March 2024
Edwina Kavanaugh retired from WDNR in 2019. She joined the DNR Bureau of Legal Services in 1992 as an attorney, but law was her second career. As a New Orleans native, she’d worked in Lafayette LA as an Internal Revenue Service Tax Auditor (1973-76) and Revenue Agent (1976-87). But in 1986 she decided to change careers, quit IRS, sold her house, and moved west to attend Berkeley Law at the University of California (1987-90).
After graduating in 1990 and passing the California Bar exam she moved to Pago Pago American Samoa to work as a law clerk for the Territorial High Court. She returned to the Bay Area in late 1991, and after a job hunt in August she moved to Madison to become a WDNR staff attorney and Midwesterner.
In her 27 years with WDR Edwina advised various programs - hazardous waste, drinking water & ground water, waterways & wetlands, public trust issues, public access to navigable waters, environmental grants & loans, shoreland and St. Croix riverway zoning, forest tax and managed forest law, the dry cleaner remediation program, and septage.
Edwina especially enjoyed advising staff on environmental enforcement, reviewing referrals to DOJ, and working with DOJ attorneys assigned to those cases. She represented WDNR in 80+ contested case hearings in waterways & wetlands, drinking & groundwater, well driller license revocations, and forest tax & managed forest law. She trusted the intelligence and expertise of staff in their fields of science and saw her job as helping them apply the law to the facts and evidence to tell their story in court and at hearings to achieve the best environmental results.
She retired in June 2019 to travel, hike, trail run/walk, cross country ski, bird watch, swim, and attend music concerts, operas, movies, live theater, lectures, and museums. She enjoys catching up with long time friends and making new ones. Like many retired conservationists, Edwina enjoys the free time that retirement provides but still misses the frequent contact with DNR folks that her job provided.
March 2024
Robin Nyffeler was hired as a law clerk at WDNR in 1990 while attending the University of Wisconsin Law School. After working as a legal intern, Robin was hired as an attorney in 1992. During her 30 year career, Robin primarily provided legal assistance to a few water pollution programs, both point source and nonpoint source programs, as well as several financial assistance programs. Robin retired in 2022, but she returned as an LTE in 2023, and is currently working a few hours a week for the WDNR. As an LTE attorney, Robin is continuing to provide legal advice on Clean Water Act issues and other administrative law issues.
In her spare time, Robin enjoys reading, gardening, spending time with her friends, family and standard poodle Henry, as well as hiking in the Driftless area and other woodlands of Wisconsin. She also enjoys time spent on or near a lake, stream, river, wetland or ocean…water is a source of joy for her.
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Chuck Pils |
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Chuck Pils was a DNR wildlife biologist who worked for 33 years before retiring in 1999.
He has traveled to Cuba 9 times from 1999 to 2017 and has worked with Cubans on educational, scientific, and diplomatic issues. His talk, Cuba Science, explores cooperative programs between the U.S. and Cuba including medicine, education, and natural resource management. |
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| Chuck's presenation |
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| Linda's video of Cuba |
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| Cuba: An American History |
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ADDIS, James (Jim) T.
MADISON
James (Jim) T. Addis, aged 86, passed away peacefully at Oakwood Village, Pioneer Prairie, on February 10, 2024, surrounded by his family and loving wife, Ann, after a long battle with cancer.
Jim was born in Sandusky, Ohio, to Joanne and Lloyd Nichols. He received a master's degree in Limnology from Ohio State University after conducting research on Lake Erie.
In 1974, Jim joined the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as a fisheries manager in the Southeast District. He quickly rose through the ranks, demonstrating exceptional leadership skills in various high-level administrative roles and successfully handling several complex and controversial natural resource management issues.
Jim was a dedicated Badger sports fan and a skilled photographer who generously donated his photographic talents to Habitat for Humanity and the Madison Mallards.
He is survived by his wife Ann, son Steven Addis, daughter Bonnie Cotton, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and numerous friends.
Memorial donations may be made to the Oakwood Hospice or the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin.
