Conservation Heroes

Olive Thomson died on January 6, 2017 at the age of 100.  She was a long-time advisor for Citizens for Natural Resources Association (CNRA) from which she received the Silver Acorn Award in 2001. She was also honored as a Shooting Star by Wild Ones Natural Landscapers Ltd.

Olive studied at UW-Madison with famed botanist Norman C Fassett, where she also worked in the Herbarium. In 1976 she revised and updated Fassett’s Spring flora of Wisconsin by adding keys, descriptions and more sketches.

Olive was a dedicated botanist and conservationist who was among the first in the State to work on prairie restoration.  Olive conceived the idea for a Prairie Heritage Trail along county Highway JG south of Mt Horab. The trail was …

We are saddened to report that WCHF Executive Secretary Earl Spangenberg died Tuesday, September 18, 2017.  The funeral will be at 3:00 pm on Friday, September 23, 2017 at 900 Brilowski Road at the Episcopal Church of the Intercession and the Redeemer Lutheran Church. The church is located behind Fleet Farm in Stevens Point.  The visitation will start at 1:00 pm.

In announcing Earls’ passing, WCHF President Joe Passineau wrote:

“The Hall of Fame was one of his great passions. He contributed so much over the past 35 years as a Member of the Board and the Executive Committee, and through his leadership as President and recently as Executive Secretary. We will miss him. I enjoyed working with him over these many years.

I last …