a noble effort, to pass on to the next generation, clean water for recreation.
My wife and I purchased a house on Lake Petenwell in 2008. We have enjoyed making many family memories boating, hiking and enjoying the outdoors. I have been active in PACRS since 2009. The main reason I joined PACRS was to be involved with improving water quality for my children and grandchildren.
I was an environmental chemist for 35 years in the Fox River Valley. In 2001 my wife and I built our dream log cabin on a lot fronting Castle Rock Lake. Our family and friends from across the country have made many great memories there on the lake. I became aware of PACRS in 2009 with a presentation given by Rick Georgeson, PACRS president, at our annual lake association meeting. With encouragement from lakeside neighbor, Gerry Ganther, I joined PACRS in 2012. My involvement has been educational for me and, hopefully, by lending my voice, PACRS will continue being a force working towards improving water quality.
I retired in July 2013 after a long career in sales and relationship management with a national payment processing company. My husband and I have always dreamed of living on a lake when we retired. For years we vacationed in Wisconsin and enjoyed the tranquility that a lake and the wildlife bring. We built our log home in 2006 on Lake Petenwell, a home that could be enjoyed by future generations. We chose this area as it is a short drive from the Chicago suburbs. We are able to spend quality time with family and friends fishing, boating, swimming and telling stories by the campfire at night. We joined PACRS after hearing their presentation at our annual homeowners meeting in 2012. We were impressed by the accomplishments made by a small group of dedicated people that love our lakes. We wanted to be a part of this organization and join their efforts improving the quality of Petenwell and Castle Rock lakes.
Michael Coke is the Broker / Owner of Terra Firma Realty (www.TFMwisconsin.com) which specializes in the marketing and sale of lake properties throughout South Central Wisconsin. Terra Firma represents Buyers and Sellers in real estate transactions involving waterfront and recreational properties. Prior to founding Terra Firma Realty, Michael ran the Wisconsin operations for a national land development company called McKeough Land Company (MLC). MLC was instrumental in developing roughly half the land around Lake Petenwell from 1999 – 2005. Michael has maintained a residence on Lake Petenwell since 2003 and during his free time he enjoys fishing and boating on the lake with his family as well as hunting and riding ATVs and snowmobiles throughout the area.
Michael’s support for PACRS is evidenced by his recent nomination to the PACRS board and his participation on the PACRS Communication Committee. The Communication Committee is instrumental in communicating with the public, producing the monthly E-newsletter, working with various lake associations, social media, and maintaining the PACRS website. Michael supports the PACRS because the goal of clean water is important for ensuring his family has the best recreational resource to enjoy for years. He also has a strong interest in water quality and its relationship to his real estate business as well as his home on the lake.
My wife Karen and I purchased land on Lake Petenwell in 2002 and built in 2006-7. This was to be our retirement home and a home for our kids to visit and enjoy. Karen was able to enjoy it for a few years but she passed away in 2011. As she wanted, I retired here in 2014 as part of our dream and really enjoy it. Being able to be a part of making the water better and preserving the WI. River for my children and future generations is my goal. Being a part of the PACRS, I feel, allows me to do this.
I purchased a lot in Quincy off Castle Rock Lake in 1964 for weekends and summer vacation. In 2004 retired and built a home and moved up here. I joined a number of clean lakes associations then heard about PACRS and started attending their meetings. I was very impressed by the members’ dedication and their volunteering, professional reference staff. Their meetings always are full of ideas and goals to accomplish and their willingness to partner with many other organizations. The lakes were as green as my Irish bead but are improving. There has been much improvement in water quality recently but we have a long way to go. Like many others I’m not doing this for myself but for my children, grandchildren and future generations. I remember an old saying “If you aren’t a part of the solution you may be a part of the problem” I feel it’s better to be on the solution side. This group is not afraid to get wet and dirty to accomplish goals and to be involved on political issues. Folks reading this, there is always room to attend the meetings and join PACRS. I assure you will have a great feeling to be associated with a goal. I am sure you all have great ideas now is the time to put them to use.
Professionally, I am the Executive Vice President of the Professional Insurance Agents of Wisconsin, a trade association made up of thousands of independent insurance agents and over 50 insurance companies in Wisconsin. Personally, my wife and I own a cottage on Lake Petenwell at Monroe Center in Adams County. We spend as much time as possible at the cottage to enjoy the scenery, boating and fishing. My permanent home is in Merrimac, Wisconsin.
I was employed by Alliant Energy at the Columbia Generating Station in Portage Wisconsin for over 37 years where I retired in 2013. The facility is a 1000 plus megawatt coal fired generating station. I was a Shift Supervisor at the facility which meant I was responsible for all of the operation of the plant. Being located on the Wisconsin River and using the river for plant cooling we were under very stringent licensing requirements as to how much river water we used along with the quality of the water we returned to the river. We also had to maintain a very strict air quality on our plant stacks discharge. We also maintained a 520 acre cooling pond which was stocked with fish and open to the public for fishing and other recreational activities. My wife and I purchased a home on Lake Petenwell in 2001 in Monroe Center in Adams county. We use the home as our cottage and we have our home in rural Baraboo not very far from the Wisconsin River. The quality of the water in the lake is very important to us as we enjoy the beauty of the lake and do not like to see the lake infested with Blue Green Algae. That is why I believe the PACRS organization is so important with their mission to improve the quality of the lakes.
“Do you love Petenwell & Castle Rock Lakes? The PACRS do too.” “Together we can improve water quality so our families can enjoy these lakes for years to come”. You will see these words displayed on signs at many boat landings on these lakes. This is why my husband & I joined PACRS. We love the lakes and we are working to improve water quality together.
My professional background includes both clinical and leadership positions in healthcare. Throughout my career, I collaborated with other health care team members to provide quality care to patients and their families. Early in our training we studied the complex systems of the body and the interdependent relationships of the parts. We also learned systems are self-correcting based on receiving biofeedback. For example, if your finger touches a hot burner, you move your finger away when the pain is felt.
Our rivers and lakes are comprised of complex systems that are interdependent with the internal and external environment. These waterways are also self –regulating systems unless there is a great imbalance. For example, phosphorous is an essential nutrient for water. However, too much phosphorous causes algal blooms and surface water contamination.
Like individuals, our rivers and waterways are also very complex and need a diverse team to improve their health. PACRS, in collaboration with other groups and individuals has made significant contributions to improve water quality.