Donna Lee Deppeler, Monroe – passed away unexpectedly at home on Wednesday, December 22, 2021.
Donna and her husband, Jim, reverse-downsized by moving to the farm in Monroe in 2019 – a move which puzzled their children but delighted the two of them. She is survived by her husband and WWOA Black Hawk Chapter chair, James F. Deppeler of Monroe along with their daughter and WWOA members, Debra (Lynne Deppeler Hess) of Madison and their daughter, Tajenay.

Donations may go to the St Clare of Assisi Parish tuition-assistance program for youth education at St. Victor Church, 1760 14th Street, Monroe, WI 53566 or 608- 325-9506.  Condolences may be shared at Newcomer Funeral Home.

Allen Jeffrey “Jeff” Martin, PhD, Middleton – passed away on  Monday, December 13, 2021.
Jeff spent his life working in and for our forests, first with the US Forest Service as a research forester and then as a forestry professor/extension for UW-Madison. He was very supportive of WWOA and volunteered his talents over many years to help us grow.  Jeff mentored incoming WWOA executive director Nancy Bozek and worked with WWOA’s Board of Directors on various projects such as creating WWOA ‘s first slide program.  Jeff authored many publications for woodland owners including the popular Forestry Facts series.  He assisted with the planning and implementation of the winter woodland owners conference series and could easily be found at each one in his khaki pants and a plaid shirt. Jeff donated his time taking photos at many WWOA events, donating his framed photos for WWOA’s Silent Auction, and assisting many WWOA members in the preparation of their Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year applications.

A celebration of Jeff’s life will be held on May 22, 2022 at Lakeview Park, in Middleton. A complete obituary and additional service details will be published at a later date.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Middleton Historical Society or to the family where a scholarship fund will be established and presented to a forestry student. Online condolences may be made at Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care.

Harold E. Manhart, MD, Montrose, CO and Barneveld, WI – passed away on December 5, 2021.
In 1966 he purchased a dairy farm in western Wisconsin with plans to turn it into a productive conservation tree farm specializing in American Walnut. Over the ensuing 55 years his effort has been rewarded with multiple recognitions, including Conservation Farm of the Year on two occasions. He was a member of the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association, American Walnut Council and the American Chestnut Foundation.

Memorial services will be held later in the upcoming year (2022) at the farm. Any donations can be made in his name to the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association.

Janet L. Lehrer, Iola – passed away on Friday, November 26, 2021.  Jan was a very active WWOA volunteer for decades.  She served on the WWOA Board of Directors from 2006 through 2015, and as Vice President from 2012-14.  During this time she became chair of the very successful Fundraising Committee.  She also chaired the Education and Nominating Committees and served on the Membership Committee.  Prior to serving on WWOA’s Board of Directors, Jan served on the local Wolf River Chapter board of directors for many years.  Until her death, she represented WWOA on the Wisconsin Tree Farm Committee.  WWOA recognized Jan for her extraordinary volunteer efforts by presenting her with WWOA’s Distinguished Service award in 2013-14 and WWOA’s Special Recognition award for her volunteer efforts during Annual Meetings in 2014.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 2:00 pm at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church 182590 County Road C, Galloway Wisconsin. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm at the church. Burial of cremains will take place in the parish cemetery. Online condolences can be given at www.voiefuneralhome.com.  Memorials may be donated in Jan’s name to Waupaca County Crime Stoppers, 1402 E. Royalton St. Waupaca, WI  54981 or Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association.

John P. Plante, Osceola – passed away on October 10, 2020 after a brief run-in with cancer.  John married his wife, Marty, because she was smart and pretty and owned 40 acres of land which adjoined his 160 acres.  He proved to be an excellent steward of this land by means of logging, milling, and replanting trees.  He and Marty worked hard to build their hobby farm.  Memorials may be sent to Sharing & Caring Hands, 525 N 7th St, Minneapolis, MN 55405 or sharingandcaringhands.org

Donnel “Don” Gabower, Janesville – passed away on March 24, 2020.  Don was an active WWOA member, attending many annual meetings and chapter activities, who planted thousands of trees around the Janesville area.  He donated land for the Gabower-Reilly Wetlands located west of Beloit which is now managed by the Green-Rock Audubon Society.  Memorials may be made to Rock Prairie Presbyterian Church, 8605 E County Rd A, Janesville, WI 53546.

Jeannine Griffith, Walnut, IL – passed away on May 1, 2021.  Jeannine was a life member of WWOA and attended many Annual Meetings.  Flowers or memorials may be directed to the Red Oak United Methodist Church, 16961 2900 N Ave, Walnut, IL 61376 or Red Oak Cemetery Fund or the Lee County Fair Association, 1196 Franklin Rd, Amboy, IL 61310.

Lowell “Steve” Stevenson, Richland Center – passed away September 20, 2021.  Steve was a life member of WWOA.  He served as chair of the Bad Axe Chapter for many years, hosted several WWOA chapter field days, and was active on the Government Affairs Committee.  Many WWOA members enjoyed visiting Steve and Carol at their wonderful Town of Stevenson Museum or sawmill through the years.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in memory of Lowell “Steve” Stevenson to local Richland Center American Legion or Agrace Hospice care located at: https://www.agrace.org/donate/

Robert “Bob” Engelhard PhD, Stevens Point – passed away on September 21, 2021.  He served as WWOA’s executive director from 1991-1995 after his retirement from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point where he was a professor of forestry for 25 years.  His professional achievements included receiving the university-wide excellence in teaching award three times and College of Natural Resources outstanding faculty member award three times.  He was a member of the Governor’s Council on Forestry for six years.  He was named a Fellow in the Society of American Foresters in 1985 and received the 2005 John Macon Award by the Wisconsin Society of American Foresters. In 2009 he was inducted into the Wisconsin Forestry Hall of Fame.

Per the family’s wishes, a public Celebration of Bob’s life will be delayed until large groups of people can safely assemble. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to The Robert J. Engelhard Teaching Assistantship Endowment at UW-Stevens Point.  Those wishing to make a charitable contribution to the fund should make their checks payable to “UWSP Foundation – Engelhard Forestry Assistantship” and mail it to UWSP Foundation, 2100 Main St., Stevens Point, WI 54481; or give on-line at  https://give.uwsp.edu/give-now and designate “Other Specific Fund – Engelhard Forestry Assistantship – 3847.”

Nancy Livingston, Hancock – passed away on September 8, 2021.  Nancy was a WWOA life member and her parents were charter members.  She served on the WWOA Board of Directors from 2000-2006.  She was an active WWOA volunteer, attended WWOA Annual Meetings and participant in the Central Sands Chapter.  A Memorial Service is planned for Spring of 2022 at Zion Lutheran Church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in her memory to the WWOA Endowment Fund, PO Box 285, Stevens Point, WI 54481.