Firefighter's 'Last Ride' Goes Through Greenfield

The Greenfield fire and police departments were part of a tribute for Robert Wojczulis of Oak Creek, a Milwaukee County firefighter at Mitchell International Airport.

A giant American flag draped over Layton Avenue at Fire Station 1 set the backdrop for a ceremonial 'last ride' for a Milwaukee County firefighter Friday morning. Robert Wojczulis, 53, died of pancreatic cancer May 13. The Oak Creek resident had been a firefighter at Mitchell International Airport the last nine years. Before that, he was a City of Milwaukee police officer for nine years and was a 30-year military veteran. Fire and police apparatus from several departments, including Milwaukee, Greenfield, Franklin and Oak Creek were part of a funeral procession that left from Max A. Sass & Sons funeral home, 4747 S. 60th St., east down Layton Avenue toward Wojczulis's final resting place at Holy Sepulcher Cemetary in Cudahy.

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Francis Havey was 'Proud' to be Greenfield's Mayor

Francis Havey, Greenfield's mayor from 1980-84, died Sunday.

Francis Havey was a tough, no-nonsense chief executive when he had to be, but he led Greenfield with a fair and balanced hand. Havey, the city’s mayor from 1980-84, who was perhaps better known as a longtime attorney and founder of Havey Fundraising Management Inc., died Sunday at the age of 83. "He loved being the mayor to the day he died,” Havey's son, Stephen, said. "That was one thing he was really proud of, that he was mayor for two terms and that he was able to serve the people of Greenfield." According to Stephen Havey, his father was instrumental in the construction of on 92nd Street and was a proponent of road, sidewalk and lighting projects. He also helped define the city's boundaries with signage. "Until my dad was mayor, …

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Obituary: Greenfield's 'Compost King' Clyde Wallenfang

Wallenfang, a former vice principal at Greenfield Middle School, helped plan the city's leaf composting program.

Greenfield's Kuchenbecker was WWII Veteran

Kuchenbecker died Dec. 31 at the age of 85.

Ralph C. Kuchenbecker died peacefully at home on New Year's Eve. Age 85. Born in Greenfield, WI, on March 13, 1926, to Olga (nee Ferber) and Herman. Beloved husband of Marion (nee Herrmann) for 62 years. Father of Dale (Arlene) and David (Sharon). Grandfather of Ryan (Bethana), Kyle (Amy), Kelly and Kacey. Great-grandfather of Kasey and Kayleb. Further survived by sister-in-law Bernice Kuchenbecker, Brother-in-law Richard (Betty) Herrmann, many loving nieces and nephews. Visitation at St. John's Lutheran Church, 68th and Forest Home Ave., Friday, Jan. 6, 10-11 a.m. Funeral service at 11 a.m. Burial at St. John's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial appreciated to the Disabled American Veterans. Ralph served with the U.S. Navy in the …

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Greenfield Patch's Top Stories of 2011

Did your favorite story make the list?

Controversy, tragedy and restaurant openings dominated Greenfield Patch's first year, at least in terms of its most-read stories. Gov. Scott Walker can be thanked, at least in part, for plenty of protest and recall coverage, and the tragic passing of Robert Hassler Jr. weighed heavy on the hearts and minds of many. El Beso and Tower Restaurant's grand openings proved popular as well. But Greenfield Patch's top story of the year, was the massive marijuana bust by the Greenfield Police Department, which got a significant readership boost thanks to a pickup by Fark.com, a landing spot for real, funny or odd news. The following stories were the most popular on Greenfield Patch based on the number of page views it received: 1. Greenfield Police…

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Another Whitnall Graduate Dies in Accident

Britney Mowry was killed in a car accident in Alabama on Friday.

Just weeks after Whitnall graduation Robert Hassler Jr. died in a motorcycle accident, the Whitnall community suffered another unexpected loss Friday. Britney Mowry, a 2010 Whitnall graduate, was killed in a car accident in Huntsville, Al. on Friday when the car she was in with two other girls lost control while traveling down a mountain road and struck another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. Mowry had just celebrated her 20th birthday four days earlier. One of the girls Mowry was with, Andrea Morrow, was also killed. Andrea's twin sister Amber, who was driving, was in critical condition in a Huntsville hospital. Mowry was a cheerleader at Whitnall. Several people left condolences for her family on the New Hope Funeral Home's …

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James “Jim” Robert Hamann

Greenfield man was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Waukesha.

James “Jim” Robert Hamann of Greenfield, died on Friday, Sept. 30, 2011, at SouthPointe Health Care at the age of 77 years. He was born the son of James and Isabelle (Cawley) Hamann on March 15, 1934, in Milwaukee. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. James will be deeply missed by his wife Phyllis whom he married on Aug. 21, 1971, and his daughter; Michelle “Shelly”,  his brother; Dr. John (Stephanie) Hamann of River Falls, WI   his sisters; Sr. Joan Hamann of Springfield, IL,  Jane Lancour of Irvine, CA and Jean Hamann of West Bend, WI.  Further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. The visitation for James will be held from 10 a.m. until the noon Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011, at St. …

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Editor's Notebook

Concealed Carry: Will They or Won't They Post?

Some buildings, businesses taking a wait-and-see approach.

Wisconsin's concealed carry law will go into effect November, but that doesn't mean those citizens who choose to carry will be doing so wherever they please. The law gives businesses the right to determine if weapons, even those appropriately concealed, will be allowed on the premises. If they are not, a sign will be clearly posted at the business's entrance. On Thursday, the Greenfield Library Board began discussions regarding whether or not to prohibit concealed weapons in the library. According to Library Director Sheila O'Brien, however, the board postponed any detailed discussion. "After brief discussion, a motion to amend (library) policy to include specific language prohibiting weapons whether visible or concealed, was tabled …

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Editor's Notebook

Patch Tour: Where I'll Be This Week

Here is a quick look at where you can find me or other Greenfield Patch folks around town.

The daily Patch Tour is designed for Greenfield Patch to build a sense of community with the residents and businesses of this great city. If you have an event or want me to stop by your business, let me know and I'll do my best to work it into my schedule, and feel free to catch up with me at any of the following events. Let's chat about what Patch can do for you and what I can do to make your Patch experience even better. Tuesday: Rain, rain, stay away for National Night Out. I will have a table set up under the tent just west of the parking lot at Konkel Park. Hopefully, I'll be hard to miss; I'll be wearing my green Patch t-shirt. I'll have Patch fliers, some other promotional items and coloring sheets and crayons for the kids (while …

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Greenfield Man Drowns in Family Pool

He had been drinking, according to the medical examiner's office.

A 22-year-old Greenfield man is dead after mixing alcohol with swimming, according to officials cited in a news story Monday afternoon. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Jeffrey Wielichowski had been partying with friends late Friday night before going swimming in the family pool in the 5600 block of South 44th Street. The story said his friends urged him not to swim, and those friends had checked on him frequently. But when they didn't hear him splashing, they checked on him again and found him face down at the bottom of the pool. Paramedics from the Greenfield Fire Department responded to the call but efforts to resuscitate Wielichowski were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at approximately 11:30 p.m. According to …

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