Dwaine L. “Andy” Anderegg, 90, passed away peacefully at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-All Saints on Tuesday, February 8, 2011. Dwaine was born on March 11, 1920, in West Bend, IA, to Herman and Theresa (nee) Heckel.
Growing up on an Iowa farm during the Great Depression gave him a strength, ingenuity and frugality that served him well throughout the rest of his life. He graduated from West Bend High School in 1938 and was proud that he could attend the 70th Reunion of his graduating class in 2008. He entered the University of Iowa from which he graduated with a business degree. Then World War II intervened, in ways that no one could predict. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was posted to Roswell, NM, where he became life-long friends with Jimmy Cordell of Asheville, NC. One day, Jimmy showed him a picture of a friend of his from home, Virginia “Ginny” Williams. And so began the great love affair of his life.
Dwaine wrote Ginny and Ginny wrote back. After a period of heart-felt correspondence, Ginny convinced her mother to travel with her to Roswell by train to meet this young man. Upon arrival, Dwaine and Ginny fell even more deeply in love and after only 10 hours together, he proposed. On October 7, 1944, Dwaine and Ginny were married in Asheville and began a marriage that lasted for more than 66 years.
After the war, Dwaine completed post-graduate work in business at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Then he and Ginny moved to La Crosse, WI, where Dwaine took a position as a business and math teacher at Central High School. A few years later, Dwaine was offered the position of Assistant Superintendent - Business Services with the La Crosse Public Schools – he served there from 1952 to 1960. In 1960, Dwaine accepted the same position with the Racine Unified School District and moved his growing family to Racine. He served in that capacity until he retired in 1984. He was active in professional organizations including the Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials (president) and the International Association of School Business Officials (where he chaired many committees). In 2001, Dwaine was inducted into the SE Wisconsin Educators Hall of Fame. He continued his service to the education profession even in retirement as a member of the Racine Area Retired Educators Association (president and 10 years as treasurer).
Beyond his public service in helping build one of Wisconsin’s leading public school systems, Dwaine was an active community leader, serving many local non-profit organizations. Among them included 50 years as a member of the Downtown Racine Rotary Club (president, Paul P. Harris Fellow, and many years as treasurer), the Racine Symphony Orchestra (treasurer), and the Children’s Service Society. He also served for many years as a member and volunteer for the St. Luke’s Hospital Auxiliary.
But above all else, Dwaine was a man of passion. First and foremost, he and Ginny were passionate about their four boys. As they were growing up, he encouraged and supported their active involvement in sports, music and educational organizations, often serving on parent advisory and booster committees and rarely missing a play, concert, game or troop meeting. He was passionate about travel. He ensured that his boys visited all 48 contiguous U.S. states before they graduated from high school and, after retirement, he and Ginny explored the world, visiting 6 of the 7 continents. And he was passionate about football and baseball, rarely missing a Packers or Brewers game. He would no doubt be thrilled that the Packers won last week’s Super Bowl.
Dwaine is survived by his adored wife Ginny; his beloved sons, Terry (Susan) Anderegg of Oak Creek, Greg (Carol) Anderegg of Racine, and Rex (Coral) Anderegg of Whitefish Bay; his dear daughter-in-law Bobbie Anderegg of Racine; his cherished grandchildren, Daniel Anderegg, Zak (Michelle) Anderegg , Aimee Anderegg, Samantha (Eric) Anderegg-Boticki, Danielle Anderegg, Alexander Anderegg, and Brandon Anderegg; his treasured sister, Mildred Lee of La Crosse; and many other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents; his much-missed son, Tim Anderegg; and four siblings, Charlotte Bonnstetter, Harold Anderegg, Edmund Andregg and Evelyn Movick.
A Celebration of Dwaine’s life will be held on Sunday, February 13 at 6 p.m. at Franksville United Methodist Church, 10402 Northwestern Ave. (Highway K). Visitation with the family is scheduled from 3 – 6 p.m. on Sunday at the church. A private interment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Horlick High School – Dwaine L. Anderegg Business Scholarship Fund (Attn. Angela Ress Apmann, 2119 Rapids Drive, Racine, WI 53404).
MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine (262) 634-7888
