By Chris Spangler

A monument honoring all Americans — those in uniform and on the home front — who helped win World War II is planned for Fort Atkinson’s McCoy Park.

The Fort Atkinson City Council recently approved a request by Fort Atkinson resident and 1962 Whitewater High School co-valedictorian Mabel Schumacher to install a World War II monument in the northwest corner of the city’s Madison Avenue park.

Schumacher, who has donated her time and talents to monuments and statues in this and other local parks, has been working with the Fort Atkinson Parks and Recreation Department to ensure continuity between the existing veterans monuments at McCoy Park.

Schumacher also is a 1968 graduate of what was then called the Wisconsin State University-Whitewater.

The World War II memorial will consist of a stainless-steel globe set on a stone base. At the entrance to the space will be two benches featuring the names of Gerald Endl and Kenneth Gruennert, Congressional Medal of Honor recipients from Jefferson County, as well as a brief quote by historian, author, and Whitewater native Stephen Ambrose.

Fort Atkinson Parks and Recreation Director Ben Dayton reported that the monument will be funded through the Schumacher Field of Interest Fund with the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation. City staff will work with the foundation for reimbursement after the project’s completion. Additional funds will remain in the account for future maintenance expenses.

He noted that uplighting will illuminate it during the evening. A 4-foot-deep concrete footing will be installed under the statue and stone base to help support the monument’s weight.

The granite benches will be placed on the edge of the concrete pad on both sides of the path entrance. The inscription on one will be: “Gerald Endl; Fort Atkinson, WI; U.S. Army Staff Sergeant; Medal of Honor Recipient; March 27, 1945” and “ Kenneth Gruennert; Helenville, WI; U.S. Army Sergeant; Medal of Honor Recipient; December 42, 1942.”

Inscribed on the second bench will be the following quote by Ambrose: “The American citizen soldiers knew the difference between right and wrong, and they didn’t want to live in a world in which wrong prevailed. So they fought, and won, and all of us, living and yet to be born, must be profoundly grateful.”

In her proposal for placement of the monument, Schumacher wrote: “Fort Atkinson has a strong veteran community that honors the memory of veterans who have fought and often made the supreme sacrifice to protect our nation. Currently, there is no formal monument recognizing World War II veterans. McCoy Park has been designated as a Veterans Park, and currently contains several memorials, including the World War I doughboy, veterans flag memorial, World War I memorial, Spanish-American War (memorial), and K-9 Veterans memorial.”

She noted that her late husband, Vernon A. Schumacher, who served as a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, was a World War II veteran.

Dayton told the council that the Park and Recreation Advisory Board reviewed the proposal.

“I’d like to thank Mrs. Schumacher for bringing this forward,” council member Kyle Jaeckel said. “It is a very well-thought-out design and concept for us to integrate into this park, being how she said this isn’t just for the veterans of the world war; it is for everyone who helped make the (the nation) pull through.”

Council member Eric Schultz agreed,

“Mrs. Schumacher’s been amazing to work with. … I’m thankful she approached me to work on this,” he said.

“I would just echo that we are fortunate to have the benefit of the generosity of the donor in this and it is very nice to see the support for the project here with us tonight,” council President Davin Lescohier added prior to the unanimous vote of approval.

In a followup interview Tuesday, Schumacher told WhitewaterWise that she began talking with local artist Brady Lueck about creating the monument about a year ago. Formerly of Fort Atkinson, she said, Lueck is based today in Burlington. 

“We talked about my dream about a World War II monument and it just didn’t go anywhere then,” Schumacher said. 

She said she was inspired by a decorative lamp she came across, which gave her the idea for the monument’s design. 

“I saw it and said: ‘that’s what I want,’” Schumacher recalled. 

Schumacher said estimated costs to complete the monument are $80,000, which, she added, will be covered by the fund she has established through the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation. 

She noted that concrete for the base of the monument is anticipated to be poured in September, with an anticipated dedication of the completed monument to be held Sunday, Nov. 10, in advance of Veterans Day.