With pride we present this Inspiration Wall dedicated to the men and women who called Berlin home and whose achievements have benefited their profession, sport, business or the citizens of this earth.
It is hoped that these brief biographical sketches will provide incentive to the students of Berlin, to learn more, to aim for like values, to believe in their own potential, and to reach for the stars. Challenges in the future are many. The accomplishments of these and future honorees are presented as motivation and inspiration for everyone to believe in themselves and go the extra mile.
The project, “Be Proud, Be Inspired” is a joint effort with the Berlin Area Historical Society and the Berlin Area School System.
Richard Claire Beaman
Dick, as he was known, grew up on a dairy farm near Berlin. After graduation from Berlin High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy becoming a radar technician, based on his high aptitude in math and science, thanks to his well-rounded education at Berlin High School. He was stationed on the USS Coasters Harbor (AG 77) a support ship, in the Pacific Theater at the end of WWII. After discharge from the Navy, he enrolled in Ripon College and then transferred to U.W. Madison where he finished his BS in Mechanical Engineering. He graduated Cum...
read moreJames Gurkowski
Jim Gurkowski, a life-long resident of Berlin and a 1968 graduate of Berlin High School, has devoted many hours to the Berlin sportsmen’s community. Trapshooting – and giving back to the sport through volunteer work – has been a true passion for Jim. It began at the Berlin Conservation Club, where he has served a number of years on the Board of Directors. He was a Hunter Education instructor for the youth of Berlin and surrounding communities, helping them learn the proper and safe way to handle guns while out in the woods or fields hunting....
read moreRobert L. Seward M.D.
A member of the 1957 Berlin High School class, Robert L. Seward, M.D. graduated from the University of Wisconsin Medical School in 1966 and has been a certified American Board Internal medicine member since 1978. He is the son of Dr. Lynn and Gladys Seward, and has a sister, Janet Jaecks. He is the lucky and proud dad to three wonderful children, Kristy Kottkey, Matt Seward, and Lori Campbell and has 4 grandsons, Andre, Henry, Sonni and Gus. Robert learned numerous lessons from his father whose message to him was, If you see wrongs, you must...
read moreDr. Peter Johnson
Peter Johnson graduated from Berlin High School in 1978. He considered becoming a carpenter after high school, but was persuaded by his family physician to become a medical doctor. Johnson, however, didn’t think he was smart enough. With encouragement from both parents he entered UW-Oshkosh. There he took lots of pre-med courses but initially struggled, given his lack of study skills. He ultimately did well, graduated in 1982 and applied to medical school….and wasn’t accepted. He enrolled at UW-Madison, got great grades and was ultimately...
read moreRobert (Bob) Malchetske
Bob Malchetske, a lifelong resident of Berlin, has devoted many hours to better and make a difference in the Berlin community. For this dedication, he is a 2019 Honoree for the ‘Be Proud, Be Inspired’ Inspiration Wall. Malchetske’s participation in the Berlin community began in 1976 when he and his brother, Tom, opened Malchetske’s Liquor Store. Bob was only 17 at the time! Together they ran the store for 28 years. At the same time, Bob was also an active member of Berlin’s Fire Department to 1989 when his service as a fire fighter ended due...
read moreLuther S. Olsen
Luther S. Olsen was born in Berlin in 1951. He graduated from Berlin High School in 1969 and earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1973. He completed the Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program Group IV in1990-1992. Senator Olsen was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2004, after serving in the Wisconsin State Assembly for 10 years. He started his public service career as member of the Berlin Area School Board from 1976 to 1997, including holding the office of President of the Board from 1986 to 1995....
read moreLucy Smith Morris
Lucy Smith was born in 1850 in Markesan, WI. She was educated at the Musical Academy in Beaver Dam and the Notre Dame Convent, (now Mount Mary College) in Milwaukee. After teaching school for several years, Lucy married Charles Secor Morris, a young entrepreneur of Berlin. Lucy Smith Morris achieved many great accomplishments. She was a genius in leadership and successfully brought women together to enrich the quality of their lives, while transforming the worlds of culture and reform. Lucy recognized the potential power of women’s political...
read moreM. Jean Walker Bruce, M.D.