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Study |
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Besaw, Wayne
BERLIN
On January 1, 2024 Wayne F. Besaw, age 84 passed away at Theda Care Hospital Berlin with family by his side. His death was due to congestive heart disease. Wayne was born in Berlin, WI on August 21, 1939 to Charles and Eleanor (Freimark) Besaw. He attended St. Stanislaus Catholic School, Berlin High School (Class of 1958) and the University of WI-Stevens Point. On October 21, 1961, he married his high school sweetheart Joan Mlodzik at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Berlin. Together they had three sons and went on to celebrate 62 years of marriage.
Following Wayne's graduation from UW-Point in 1962, the couple moved to Berlin. Wayne became employed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources working in Fisheries at the Oshkosh location. A position became available a year later in Wildlife Management and he relocated to the Berlin regional DNR office.
One of his primary job functions was negotiating and acquiring land for the projects of Grand River Wildlife Area and the White River Marsh Wildlife Area. He also obtained game warden credentials and worked law enforcement during special hunting seasons.
He very much enjoyed his career with the DNR and working with the many people he met along the way. Wayne retired from the DNR in 1997 after 34 years of service and began another phase of his life known as “retirement”.
Those years were filled with spending fun times with his family, traveling with his wife and friends throughout Wisconsin and numerous trips to Branson, MO, reading, playing cards and taking many fishing trips to Green Lake and Lake Poygan along with several trips to the Canadian waters. Volunteering at the local food pantry, delivering mobile meals, participating in DNR projects such as water sampling on Lake Poygan and helping with various functions at All Saints Catholic church were other activities he enjoyed and did for many years. Wayne will be remembered by all who knew him as a caring, honest and law abiding person.
Wayne is survived by his loving wife, Joan; sons, Michael (Dawn) Besaw, Neshkoro, WI, Craig (Lori) Besaw, Plover, WI and John Besaw, Columbus, WI., grandchildren, Joshua (Kate) Besaw, Nashville, TN, Kendra (Tom) Crowell, Beaver Dam, WI, Ryan Besaw, Los Angeles, CA, Brett Besaw, Philadelphia, PA, Brianna Besaw, Plover, WI, Dayton Besaw, Columbus, WI, Ashlyn Besaw, Sun Prairie, WI, Olivia (Liam) Boswell, Sun Prairie, WI; and great-grandchildren, Finnelly, Weston and Leo. Also surviving is his sister-in-law Ina Mlodzik, Berlin, WI, nephews, nieces and many friends.
Wayne was preceeded in death by his parents, his brother, Lawrence Besaw; sister-in-law, Barbara Besaw; brother-in-law, Robert Mlodzik; and sister-in-law, Sally Jo Mlodzik.
In honoring Wayne's wishes, cremation has taken place and private funeral services will be held with inurnment at St. Stanislaus Cemetery.
In place of flowers a memorial has been established in Wayne’s memory.
Raftery, Ruth Ann
MADISON
Ruth Ann Raftery, age 74 of Madison, WI passed away on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at UW Hospital in Madison.
She was born on April 16, 1949, in Monroe, WI the daughter of Everett and Marian "Jackie" (Tollefson) Erickson. Ruth Ann graduated from New Glarus High School in 1967. She married Jim Raftery and they later divorced. She retired from the Wisconsin DNR after 37 years of service where she had been the section chief for licensing. Ruth enjoyed spending time with family and friends, their time spent together may have included dining out, hitting the casino, or shopping.
Ruth Ann is survived by her sister, Diane (Van) Loeffel; nieces: Jackie (Steve) Holcomb, and Amy Lipman; nephews: Brian (Shelly) Snider, and Mike (Nancy) Snider; great-nieces and great-nephews: Katelyn (Trent Siegenthaler) Thompson, Alyssa, Haylee, and Caitlin (Cole Xander) Holcomb, Sam (Ben) Lawfer, Steve (Kim) Snider, Jacob Lipman, and Taylor, Erica, and Lizzie Snider; great-great-nephew, Arlo (who she adored), along with two others on the way; and special friend, Mary Kay Heimann.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and sister, Kathie Snider.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 21, 2023, at the Zentner-Beal Funeral Home, 29 Sixth Ave., New Glarus, WI, with Mary Gafner officiating.
A gathering of relatives and friends will precede the memorial service from 9:00 a.m. until time of services on Thursday, December 21, 2023, at the Zentner-Beal Funeral Home in New Glarus.
Online condolences may be given at www.bealfuneralhomes.com
