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Peninsula Pulse Feb 17-24, 2023

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In this issue

  • Candidate Forum Recording Available

    The public can view a Door County League of Women Voters’ recording of the Sister Bay CandidateForum held Feb. 15 here>> Participating Candidates were Patrice Champeau, Nick Deviley, Vivian Nienow, Lilly Orozco, AndrewTorcivia and Alison Werner. Sarah White did not participate because she has already been appointed to fill a separate vacated seat. While her […]

  • Multi-tenant Building Planned in City’s Industrial Park

    A Green Bay–based company is planning to add a 50,000-square-foot building and space for about five tenants to the Industrial Park.  The Sturgeon Bay Common Council voted unanimously Feb. 7 to approve a memorandum of understanding (MOU), effective through the end of this year, between the city and Howard Immel, Inc. The company would design […]

  • Free Rides for Door County Voters

    The League of Women Voters of Door County is collaborating with the Door County Transportation Department to provide transportation to those who need to register to vote, vote early, deliver an absentee ballot or vote in person for the primary election on Feb. 21 and the general election on April 4. Wheelchair transport and help […]

  • Rare Plant Loss Part of Peninsula State Park Road Replacement

    The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to issue an authorization for the incidental take of a rare plant, dwarf lake iris, which may result from the Peninsula State Park Shore Road Replacement Project. Most of the park’s roads were last surfaced during the 1960s. “Incidental take” refers to the unintentional loss of individual […]

  • Pay Your Debt or Don’t Get a License in Gibraltar

    A new ordinance will require Gibraltar residents to pay any outstanding debts they owe the town – such as unpaid property taxes, boat-slip fees and traffic utility bills – before they receive a license from the town.  “If someone is applying for a liquor license or an STR [short-term-rental] license or a business license in the town, […]

  • Future of Pilot Island is Topic of March 1 Meeting

    The Washington Island Sportsman’s Club is inviting the public to listen to a meeting that club members will have March 1, 5-7 pm, with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about the future of Pilot Island. To listen to the meeting during that time, call 202.640.1187 and enter passcode 707820928. Martin Andersen and Hoyt Purinton […]

  • A Road Map for the Future of Baileys Harbor

    Baileys Harbor’s town board members have a lot of reading to do. On Monday, they received two versions of the 300-page comprehensive plan that the Baileys Harbor Plan Commission has been writing and reworking meticulously over a two-year span. It would revise and replace the outdated version from 2013. A recommendation for the town to […]

  • 2023 Sturgeon Bay Road Work Contracts Awarded

    The Sturgeon Bay Common Council approved contracts Feb. 7 to replace concrete and asphalt this year on city streets. The council awarded the contract for the concrete-replacement program to Martell Construction for $410,512.19 and the contract for the asphalt-replacement program to Northeast Asphalt for $681,745.11. City engineer Chad Shefchik said the two companies submitted the […]

  • Gibraltar Fire Department Creating List for At-Risk Population

    The Gibraltar Fire Department is assembling a list of Gibraltar residents who might be at risk during a natural disaster.  “If something does happen, like a flood or a heavy snowstorm, we’ll have a list, and we can go check on these people,” said Gibraltar Fire Chief Andy Bertges during a Feb. 1 town board […]

  • Door County YMCA Capital Campaign Reaches $10.2 Million Goal

    The Door County YMCA has concluded its Heart of the Community capital campaign, raising $10.2 million. The campaign was paused during the height of the pandemic and relaunched in June 2021. “We are incredibly grateful for the support we have received during this campaign,” said Tonya Felhofer, CEO of the Door County YMCA. “The funds […]

  • DCHS Featured Pet: Bozeman

    Bozeman is an adorable, almost-3-month-old puppy who’s available for adoption at the Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) Door County Campus. This sweet pup has an irresistible face and playful nature.  Like all dogs at WHS, Bozeman (wihumane.org/adopt/animal?id=51913806) has been neutered, microchipped and vaccinated, and he goes home with a certificate for a free veterinary exam and […]

  • Youth Advance to Regional Free-Throw Contest

    During the district-level competition of the recent Knights of Columbus free-throw championship in Sturgeon Bay, boys and girls ages 9-13 shot 25 free throws. Nine local youth are advancing to the regional finals after winning at the district level. Those advancing in the girls division are Maggie Hoffman, age 9, 16 points; Nora Whitley, age […]