Nominated 2018. Jeanie Walker graduated from Berlin High School in 1960 as valedictorian. She received her BS degree in education from UW-Oshkosh and married Robert Bruce in 1963. She taught in elementary schools in Oshkosh, then in Bozeman, Montana while Robert was in college. After Robert graduated, they moved to Minnesota and then to the Green Bay area where Jean was a stay-at-home mom and an active volunteer for 13 years. When their youngest child was nearing school age, she began taking courses to become re-certified to teach in...
read moreEugene (Gene) Trochinski
Nominated 2018. A 1970 graduate of Berlin High School, Gene Trochinski went on to a 40-year career as teacher, coach and administrator, 36 of them in Orange County, Florida. During his tenure at Dr. Phillips High School he built an athletic program that earned 86 conference titles, 96 district, 22 regional, 10 state and four national championships. He was twice named the Civitan (FL) Wrestling Coach of the Year and was inducted into both the Dr. Phillips High School Athletic Hall of Fame and DPHS Theater Hall of Fame. He taught for 15 years...
read moreBenedict (Dick) Brooks
Nominated 2018. The Brooks family moved to Berlin in 1948 when Dick was 19 years old. Dick, his dad, Gary, and brothers, Raymond and Glenn were hard-working entrepreneurs who owned and operated various businesses in Berlin: Wisconsin Tanktainer, Carri Craft Catamarans, Artcraft, Prefinished Wood Products and Brooks Yachts. The catamarans and yachts were considered some of the finest available and captured the interest of movie stars and celebrities of the time. Always an active participant in civic groups and events, Dick’s true love for...
read morePhillip J. Sass
Nominated 2017. A native of Milwaukee Wisconsin, Phillip Sass left his job as a food chemist and moved to Berlin in 1973 when he and a partner launched Wisconsin Spice, Inc. in an abandoned 19th century building located on Capron St. In the 35 years since its inception, Wisconsin Spice has grown from its humble beginnings into a global powerhouse in the mustard industry supplying over 25 countries with its products. In 1985, Sass, now sole owner, moved the company to its existing facility in Berlin’s South Industrial Park as the first...
read moreStephanie Ceman
Nominated 2017. Stephanie Ceman graduated from Berlin High School in 1983. At that time she headed for UW-Madison, planning to go to medical school. While there she majored in bacteriology and graduated with distinction in 1987. Part of her preparation for medical school included research in a genetics lab. This became her focus and in 1994 earned her PhD in Genetics. Because she was working on the genetics of the immune system Stephanie’s next course was to pursue the cell biology of the immune system and from that obtained a postdoctoral...
read moreWilliam Michael McMonigal
Nominated 2017. W.M. “Mike” McMonigal graduated from Berlin High School in 1964. He attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Marquette University in Milwaukee in 1968, going on to get a Juris Doctorate from Marquette’s Law School in 1971. Returning to Berlin he joined his father in his law practice here. In 1975 he became the Family Court Commissioner for Green Lake County, a position he held until 1992. In that year he was appointed Circuit Court judge for Green Lake County by Governor Thompson. He was reelected...
read moreTheodore (Tim) H. Fortnum
Nominated 2016. Lumberjack, Farmer, Machinist, Foundryman, Engineer, Inventor, Auto dealer. A man with many interesting stories to tell is Theodore H. Fortnum, more commonly known by his friends as “Tim” so stated an article in a February 1961 issue of the Berlin Journal. Tim was born August 28, 1874 on a farm at Green Lake center, the 9th child of an immigrant family who came to the U.S. from England. He attended a country school up to 8th grade but continued his love of learning with correspondence courses, reading, and life experiences....
