A criminal investigation into questionable payments made to two former Shawano Housing Authority board members has concluded with no charges being filed. Charlene Helms and Glenn Wille were apparently paid for work at the Housing Authority while Helms was serving as board chairman and Wille was a board member.

Katherine Helen “Kutchie” Kort, 95, of Shawano passed away Tuesday, June 25, 2013, in Green Bay following a brief illness. Katherine was born Nov. 26, 1917, in Shawano, a daughter of the late John and Barbara (Brunner) Kort. She attended country schools and later attended Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Kutchie worked as a cook for Shawano High School.

Albert Patrick “Muggers” Waupoose Sr., 36, of Keshena, passed into the spirit world unexpectedly on Saturday, June 22, 2013, in Keshena. Muggs was born July 7, 1976, the son of Renetta “Ned” Heath and Albert Patrick “Pat” Peters Jr. Muggs was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed being in the woods with his sons and loved the company of family and friends. Mugs often enjoyed playing pool and was known as an ace pool shark.

Sylvia Rae (nee Ladd) Leinberger, 62, was called home on Saturday, June 22, 2013, after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. Born on June 8, 1951, in Keshena, she was the fourth daughter born to Robert and Estelene (Clay) Ladd. As a young adult she left Keshena in pursuit of a college education at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, later moving to Milwaukee.

Nancy Grace Mielke, 70, of Bonduel, passed away Sunday, June 23, 2013, in Shawano. Born on April 4, 1943, in Shawano, she was the daughter of the late Helmuth and Norma (Schroeder) Wussow. On Dec. 1, 1962, she was united in marriage to Gary Mielke in Bonduel. Nancy lived most of her life in the Bonduel area and worked for Westerfeld Oil and Mid County Co-Op.

Verna Ida Emma Wolf, 96, of Shawano, passed away Thursday, June 20, 2013, in Appleton. Born on June 9, 1917, in Watertown, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Ella (Kube) Buchert. She was baptized on July 1, 1917, and confirmed on March 29, 1931, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Watertown. She graduated from Elm Grove School and attended Watertown High School. On May 20, 1939, she was united in marriage to Leonard J. Wolf in Watertown.

Alvin Adolf Heinrich Wesenberg, 87, of Bonduel, was called to his heavenly home on June 20, 2013. He was born on Nov. 30, 1925, to the late Gustav and Olga (Ratz) Wesenberg at their home in Gillett. Alvin married June Bartels on Oct. 8, 1949, at the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Green Valley. The couple farmed in Advance and then in the town of Washington for many years. They retired to Bonduel in 1984.

As I mowed the lawn yesterday, perched atop the seat of a John Deere mower, I pondered the lawn mowing days of old. As I recall, on the farm I grew up on, only the area in front of the house got mowed. That faced the old gravel road that graced the country sides in those days. Ma had a flower garden as long as the yard, and it was down near the road. I would estimate it was about 4 feet wide, and she grew things like asters and bachelor buttons.

Shawano County’s Brunch on the Farm, being held this Sunday at Nohr’s Cornerstone Dairy in Marion, is owned and operated by Terry and Dianne Nohr and family. I have a vested interest in this particular Brunch on the Farm as Terry and Dianne are my dear brother and sister-in-law, and they work and nurture the farm I grew up on. If you’re at the brunch and happen to see me, stop and say hello and introduce yourself! I’d love to meet you.