  • Soup and Bread Sampler at Prince of Peace

    Prince of Peace Lutheran Church is featuring a Sick of Winter event Feb. 18, 11 am – 1 pm, as part of Fire & Ice weekend. Sample a variety of homemade soup, chili, breads and cider in the church’s coffeehouse, 1756 Michigan St. in Sturgeon Bay. Admission is $5 per adult and $2 for kids […]

  • Open Door Pride Hosts February Mixer

    The next Open Door Pride mixer will be held Feb. 19, 5-8 pm, at Lawlss Coffee, 108 S. Madison Ave. in Sturgeon Bay, which is opening up for an after-hours coffee night and board games. Meet Open Door Pride members and learn about the organization’s mission to celebrate diversity in Door County. This free event […]

  • Black History Month Speaker at Hope United

    In celebration of Black History Month, Hope United Church of Christ is hosting Damion Howard, a resident and school board member, to speak on Black history in general, as well as his family’s history as Sturgeon Bay residents. The presentation is planned for Feb. 19, 9 am, at the church, 141 S. 12th Ave. in […]

  • TAP Hosts First Indoor Market

    Third Avenue PlayWorks (TAP) will host its inaugural Indoor Winter Market on Feb. 18, 10 am – 2 pm, during Sturgeon Bay’s Fire & Ice Festival. This pop-up market will highlight vendors of local, handmade products. See the full vendor list at SturgeonBay.net.  Another Indoor Winter Market is scheduled for the weekend of the St. […]

  • Boys & Girls Club Regional Merger Includes Door County Branch

    The Boys & Girls Club of Door County and the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Green Bay, which includes the Boys & Girls Club of Shawano, are merging as one organization effective March 1.  This past summer, the Door County club entered into a management agreement with the Green Bay club regarding support for […]

  • Smullen Now Seeing Patients in Kewaunee

    Dr. Paul Smullen, a board-certified family-medicine physician, is now seeing patients at Prevea Health in Kewaunee. He specializes in routine medical care for children and adults, preventive medicine, medication management, and acute and chronic disease management. Smullen earned his medical degree at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He is currently the only male primary-care physician […]

  • MBE CPAs Acquires Stangel Accounting and Tax

    MBE CPAs has acquired the Stangel Accounting and Tax Office in Sturgeon Bay.  During the coming months, MBE CPAs and Stangel Accounting will work closely to ensure a smooth transition for clients. The Stangel staff is joining the MBE CPAs workforce and will continue to work with many of its current clients under the new […]

  • 2023 Primary Election Races: Gardner and Gibraltar

    Feb. 21 is the primary, April 4 the general election There are primary elections in four Door County municipalities this year. Last week, we published the bios and reasons for running for the candidates in two of those municipalities: the Town of Nasewaupee and the Village of Sister Bay. This week, we bring you the […]

  • Job Fair Seeks Local Business Partners

    The Northeast Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship program is organizing a job fair April 19, 12-1:20 pm, at Gibraltar High School in Fish Creek. The objective is to connect high school students with area businesses that seek candidates to fill both seasonal and year-round positions.  Business proprietors who are interested in presenting at the fair should register […]

  • Packers President Buys Maxwelton Braes Golf Course

    Mark Murphy intends to keep it as a community course The historical Maxwelton Braes Golf Course has a new owner with a familiar name, but golfers shouldn’t anticipate major changes.  Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy bought the course from Jim Bresnahan on Dec. 30 for $1.04 million. Murphy said Bresnahan will remain the general […]

  • Sturgeon Bay Assessing Need for More Streetlights

    After the number of streetlights in Sturgeon Bay was reduced several years ago as a cost-saving measure, the city’s Community Protection and Services Committee is considering whether to add lights where dark areas could pose a safety hazard. “We have recently received some concerns from citizens, as well as from some public-safety folks, that have […]

  • Parent Corner: Messy Mornings

    by KAREN COREKIN-DeLaMER, Education and Community Relations Coordinator, Northern Door Children’s Center Dear Karen, I am the mother of three daughters under age 7. My oldest is in elementary school, and my younger two attend our early-education center. My husband and I both work full time, and getting everyone ready and out the door on […]