read moreMark G. Doll
Nominated 2016. Mark G. Doll graduated from Berlin High School in 1967. He earned a B.A. in Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1971 and a M.B.A. degree in 1975. The son of a former Berlin High School principal, Mark was born in Berlin the oldest of three children. He credits his teachers (including his dad, George) with giving him a great base to learn. Following his undergraduate degree, Doll started at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. in the investment department and worked there in various roles for the next 40...
read moreBeverly Ann Biegick Keelor
Nominated 2016. Beverly Ann graduated from Berlin High School in 1948. She attended Oshkosh State Teacher’s College and graduated from Palm Beach Junior College in West Palm Beach, Florida. What started out as a little girl’s dream of dancing became a life-long passion and avocation for Beverly. She began taking lessons at the age of eight and continued to adulthood. All during this time she took every opportunity to perform for family and friends. Another talent she developed was learning to play the marimba. In 1942 she appeared...
read moreRobert Wright
Nominated in 2015.Robert Wright was a member of one of the early families of Berlin, the first one arriving here in 1853. Through all the generations the Wrights held a keen interest in community and worked for its betterment. Robert, of the fourth generation, was no different. After graduating from Berlin High School in 1920, he spent about two years at Beloit College and then went to work for Blair & Co. of Chicago, (an investment company) from 1925 to 1929 until the stock market crashed. In 1930, he and his father, Fred W. Wright...
read moreChristine Stark Christopherson
Christine Stark Christepherson graduated from Berlin High School in 1975. She went on to earn a B.A. in music education at St. Olaf College serving as co-concert Mistress of the St. Olaf Orchestra during her time there. An accomplished violinist, she had been a member of the Oshkosh Civic Symphony during grades 7 to 12 honing her skills and experiences. “Mrs. C surely was a force for the good parts of life.” “Mrs. C. made me the person I am today.” These quotes, attributed to Christine, are just a sample of the many from former students. She...
read moreBenjamin Harold Seaman
Nominated in 2015. After graduation from Berlin High School in 1936, Ben Seaman was working in a factory in Milwaukee when the 2nd World War began. Because that industry was essential to the war effort his entry into the U.S. Navy was delayed. It was while he was on ship in the South Pacific that he read about a new car to be built and sold in the “States.” He wrote to the Kaiser-Frazer company asking about a franchise. He got his answer at another port and the Berlin native became an automobile dealer. Thus, the West Side Garage was born....
read moreRolf A. Peterson, PhD
Nominated 2014 Rolf Peterson graduated from Berlin High School in 1957. Not having an interest in college, he joined the Navy. While serving his country he began to realize he had the intelligence to go to college. After the Navy he enrolled at Oshkosh State College (now UW-Oshkosh). He received a Bachelor of Science Degree and then went on to graduate school at the U. of Iowa. His first year was very difficult and he was on probation and then failed his first dissertation defense. With determination he pressed on and later had his M.A....
read moreDavid Charles Good, M.D.
Nominated 2014 David C. Good graduated from Berlin High School in 1966. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from UW-Madison and later his M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) from that school. He spent his residency at the University of Minnesota Hospital, Minneapolis, in Neurology. He is an academic neurologist and has been Professor and Chair of Neurology at Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pa. since 2004. Previously he served on the faculty of Southern Illinois University in Springfield and Wake Forrest University in Winston-Salem,...
read moreGeorge L. Hess Jr.
