June 2022

I love strawberries, but only when they are in season, sweet, delicious and preferably local.

One thing I do not like, however, is picking them. Because of this, I am willing to pay extra for those already picked. Every year I see you pick ads for strawberries right around now, but I just want someone else to pick them for me. I know that sort of sounds elitist but let me tell you a little story. 

Several decades ago, when I was just entering my teen years, I needed a job. My seasonal job working at a local greenhouse, Glei’s, had just come to an end and because we were poor, I needed to fund things like clothes, make up, entertainment–you get the idea–for myself.

My friend and I were perusing the local newspaper, the Hillsdale Daily News, when what should catch my eye, but a classified ad soliciting strawberry pickers. You were paid by the pound, and although I can’t remember the exact amount, it seemed reasonable to us.

STOUGHTON–Timothy “Tim” C. Klongland, 73, passed away on June 14, 2022. He was born in Stoughton on May 18, 1949 to H. Owen and Jean Elizabeth (Anderson) Klongland.

He attended Stoughton schools and continued his education during a turbulent time at UW-Madison, and later graduated with a BA in Art.

In 1971, he married the former Karen Pohl, of Waukesha, who he met at the university. Tim was a successful buyer with Gimbels department store in Madison for many years before returning to the Stoughton area to become a real estate broker.

From the 1980s to early 1990s, Tim also ably served as the clerk of the Township of Dunkirk (in southeastern Dane County), and he was on the board of Middleton Insurance for many years.

CROSS PLAINS–Lynette “Lyn” Jane Passini, 73, of Cross Plains, passed away on April 27, 2022, after a courageous fight against lung cancer.

Lyn was born on July 6, 1948 at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison and grew up in Middleton. She was a 1966 graduate of Middleton High School where she was involved with Madrigal and Treble Clef singing groups.

Following high school, Lyn married James S. Passini of Middleton in April 1971, and attended UW-Madison. Shortly after college studies, she began employment at AnchorBank in Madison. While working there, a special group of co-workers created “the birthday club,” and for over 35 years they would have fun exploring towns in Wisconsin, traveling abroad, laughing and sharing memories. In 2014, Lyn retired from AnchorBank as Senior Vice President of Mortgage Lending after 43 years of service.

MIDDLETON–Drazen Dupor was just a child when he began painting and had his first exhibit when he was just 14 years old. By the time the Middleton man was 20, he had painted his first icon, and he said since that time, he has been painting icons and frescos for churches as well as other customers.

“As a child, I went to church solely to observe the frescoes and was simply fascinated by them. I knew it would be my basic life job,” said Dupor, who has been in Middleton for 12 years. 

Dupor describes his style as traditional Byzantine iconography and that he prefers large format, wall murals.