  • Book Recommendation: ‘Before I Let Go’ by Kennedy Ryan

    Recommended by KARLIE MARTENS, Bookseller, Novel Bay Booksellers February is the time to celebrate love in all forms, but we are often left daydreaming of the fairy-tale-person-in-shining-armor type of love story. In her latest novel, Ryan throws out the fairy tale for the real world, yet she still leaves us daydreaming for a love story […]

  • Peninsula Poetry: Annette Langlois Grunseth

    Annette Langlois Grunseth has called Door County a second home since age 10. She comes from a family of writers and is retired from a career in health care marketing and public relations. Grunseth earned the 2022 Hal Prize for Poetry and a 2022 Gold Medal from the Military Writers Society of America for Combat […]

  • Letter to the Editor: Miller Art Museum Serves Us Well

    One of the reasons I moved to Door County back in the late 1960s was because of the way arts seemed to be woven into the community – something that I had not experienced elsewhere. I have not regretted that move, and, in fact, the rich tapestry of the arts here continues to grow. When […]

  • Letter to the Editor: A Magical Night

    The candlelight hike at Newport State Park this past Saturday was truly a “magical night.”  People of all ages attended, and in particular, the number of children who hiked in the dark with their families was heartwarming. The candlelit trail wandered through beautiful woods and ended at the beach, where the park’s International Dark Sky […]

  • Letter to the Editor: A Caring Community

    I would like everyone to know that we have a very helpful and caring community here in Door County.  On Jan. 7, I had an incident while cutting down a tree – and the tree won. I would like to thank the Jacksonport Fire Department, first responders and paramedics who helped me that day. Since that […]

  • Letter to the Editor: And So It Goes

    Well, it has been confirmed: The “ugly American” has returned. I read a quote recently that stated, “People with no shame do shameless things.” It sure was evident these last few weeks in the House of Representatives. All I can say is that if these are the Republicans who are supposed to be representing me […]

  • Join the Peninsula Singers

    All are welcome to the first rehearsal of the Peninsula Singers’ spring season on Feb. 28. Check-in and social time is 6:30-7 pm, and the rehearsal runs 7-8:30 pm. All rehearsals are held on Tuesdays, 7-8:30 pm, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 1756 Michigan St. in Sturgeon Bay. There is a $25 season fee. […]

  • Midsummer’s Music Board Elects New Vice President

    The Midsummer’s Music board of directors elected Beverly Ann Conroy as the organization’s new vice president during its Jan. 23 meeting. She has served on the board since 2016.

  • Mike McCoy Receives Volunteer of the Year Award

    Mike McCoy, chair of the Wartburg College Board of Regents, has received the 2023 Bill Franklin Volunteer of the Year Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.  In addition to his service to Wartburg, McCoy’s involvement in Door County organizations includes work with the Door County Land Trust, Neighbor to Neighbor, Bethany […]

  • 2023 Door County Short Film Fest Schedule

    This year’s short-film festival will be held Feb. 17-18 at Northern Sky’s Gould Theater, 9058 Cty A in Fish Creek. Purchase tickets ($25 for a weekend pass) at northernskytheater.com or at the door.  Friday, Feb. 17, 7 pm  Feature film: All Who Wander, directed by Daniel Gartzke, Joshua Murphy and Mark Dexter Saturday, Feb. 18 […]

  • Film Fest 101: A Q&A with Chris Opper

    Winter in Door County is the perfect time to hunker down with a good movie. But at this point in the year, the cabin fever might be setting in, and the indentation on your couch might be getting uncomfortably deep. If you’re looking to change your surroundings while keeping the movie binge going strong, take […]

  • The 500 Project

    A one-person camera crew captures a biker’s 44-hour, 500-mile journey For most participants, the Washington Island Ultra is a grueling test of endurance. But for Arizona-based biker Heidi Videto, who recently lost her best friend and fellow racer in 2021, last year’s ride was a “therapy session.”  “I was feeling all these things on this […]