Nominated 2014 George L. Hess Jr. graduated from Berlin High School in 1955 and served four years in the United States Air Force, later receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree from UW-Oshkosh. From 1960 to 1962 he worked in the electronics field in Buffalo N. Y. and then in Oak Creek, WI on the Modular Guidance System in the U.S. Space Program. In 1962 he joined the C.A. Chier Sand Co. as a partner with his father-in-law, Cliff Chier and brother-in-law, Russell Chier. In 1979, he and Russ co-founded the family owned business now known as...
read moreRussell R. Chier
Nominated 2014 Russ Chier learned the meaning of hard work and responsibility by working in the family business, C. A. Chier Sand Co. owned by his father, Clifford Chier. After graduating from Berlin High School in 1955 he went into the business full time learning all aspects of the operation. By the early 1960s he became a partner along with his brother-in-law, George Hess. When Cliff Chier retired the two men incorporated the company (Chier Sand) and in 1979 co-founded Badger Mining Corporation taking it from a local and then regional...
read moreAlfred J. Treder
Nominated 2013 Alfred James Treder, and family moved to Berlin when he was 5 years old. He has worked various aspects of space and missile Guidance & Control systems for over 50 years, from conceptual design through development and flight. Since the early 1990s he has been a key player in the specification and development of the Guidance, Navigation and Control subsystem for the United State’s part of the International Space Station. His primary responsibility was making sure the Station met its pointing accuracy requirements. Treder...
read moreCovell A., Frederick R., & Louis C. Peck
Nominated 2013 All three men, father and two sons attended Berlin schools. They were involved in the C.A. Peck Hardware Co. and Peck’s Hardware Manufacturing Co. Fred drew the patterns for the first rural mailboxes which are still used today. Their involvement in the hardware business led them to help organize the Wisconsin Retail Hardware Association and the National Hardware Association. C.A. and later Louis, served as President for both organizations and had their offices on the second floor of their building on the southwest corner of...
read moreJudith L. LaBuda
Nominated 2013 Judy LaBuda graduated from Berlin high School in 1975. She went on to receive a Bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Education from University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she graduated with Distinction and a Masters Degree in Behavioral Disabilities – Rehabilitation Counseling Psychology also from UW-M. From 1981 to 1989, Labuda worked as a rehabilitation counselor, rehabilitation supervisor and later regional director for IntraCorp. She earned a third degree, Juris Doctorate (law) from the University of Colorado School of Law,...
read moreThomas Lee Klein
Nominated 2013 Tom Klein was a 1953 Berlin High School graduate. As a sophomore, he was injured in a high school football game that left him a quadriplegic for the rest of his life. Prior to the accident he was an outstanding athlete in grad school and high school, earning varsity letters as a freshman. Despite his injury he became a successful sports and news reporter for the Berlin Journal and the Oshkosh Northwestern for many years. At one time he covered Berlin sporting events in his motorized wheelchair attending all the sporting events...
read moreJulie Good-Kruger
Nominated 2013 After graduating from Berlin High School in 1973, Julie continued her education earning a Bachelor of Arts in Classics (the study of antiquity) at St. Olaf College and went on to earn her Masters Degree in Divinity in 2012. She has been an entrepreneur and business owner since 1980. Julie started her collectibles design as the co-owner/designer/sculptor at Good-Kruger Dolls Inc. from 1980 -2000, selling dolls both nationally and internationally and earning numerous awards. She has been a free-lance designer for famous companies...
read moreDavid Doan
Nominated 2013 This 1982 graduate of Berlin High School went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from UW-Platteville. It is his sideline/hobby that has earned him the title of “World Champion” and gained him a strong reputation in powerlifting. Using weightlifting as a training tool during high school and college sports, he entered his first Bench Press competition in 1989 on a dare. The next year he competed in his first National Championship and finished 4th. Since then he has been 13 times USA Powerlifting Drug Free...
read moreConnie Curran
Nominated 2013 Connie graduated from Berlin High School in 1965 and went on to receive her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UW Madison. She continued her education receiving a MSN at DePaul University, EdD from Northwestern Illinois Univ., Physical Assessment program at Loyola University School of Medicine, Labor Management program at Univ. of San Francisco School of Business, and Executive MBA from Harvard. She has made a career of being a Nurse Professor at several universities; Dean at the Medical College of Wisconsin; Entrepreneur; and...
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