Nick: I am a long time resident of Mukwonago with my wife Nancy & daughter Jane. I was raised on the family farm (1950’s) and attended Mukwonago schools, being the first graduating class(‘73’) from the current High School. I bought the family farm after graduating from UW La Crosse (‘78’) with a degree in Nuclear Medicine/Chemistry. Started employment at St Luke’s Medical Center Milwaukee and then transitioned into Corporate America with Bristol-Myers-Squibb and then Quest Diagnostics. This gave us numerous opportunities to travel the country as well as the world. I also was able to coach numerous sports in the district, including 28 years of High School Golf Retired now and Nancy never lets any dust collect on us as we are involved and co-chair many charitable events in the area.
Nancy: I am a long time resident of Mukwonago with my husband Nick, and daughter, Jane. I am a second generation graduate of Mukwonago High School but not in class with Nick ( we met years later) and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Following graduation, I taught Health Education at Madison Memorial High School, followed by a long and wonderful career at Park View Middle School in the Physical Education Department. I’ve coached just about EVERYTHING, except for Football and Hockey. My favorite activities center around my family, and friends. I am retired now, but I still love being involved in sports and school activities.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My wife is Nancy and daughter is Jane, who currently resides in Madison, Wisconsin.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
Former careers are listed above. Future career is an adventure of volunteering in any way we are needed. Nick and I currently serve as scorekeepers at wrestling and volleyball matches, serve on church and school committees, volunteer for Croatian family events and functions.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Nick: Blue Bay for breakfast and LulaBelles for lunch on the patio overlooking Lake Beulah. Nancy: Ditto Nick, but I also love coffee and gab with my BFF’s at Brew 52.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
Nick: Besides LaCrosse, most of the other 60+ years in Mukwonago. Nancy: Aside from a six year move to Madison, Wisconsin, I’ve resided in Mukwonago all of my life.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Nick: Lots of local people are amazing, but retired Police Chief Tony Kemnitz was a never ending story teller and hunting partner. He is truly missed. Nancy: Tough question, but I am going to say “my students”. Living and working in this community for so long has made it possible to watch so many kids grow up and become such great people. It’s the greatest payback for an educator and I am grateful to be here to witness it.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Nick: Mount Everest Base camp in Nepal, about as high as I could climb nowadays. Nancy: Tough, so many places I want to visit but I’m going to say Croatia or hiking the Canadian Rockies. I’ve been fortunate to travel so many places with Nick and Jane. I will always have travel on my bucket list as long as I am able.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Nick: “The Natural” or “Pulp Fiction”. Still enjoy Big Bang reruns. Nancy: Favorite movie: “Pride and Prejudice” or “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. I love girls with spunk. Favorite TV show: Anything but the “Big Bang”! “Breaking Bad” was a crazy favorite. “Ginny and Georgia” is my new binge series. Also loved Friday Night Lights.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Nick: Give back to your community, any way that you can. Never take for granted your family & friends. Nancy: Find some activity you love with the people you love and make it a regular habit. Give Thanks and Be Grateful, often! Get outside every day, even for a few minutes. Put your phone in the “face down” position and enjoy the moment.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Nick: Travel a river in Europe on a small cruise ship Nancy: Watching my daughter and “future” grandkids embrace life. Whatever that looks like, good and bad, I want to be there.
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
Nick: CCR or the Allman Brothers Nancy: Definitely NOT Nick’s music! My playlists are all about 5 decades of “get up and move” tunes.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Nick: Rainbow Springs Resort. Grew up fishing the ponds, golfing both courses and had our Junior Prom there in “72”. Nancy: McAdams Grocery Store on the village square, McAdams ShopRite, and Pick and Save. John McAdams was a pillar to our community’s growth, and his welcoming smile and kind heart was timeless.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Nick: Elon Musk on the front patio of Fork in the Road. He would have such a unique & successful take on the world as we watched Mukwonago pass by. Nancy: Hmm, going to say Cardinal Timothy Dolan, with lunch at any one of our local patio venues. He was such a down-to-earth Archbishop in Milwaukee and I would like to hear his thoughts on how to fix America, and make our world a better place.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
Nick: The diverse people that live in our Community, being to the highly motivated – who don’t brag, to the inexperienced – just beginning life adventures. It’s the people. Nancy: Hands down my favorite thing about our community are the kids that grow up here and how our community, schools and parents come together to support them.
Q: What have you done to make Mukwonago a better place?
Nick: Giving time & energy back into the Community by Volunteering. My Dad always said: “Step up & help to make a difference… or Shut up & get out of the way”. So Nancy & I are on numerous committees and volunteer extensively, MHS Booster Club Golf Outing, Village Run, Salt Sale, Croatian Festival, Legion Chicken Dinner (cooks), St James Festival, still coaching PVMS CCX, scoring PVMS wrestling meets, Town Board Supervisor and numerous other coaching levels. Nancy: Hopefully I’ve made a mark by being an educator here, and continuing to give back to my community through teaching, coaching, and supporting Mukwonago Athletics, St. James Catholic Church and many local community events.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Nick: Nancy & I are still traveling to new places with Jane’s family. Golfing with Nancy ( she’s the best coach I ever had), walking the miles of trails we have on our farm, enjoying family get-togethers and still being able to contribute back to the church and community. Nancy: Hopefully Nick and I are still healthy and enjoying lots of golf, travel, family fun, Mukwonago Football, Wisconsin Badgers and many more Wisconsin sunsets.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
Nick: I have been recently inducted into the Wisconsin High School Golf Coaches Hall of Fame. Nancy: I was a teacher for 39 years, 120+ students per year, and NEVER had a student named “Nancy”. I secretly had a very cool collection of Matchbox Cars, my favorite toy as a child.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Nick: Close between Skiing Breckenridge Colorado, walking the Great Wall in China and our wooded pathway in mid October Nancy: The seasonal beauty in Wisconsin always amazes me, I love Door County in the summer, but any warm beach runs a close second!
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
Nick: September is a perfect month. 4th of July has been my favorite holiday, as we annually held a both side family party with “Movrich style Family Olympic Competition. Great fun with lots of bruised egos & butts. Nancy: December is my favorite month. Christmas is my favorite holiday, and at my age, my favorite day is the one I am living.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Nick :Relaxing on our back deck, sun setting, fire roaring, friends & family talking smack & a perfectly chilled Bourbon in hand. Nancy: Ditto Nick, but I enjoy a good Marg in hand!.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
Nick: I have to say Nancy ( don’t tell her) , as I can bounce anything off her and she is not afraid to counter my first impressions. We think a lot alike, with similar values and agree most of the time. “ As you wish” can make for a happy life. Nancy: Definitely Nick makes me a better person, although we share the same values and faith, we often spar on many topics. I’m also going to say my daughter, Jane. She never ceases to amaze me with her take on life. Was I ever that together?
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Nick: Freshly brewed coffee & smoke from a wood fire. Nancy: Fresh cut lavender, or warm chocolate chip cookies.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Nick: It’s where your Heart is. A safe place. Tranquility – Peace – Love. Nancy: Dorothy said it best, “There’s no place like home”. My favorite place to be!