  • 15th Annual Roar off the Shore Set for March

    One of Kewaunee’s biggest events is back this spring to make beer lovers happy: The 15th Roar off the Shore Brewfest is set for Saturday, March 25, at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds.  The event – hosted by the Dyckesville and Kewaunee Lions Clubs – features more than 200 beers, 75 wines and eight food vendors […]

  • Drömhus Owner Crafts a “Dream House” in Sturgeon Bay

    When Heather Weasler bought the former church at 611 Jefferson St. in Sturgeon Bay, her plan was to turn it into her own realty office. But soon, she realized the space couldn’t be hers alone.  “I saw an illustration of Sturgeon Bay in the late 1800s, and this place was there in this drawing,” Weasler […]

  • An Icy Weekend at Crossroads

    Crossroads at Big Creek kicks off Sturgeon Bay’s annual Fire & Ice weekend Feb. 17, 5-7 pm, with a luminary-lit hike, bonfires and hot chocolate. Then the ice theme continues with an ice-harvest demonstration Feb. 18, 1:30-3:30 pm, when Pat Madden, Mike Madden, Dan Hanson and Justin Skiba will use authentic tools to show how […]

  • Winter Fun at Open Door Bird Sanctuary

    Open Door Bird Sanctuary is continuing its tradition of Winter Open Days on Feb. 18 and March 18, both 11 am – 4 pm.  Meet the resident raptors, warm yourself by a bonfire and explore the sanctuary’s trails by snowshoeing, cross-country skiing (take your own equipment) or hiking. There are two miles split among three […]

  • Dance Away the Winter Blues with the Door County Folk Alliance

    The next Door County Folk Alliance barn dance is set for Feb. 25, 7-9 pm, at the Kress Pavilion.  No partner or experience is required because caller Mike Grimm will lead participants through all the circle and long-line dances. All levels of dancers are welcome, but children should be at least 8 years old and […]

  • Dorothy Scott & the Peacekeepers Host DOOR CANcer Fundraiser Concert

    Dorothy Scott & The Peacekeepers are putting on a fundraiser for DOOR CANcer on Feb. 24, 7 pm, at the Door County Fire Company. Scott has shared the stage with eminent performers including Carole King, Joan Osborne, Jeff Buckley, Sinéad O’Connor and others. The Peacekeepers feature Tony Besson on electric guitar and vocals, Paul Sowinski on […]

  • Cathy Grier & The Troublemakers Release Limited-Edition Vinyl

    Cathy Grier & The Troublemakers released their 2020 blues album, I’m All Burn, as a limited-edition double-vinyl set that’s available at cathygrier.com or Bay Vinyl Records, 325 Kentucky St. in Sturgeon Bay. Grier will perform Feb. 25, 7 pm, as part of Door Community Auditorium’s coffeehouse series, sharing the bill with multi-instrumentalist Paul Taylor.

  • Johnsmith and Dan Sebranek Perform at White Gull Inn

    Wisconsin singer-songwriters Johnsmith and Dan Sebranek are the next featured performers at the White Gull Inn on Feb. 22, 8 pm. For more than 35 years, singer-songwriter Johnsmith has been performing around this country and abroad. In addition to being a Kerrville New Folk winner, he has released nine solo albums, leads musical tours to […]

  • Sierra Ferrell Coming to DCA July 10

    Sierra Ferrell, who opened for the Squirrel Nut Zippers at Door Community Auditorium (DCA) in Fish Creek in 2019, will be DCA’s July 10 mainstage performer. After growing up in small-town West Virginia, Ferrell left home in her early 20s to travel with a troupe of nomadic musicians, playing in truck stops, alleyways, freight-train boxcars […]

  • Three Gibraltar Students Win Conservation Poster Contest

    Three Gibraltar art students won the Soil and Water Conservation Poster Contest at the county level: Elayna Hatch for grades 2-3, Elizabeth Bautista for grades 7-9 and Bethanie Stackhouse for grades 10-12. Bautista’s poster, which placed first, will be entered in the state competition in March. See the winning posters at co.door.wi.gov/1167/Conservation-Awareness-Poster-Contest. In addition, ninth-graders […]

