna and came to Eastland in 1919 after serving in World War I. Mr. Tanner is the son of Kaukauna pioneer physician and surgeon, Dr. H.B. Tanner, who came to Kaukauna at the age of 21 in 1880 and was active in many of the beginnings of the city.

Ground was broken for new church Sunday by members of Bethany Lutheran Congregation at the site of the present church, Tenth and Hendricks. Rev. Ernest Bartels led the service and participated, along with 28 other members of the congregation, in the actual groundbreaking.

Airman Gary E. Grissman, a 1965 graduate of Kaukauna high school, has been selected for technical training as an Air Force aircraft Maintenance specialist. He has recently completed basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas.

November 12, 1965

Thomas A. McAndrews, 26, Kaukauna, was promoted to Captain October 26 at Fort Gulick, Canal Zone, where he is serving with Company “A”, 8th Special Forces group, 1st Special Forces. Capt. McAndrews graduated from Kaukauna high school in 1958 and St. Norbert's college in 1962.

Dan Van Abel, Kaukauna, has set pass receiving records galore as a junior and co-captain of the Michigan Tech football team. This year he led the Tech one season receiving record by grabbing 34 passes for 533 yards and six touchdowns.

Salary increases of $.10 per hour for women working in a hot lunch program at the school and a beginning wage of $1.25 per hour for women who may be hired for the program were approved by the Kaukauna board of education.

Picketing at the Combined Locks Paper Company Plant continued Thursday as the strike of 350 employees of two unions went through its 11th day.

Awards were awarded to several members of Dede’s diplomats who competed at the Green Bay Packerama national open at the YMCA. Award winners were Mary Beth Tease, Lynn Lennert, Jenny King, Kathy Walsh, Kay Kaphingst and Jill Hartdke.

November 17, 1965

The toe of John Skibba, the 6’ 1”, 200-pound Kaukaunan playing tight end for St. Norbert College was a valuable weapon in the schools 21-20 win over Luther College in the season finale.

Wisconsin hunting season starts November 20. The conservation Department said that with the proper weather officials think the harvest will equal or exceed last year's take of 93,000 animals. The variable quota has proven highly popular with hunters because it controls overpopulation and at the same time put the lid on a number of does that can be taken from any single area.

The Kaukauna high school varsity basketball team has been selected for the 1965-66 campaign by head coach Ken Vander Velden. The 12 boys selected for this year's varsity team are:

Jack Capen 5-10

Greg Eslein 6-1

Bob Jansen 6

Pat Kavanaugh 6

Scott Lewandowski 5-9

Bob Main 6

Dan Minkebige 6-5

Gary Reimer 5-11

Joe Schouten 6-1

John Van De Hey 5-10

Tom Van De Hey 5-9

Quint Vanden Hoevel 5-9

Christmas decorations were put up this week by the Kaukauna Utility and Park department. Attaching a bell to a downtown light pole is Carl Vanden Heuvel of the K.E.&W.

November 23, 1965

Michael F. Brautigan, Kaukauna seaman in the U.S. Navy, has been awarded the Bronze Star military decoration for bravery in action, according to word received this week by his parents. When a Marine patrol was sweeping an area, they came under fire. Brautigan, the operator of the river boat that brought them to shore, realized they were under fire, crawled forward and threw grenades into the enemy position. He then lay down fire with his rifle shooting several enemy snipers. He was wounded during the engagement receiving a bullet in his arm.

Seaman apprentice Donald C. Conrad USCC, Freedom, has completed basic training at the Coast Guard Training Senter at Cape May, N.J.

Models for the Elks Ladies Fur Fashion Show.

Mrs. Jerry Nytes, Mrs. Ethel May and Mrs. Louis Vanevenhoven.

Mrs. Leroy Klein, Mrs. Pat Landreman and Mrs. Cleon Egan.

Mrs. Carl Nagan, Mrs. Richard Wolf and Mrs. Clarence Thelen.

November 25, 1965

Mike Andrews, former Kaukauna high school standout, was one of 38 freshmen to receive football awards from Lawrence University Athletic Director Bernard E. Heselton.

Santa Claus will enter Kaukauna on Friday, November 26 in a Surrey with a fringe on top. Santa will tour the business districts of Kaukauna and stop at the high school parking lot where he will distribute candy to children.

The Kaukauna high school wrestling team started their season in a triumphal note by downing Green Bay West by a 28-24 margin at the KHS gymnasium.