News

The dedication ceremony for the Ken Roloff Gymnasium is scheduled for Saturday, June 15, at 2 p.m. at River View Middle School. This is the same day as the Kaukauna Alumni Rally at VanAbel’s of Hollandtown. The dedication ceremony is open to the public. What is now known at River View Middle School as Gym B is known to many Kaukauna High School graduates from the mid-60s and earlier as “the gym” and those after that as the “old gym.” Born and raised in Kaukauna, Roloff attended Kaukauna schools, played for the Galloping Ghosts, and later taught physical education and coached several sports at Kaukauna High School after a hall of fame athletic career at UW-Stevens Point.

Our 2024 scholarship winners! Each of the 27 students receives $1,500 for a total distributed of $40,500 to this year’s seniors!

Front row left – right:

Caroline DeValk, Madison Mielke, Delinda Romenesko, McKaleigh Pahl, Maya Lahm, Kylianne VanElzen, Griffin Boucher, Ava Mau, and Sophia West

Middle row:

Tyler Specht, Cole Mursau, Vincent Terry,  McKenzie Farrell, Evelyn Duel, Rohan Flanagan, Denali Isaacs, Audra Wall, Madelyn Farrell

Back row:

Christopher DeGroot, Finnley Doriot, Nolan Hall, Jack VanEpern, Andrew Milhans, Spencer Winnekens, Ella Cronin, Katherine Jenson, Kaya VanEyck

The Kaukauna Alumni Foundation’s Friday, June 14, 2024 anniversary class celebrations are as follows:

Class of 1954 – 70 years

Hollander’s 

1820 E. Main Street, Little Chute

11:00 am. Social

12:00 lunch

Class of 1959 – 65 years

Electric City

136 W Wisconsin Avenue, Kaukauna

4:00 p.m. 

Class of 1964 – 60 years

Plan B

121 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Kaukauna

6:00 p.m.

Class of 1969 – 55 years

Pub 55

1441 Arbor Way, Kaukauna

4:00 p.m.

Class of 1974 – 50 years

Maloney’s 

N1994 Maloney Road, Kaukauna

6:30 p.m.

Class of 1979 – 45 years

Rose Hill Bar & Grill

2206 E. Main Street, Little Chute

6:00 p.m.

Class of 1984 – 40 years

Maloney’s 

N1994 Maloney Road, Kaukauna

6:00 p.m.

Class of 1989 – 35 years

Tommy G’s

107 W Wisconsin Avenue, Kaukauna

6:30 p.m.

General manager, Chris Cody of Wichmann and Fargo Funeral Homes made a $500.00 donation to the Kaukauna Alumni grant fund.

Jean Ann Promer (Schmitz), 77, died peacefully on Saturday, November 18, 2023. Jean was born on August 23, 1946, in Kaukauna, Wisconsin to Catherine J. (Geigel) and Herbert J. Schmitz. One of two siblings, she graduated in 1964 from Kaukauna High School. She married Richard (Dick) Promer on April 21, 1965. They lived in Kaukauna, Wisconsin with their three sons. 

She’s survived by her three sons Jeff (Tricia), Rick and Cory; three grandchildren Jennifer Ryan (Ken), Tyler (Annie) and Hunter ( fiancé Katelyn); three great grandchildren Amelia, Lochlan and Hallie; her brother-in-law Don Promer, sister-in-law Marlene Tennessen (Gene Kostrzak), and sister-in-law Mary Biesterveld; as well as many nieces, nephews, family and friends. 

Jean is preceded in death by husband Richard Promer, her grandparents Christine and Ivo Geigel, her parents Catherine and Herbert Schmitz, her sister Joan Schmitz, her brother-in-law Robert Promer, her sister-in-law Rachel Promer, and her brother-in-law Dan Biesterveld.

In her early years, Jean worked for the Ford Rexall Drug Store on the south side of Kaukauna. Then left to support Dick with his drywall business for over 50 yrs. Together they started the first health club in Kaukauna, “Physically Fit”. After moving full time to their cottage, she was hired as the first employee at Waubee Lake Lodge in Lakewood and worked there for 15 yrs. Volunteering was important to her, serving from 1984 until present on the Kaukauna Alumni Board of Directors, as well as other organizations such as the Lakewood Chambers of Commerce, Kings Daughters, Holy Cross Oktoberfest, and Xavier Food Fair. She also enjoyed golf, boating, traveling and spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at the Verkuilen-Van Deurzen Family Funeral Home KAUKAUNA LOCATION, 2401 Fieldcrest Drive. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 3:00 p.m. until the time of the service. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Kaukauna. For online condolences, please visit www.verkuilenfh.com. 

The Promer family would like to thank the staffs at St. Paul Elder Services and St. Elizabeth Hospital Oncology Department for their wonderful care and compassion.

The Class of 1958 collected funds at their Friday night reunion event and were able to donate $139.00 to the Scholarship fund.

Rally Master – Joe Jacobson

Paper Dedication – 100 years River View Middle School

Alumni Award – Judy Haen Verhagen

Chairman of the Board – Kristine Landreman