  • Reclaimed & Co. Jewelry Reopens after Renovation

    Reclaimed & Co. Jewelry is reopening Feb. 18, 10 am – 4 pm, after artist and owner Melanie Wahlen completed a shop renovation. To match her salvaged and reclaimed jewelry, the renovation includes many reused components. Wahlen’s newest jewelry collection incorporates materials such as Door County beach glass, hammered and torched copper roofing tiles, and […]

  • High Schooler Exhibits Paintings in First Gallery Show

    Abby Ostermeier, a junior at Kewaunee High School, started painting when she was 15. Now, just two years later, her art is on display at Algoma’s Ladybug Glass Studio & Gallery.  High school art teachers such as Terry Worth helped Ostermeier to refine her techniques. But she had a more unconventional mentor, too: the late […]

  • Editor’s Note: A Desirably Unusual Election Season

    We’re on the cusp of a Feb. 21 primary election. If you live in Gardner, Gibraltar, Nasewaupee or Sister Bay, you have candidates on your ballot running for local office. Additionally, every voter in Door County has the statewide Wisconsin Supreme Court justice primary election on their ballot. That race has drawn two right-wing candidates […]

  • Council to Debate Kwik Trip Highway Access

    After two deadlocked decisions Monday, Sturgeon Bay’s Aesthetic Design and Site Plan Review Board passed a motion to have the city’s Common Council decide whether to allow a new Kwik Trip that’s being planned on the city’s west side to have a driveway connecting with Highway 42/57. Last December, the board approved the project’s building […]

  • Meet the candidates for Wisconsin Supreme Court

    Whoever wins is likely to be the decisive vote on abortion, gerrymandering By Peter Cameron, THE BADGER PROJECT A normally sleepy election, the 2023 race for Wisconsin Supreme Court could have huge consequences in the battleground state. Experts predict tens of millions of dollars will be spent to influence it. The Wisconsin Supreme Court currently […]

  • Free Family Art Day at School of Art

    Learn about immersive installations during the next Family Art Day at Peninsula School of Art on Feb. 18, 9 am – 12 pm. Inspired by Caledonia Curry’s public-art project The House Our Families Built, participants will build a “family room” in the gallery with area students, and families can add a drawing or sculpture that […]

  • Egg Harbor Receives $1.74 Million Grant for Highway 42 Project

    The federal government has granted the Village of Egg Harbor $1,740,480 for its Highway 42 redevelopment project. The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program grant “encourages transportation projects that improve air quality,” according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), which administers the program on behalf of the Federal Highway Administration.  Village president […]

  • Wild Things: Spring Hearing Vote April 10-13

    Citizens may submit resolutions through March 1 by KEVIN NAZE, [email protected], Peninsula Pulse contributor This year’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) spring fish and wildlife rules hearings and Conservation Congress meetings will feature a new twist. Although it will be the fourth-straight year for online-only voting – a 72-hour window from noon April 10 to […]

  • Peninsula Gun Club Balloon Shoot

    Members of the public may compete in the Peninsula Gun Club’s annual balloon shoot Feb. 19, 9-11 am.  The cost is $5 for 10 shots at the balloon targets, and the competition is open to .22-caliber long rifles only. Participants must supply their own ammo. No registration is required. Food and beverages will be available […]

  • Your Guide to Fire & Ice Weekend in Sturgeon Bay

    Cabin fever got you down? Head out to Sturgeon Bay’s annual Fire & Ice Festival to melt those winter blues away this weekend.  Friday, Feb. 17 5-7 pm: Luminary-lit hike at Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan St. Saturday, Feb. 18 Starting at 9 am: Watch snow and ice carvers work throughout downtown Sturgeon Bay.  […]

  • A City Shaped by Fire and Ice

    by Coggin Heeringa Fire & Ice is more than a catchy name for a Sturgeon Bay festival. The name also evokes history because through the years, the city has repeatedly been changed by fire and ice. A case in point is an area on Sturgeon Bay’s west side, originally known as Bay View. This residential […]

  • Learn about Ida Bay Archaeological Dig

    The Door County Historical Society’s first history luncheon program of the year is set for Feb. 25 at Stone Harbor Restaurant, where the program will be “Ida Bay Site: 1,000 Years of Indigenous Life in Sturgeon Bay.” Dr. Robert Jeske and Coggin Heeringa will discuss the exciting discoveries made at the archaeological dig at the […]

