Shawano's Hometown Heroes

10/08/2026

Here’s another wonderful opportunity to honor our veterans! Submit your information to the Market Messenger today.

Know a business or individual interested in sponsoring a veteran listing? Sponsorships are being accepted, too!

(Shawano’s Hometown Heroes is not associated with this; we’re simply sharing the information to support this wonderful initiative. Please contact the Market Messenger with any questions).

🇺🇸 Honor a Veteran. Preserve their legacy.
This Veterans Day, Market Messenger, and the VFW will bury an America 250 Time Capsule to be opened 50 years later, in 2076, when our nation celebrates its Tricentennial.
You can help make sure a Veteran’s name is part of that history by sponsoring a Veteran for $35. Their name will be featured in a special keepsake booklet distributed to more than 25,770 households — and a copy will be sealed inside the time capsule for future generations to discover.
Who would you like to honor?
👉 Sponsor a Veteran here: https://forms.gle/kB4TjrSw32asVq9k7
Reservations due October 1. Please share and help us honor the Veterans who helped shape our communities. ❤️🤍💙
https://www.marketmessenger.news/

09/21/2026

SAVE THE DATE!

Join us on Tuesday, November 10th as we gather to honor and celebrate Veterans and the incredible honorees featured in this year’s Shawano’s Hometown Heroes banner program.

📅 Tuesday, November 10th - Morning
🇺🇸 Veterans Day Event & Banner Presentations

This special event will be an opportunity for our community to come together, recognize our honorees, and celebrate the stories of service, sacrifice, and dedication represented by each banner.

More details coming soon!
Mark your calendar and plan to join us! ❤️🤍💙

09/15/2026

🌟That’s a wrap! 🌟

After 104 days, we’ve officially honored all of our 2026 banners—one banner a day! 🎉

Today, we’re excited to announce that our updated website is now live, showcasing all the 2026 banners and provided bios in one convenient spot. You can check them out and celebrate our heroes all year long!

But that’s not all! Stay tuned as we work on a Fall event, and get ready—our banner applications will go live in January!

Thank you for being part of this incredible journey! 💙

https://www.shawanoshometownheroes.com

09/14/2026

🌟 2026 Shawano's Hometown Hero Spotlight 🌟

WILMER ZUESKE
US ARMY
SERGEANT
WWII

🙏 Join us in thanking this individual and their family for their service and sacrifice.

09/13/2026

🌟 2026 Shawano's Hometown Hero Spotlight 🌟

JOHN M. ZAHRINGER
US MARINE CORPS
US ARMY

Bio Provided:
John was born on August 2, 1952 to Francis (Happy) and Mavis Zahringer. He grew up in Gresham with 3 older sisters, a younger brother, and two younger sisters. John graduated from Gresham High School and enlisted in the US Marine Corps in April 1970 and earned the rank of VT. He was discharged from the Marines in October 1973 and immediately reenlisted into the Army. While in the Army he was stationed in Goeppingen, Germany and received the National Defense Service Medal, Sharpshooter Badge with an M-16 R***e Bar and an Expert Badge with a hand Gr***de and Auto R***e Bars. John was Honorably Discharged in 1975. John was a member of Gresham American Legion Post 390 and served as its commander for many years.
John was united in marriage to Lynnae Elsner on December 5, 1981, and resided in Shawano until his passing in 2025. John was a carpenter, worked in the gas fields, and was a certified scuba recovery diver. His passion, however, was his gun shop, RKG Sports. John enjoyed cooking, family time, and his pets.
John passed on January 29, 2025, leaving behind his wife, Lynnae, daughter, Heather, siblings and many special nieces and nephews. He was given a military funeral with family and friends in attendance.

🙏 Join us in thanking this individual and their family for their service and sacrifice.

09/12/2026

🌟 2026 Shawano's Hometown Hero Spotlight 🌟

URIAH WILLIAMS
US ARMY
SERGEANT

Bio Provided:
Uriah Williams enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2016 during his junior year of high school in Fredericksburg, Iowa. Coming from a family with a strong history of military service, he always knew he would serve his country.
Upon graduating in 2017, Uriah attended One Station Unit Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he became a Combat Engineer. He was then sent to Ft. Irwin, California, with five other new soldiers from his Basic Training company and assigned to the 58th Combat Engineer Company, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment.
During his time with the 58th, Uriah served in many roles. He began in the Engineer Reconnaissance Platoon, serving on an anti-tank team as a machine gunner, javelin gunner, rifleman, and eventually as a team leader. He later transferred to the Headquarters Platoon, where he served as the Reconnaissance NCO and Command Driver for his Company Commander. Shortly after these role transitions, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
He also held the appointed duty of Su***de Intervention NCO, where he worked with soldiers reporting suicidal ideation to ensure they received the care they needed and knew about available resources on base.
After leaving the Army in 2020, Uriah met his now wife, Emma, who introduced him to her hometown of Shawano. They moved back in 2021 when he accepted the position as Peace UCC’s settled pastor before transitioning to Executive Director of the Shawano Area United Way in 2024.
Together they have a wonderful daughter, Hatley, and enjoy hiking at Maple Hills, visiting the local Farmer’s Market, and attending saYPro events.
To young men and women considering service, Uriah says:
“Serving in the Army was one of the best decisions I ever made. It helped pay for both of my college degrees, gave me skills that I still use today, and set me on a path for success while meeting amazing people along the way. I highly recommend serving if you’re already thinking about it. Three years sounds like a long time, but it goes by in a flash and the results are worth it!”

🙏 Join us in thanking this individual and their family for their service and sacrifice.

09/11/2026

🌟 2026 Shawano's Hometown Hero Spotlight 🌟

RUBEN O. WENDORFF
US ARMY

Bio Provided:
Ruben O Wendorff, US Army, Tec 5
Ruben was inducted on 11/25/1942, and entered active service on December 7th, 1942.
He was a member of the 101 st Airborne. He served in Europe from September 15 th , 1943,
returned on November 2 nd , 1945, and honorably discharged on November 25 th , 1945. Ruben
was injured at Normandy on June 13 th , 1944, while attempting to help 2 fellow soldiers who
were wounded in battle. All three were hit by machine gun fire. The other two soldiers did not
survive. Ruben was left for dead for 4 hours until medics found him, at which time he was sent
to England to recover from his injuries.

🙏 Join us in thanking this individual and their family for their service and sacrifice.

09/10/2026

🌟 2026 Shawano's Hometown Hero Spotlight 🌟

DENNIS H. WEBER
US NAVY, ARMY & AIR FORCE
TSGT, RETIRED
WWII, KOREA, VIETNAM

🙏 Join us in thanking this individual and their family for their service and sacrifice.

09/09/2026

🌟 2026 Shawano's Hometown Hero Spotlight 🌟

WILLIAM A. VINCENT
US ARMY
SP4
1968-1969

🙏 Join us in thanking this individual and their family for their service and sacrifice.

09/08/2026

🌟 2026 Shawano's Hometown Hero Spotlight 🌟

EDWARD C. VINCENT JR.
US ARMY
SP4
VIETNAM WAR, 1967-1969

🙏 Join us in thanking this individual and their family for their service and sacrifice.