Condolences

Gordon Ovan, formerly Redgranite… passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday, June 3, 2022.  After completing his student teaching in Michigan, he returned to Wisconsin where he met his wife and purchased a property near Redgranite. In 1992, he received the “Gift of Life” through a kidney transplant.  This re-energized his tenacious curiosity and sustained his crusade to promote organ donation.

Gregory Deering, Kaukauna…died Friday, April 29, 2022 with his wife at his side, after a 1½ year battle with Sarcoma Cancer.  He owned a cabin in Mountain, WI, where he loved spending time in the woods with his dog Maple, sitting by the fire, renovating the cabin, making Maple Syrup, hunting, and woodworking. A memorial is being established.

Rev. James Rivers, Janesville (formerly of Wild Rose)…passed away on Saturday, June 11, 2022. He retired to a Tree Farm in Wild Rose in 2001 because of his wife Nancy’s failing health.  Their woods was a Golden Sands RC&D demonstration forest for many years.

Donald Burke, formerly of Hancock…passed away peacefully from a stroke on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at the Overland Park, KS Regional Hospital. A charter WWOA member, Don and his wife, Evelyn, were active in the Central Sands Chapter and attended many WWOA Annual Meetings.  They loved living on the family tree farm, B-Kin Land. In 2019, they relocated to Overland Park, KS to the Brookdale Independent Living Facility, closer to most of their family.

Patricia Pheifer, Neenah…peacefully went to heaven on Sunday, February 6, 2022. Alan Pheifer, Neenah…passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 11, 2021. The Pheifers enjoyed spending time with their family feeding birds and watching or hunting deer at the Al Pheifer Family Woodlands in Scandinavia In lieu of flowers a memorial is being established in their name.

Robert “Bob” A. Borchers, Pickens, SC… passed away on Saturday, October 30, 2021 surrounded by his loving family. When he was just 18 years old, Bob purchased 168 acres in Trego, WI and together (ne and his father) they planted seedlings to grow what became Will Be Done Farms.  He was a lifelong member of the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association.

James “Jim” Albert Baker, Viola…passed away peacefully in the care of his family on Thursday, February 3, 2022.  Jim became interested in tree farming (in retirement) and was a member of the Walnut Council and WI Woodland Owners Association.  he planted over 150,00 black walnut and other trees on his farms on Elk Creek and Tar Hollow.

Dolores Hill, Brown Deer…passed away on Friday, January 7, 2022.  She was the wife of Earl Hill. Her passion for nature shone brightly in her love of gardening, both in her backyard and at her cottage and forest which she tended for many summers with her Swedish axe in-hand.

Sharon Feathers, Ringle…passed away on Thursday, March 10, 2022.  She was the  wife of member Jerry Feathers.   She was a nature lover and in later years, when traveling became too difficult, she loved sitting on the deck watching the birds coming to the various well-stocked feeders in the backyard. She was a fan of Aldo Leopold’s Sand County Almanac and would pause to listen with delight to the migrating geese overhead in the spring.

Dale M. Gumz, Cadott…passed away on March 15, 2022, after a long illness. Toward the end of his career, he returned to a farm near where he grew up. Dale especially enjoyed land improvement projects and spending time with friends and relatives in the Cadott area. Among his many positive attributes, Dale will be remembered for his kindness and his gentle, positive attitude.