  • Obituary: Carl N. Bridenhagen

    August 2, 1938 ~ February 14, 2023 Carl Nelson Bridenhagen 84, of Sturgeon Bay died peacefully at his home on February 14, 2023.  He was born on August 2, 1938, in Sturgeon Bay to Carl and Myrtle (Vertz) Bridenhagen.  Carl graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School in 1957 and served in the U.S. Marine Corps […]

  • Children’s Book Signing with JK Palmer

    Children’s author JK Palmer is signing books at Madison Avenue Market, 25 S Madison Ave., Feb. 18, 10 am – 2 pm. She is showcasing and signing her book The House That Moved, and she’s also written two other children’s books: Elwood the Moose and Gladys Sings. Palmer weaves concepts of courage, acceptance and the power […]

  • Fish Tales Lectures Share Speaker Lineup

    The 2023 Fish Tales Lecture Series – an educational program of Crossroads at Big Creek – will share the science of the Great Lakes fisheries. This year’s presentations will start Feb. 20 with “A Quest for Nests: Nest Fishing and Smallmouth Bass Recruitment along the Door Peninsula” by Dr. Dan Isermann, unit leader of the U.S. Geological […]

  • Obituary: Evelyn F. Bashaw

    January 18, 1938 ~ February 11, 2023 Evelyn Florence Bashaw, 85, formerly of Sturgeon Bay, died Saturday night, February 11, 2023 at Waterfall Health of Algoma (formerly Algoma Long Term Care). She was born Eva Fern Dohms on January 18, 1938 in Howard, Wisconsin to Shirley and Iris (Thalacker) Dohms. Evelyn was adopted and raised […]

  • Obituary: Darwin E. Bongel

    November 3, 1942 ~ February 11, 2023 Darwin E. Bongel, 80, Algoma, died Saturday, February 11, 2023, at Aurora BayCare Medical Center after a short illness.  He was born November 3, 1942, in Sturgeon Bay to Edward and Mildred (Miller) Bongel. As a young man Darwin helped out on the home farm with his parents […]

  • Obituary: William “Bill” P. Trost

    February 13, 1935 ~ February 6, 2023 William “Bill” P. Trost peacefully died on February 6, 2023, at the age of 87. Proud father of William (Sharon) Trost, Jr., Dr. Gregory (Dr. Beth) Trost, Christopher Trost, and Dr. Jeffrey (Sarah) Trost. Loving grandfather of Nathan and Samantha; Taryn (Patrick), Cheyne and Bryce; Jeffrey, Rachael (Karsten), […]

  • Obituary: Dean J. Schlise

    November 19, 1961 ~ February 10, 2023 Dean Joseph Schlise, 61, of Forestville, died on February 10, 2023, surrounded by his family following a battle with cancer. Dean was born on November 19, 1961, in Algoma to Robert “Scoop” and Janice (Dandois) Schlise. He graduated from Southern Door High School and began a life-long career […]

  • Obituary: William M. Baudhuin

    August 29, 1929 ~ February 9, 2023 William M. Baudhuin, 93, lifelong resident of Sturgeon Bay, died Thursday morning, February 9, 2023 at Bayview Senior Care LLC (formerly Anna’s Healthcare) in Sturgeon Bay.  He was born on August 29, 1929 at home on Rhode Island Street in Sturgeon Bay, the son of Sylvan J. and […]

  • Obituary: William Charles Eickelberg

    September 10, 1942 ~ February 3, 2023 William Charles Eickelberg, 80, of Algoma, died peacefully on Friday, February 3, 2023 at Waterfall Health of Algoma. He was born September 10, 1942 in Algoma, son of the late William John and Elizabeth Margaret (Schmitt) Eickelberg. After graduating from Sturgeon Bay High School, he attended University of […]

  • Obituary: Gerald “Jerry” Francis Murphy

    October 27, 1929 ~ January 29, 2023 Gerald Francis Murphy, “Jerry” to all who knew and loved him, 93, of Sturgeon Bay, died Sunday morning, January 29, 2023 at the Pete and Jelaine Horton Skilled Nursing Center at Door County Medical Center in Sturgeon Bay with his family at his side.  He was born October […]