NEW GLARUS - A euchre tournament, along with a silent auction, will be held at 1 p.m., Jan. 29, at Sportsman's Bar and Grill and Puempel's Olde Tavern to benefit the Kleeman family, which lost their business and home to fire in the early morning hours of Jan. 2. Music will be at Flannery's Wilhelm Tell at 4:30 p.m. that afternoon.
Greg Kleeman, his wife Erin and their three children were unharmed in the fire.
The building, which was built in the late 1800s, was one of the original businesses in New Glarus. Fire departments from Belleville, Monticello, Mt. Horeb, Monroe, Blanchardville and Hollandale came to assist the New Glarus Fire Department in fighting the fire. EMS crews from New Glarus, Belleville and Monroe were also on scene. The building was not able to be saved; it was razed in the early morning hours due to the severe damage of the structure.
Even as the building was burning, the community started to assist. Fred Ryser of Sportsman's Bar and Grill brought hot chocolate and water for those fighting the fire, Roy's Market donated food and Steve Longo of Toffler's prepared breakfast and stayed open for a warm place for personnel to rest and eat, as well as having space for the local EMS for respite care and for the Red Cross to set up.
Within hours of the fire, the community of New Glarus and surrounding areas came to the assistance of the Kleeman family. A group calling themselves "The Friends of the Kleeman Family" was quickly formed and information was quickly passed on through Facebook. Donations of clothes, food, money and household items began to be collected. The day following the fire, drop boxes were placed in businesses in New Glarus, Monticello, Belleville, Paoli and Brodhead to aid the gathering of items for the family.
The Kleemans, who were themselves known for their generosity to causes in the area, were now the ones receiving help from New Glarus, Wisconsin communities as far as Milwaukee - and even from people out of state.
A place to live was donated by Mary Kay and Dennis Dorn. And as they moved, many friends and family were available to help and donate items.
Public support has been substantial. New Glarus Subway, New Glarus Culvers, and the New Glarus Bakery have had or will be donating a percentage of their sales for the Kleeman family. On Saturday, Feb. 5, Swiss Lanes in New Glarus will be holding a bowling benefit. Information on the events can be found on the Kleeman's Bar and Grill Facebook page.
Greg Kleeman, his wife Erin and their three children were unharmed in the fire.
The building, which was built in the late 1800s, was one of the original businesses in New Glarus. Fire departments from Belleville, Monticello, Mt. Horeb, Monroe, Blanchardville and Hollandale came to assist the New Glarus Fire Department in fighting the fire. EMS crews from New Glarus, Belleville and Monroe were also on scene. The building was not able to be saved; it was razed in the early morning hours due to the severe damage of the structure.
Even as the building was burning, the community started to assist. Fred Ryser of Sportsman's Bar and Grill brought hot chocolate and water for those fighting the fire, Roy's Market donated food and Steve Longo of Toffler's prepared breakfast and stayed open for a warm place for personnel to rest and eat, as well as having space for the local EMS for respite care and for the Red Cross to set up.
Within hours of the fire, the community of New Glarus and surrounding areas came to the assistance of the Kleeman family. A group calling themselves "The Friends of the Kleeman Family" was quickly formed and information was quickly passed on through Facebook. Donations of clothes, food, money and household items began to be collected. The day following the fire, drop boxes were placed in businesses in New Glarus, Monticello, Belleville, Paoli and Brodhead to aid the gathering of items for the family.
The Kleemans, who were themselves known for their generosity to causes in the area, were now the ones receiving help from New Glarus, Wisconsin communities as far as Milwaukee - and even from people out of state.
A place to live was donated by Mary Kay and Dennis Dorn. And as they moved, many friends and family were available to help and donate items.
Public support has been substantial. New Glarus Subway, New Glarus Culvers, and the New Glarus Bakery have had or will be donating a percentage of their sales for the Kleeman family. On Saturday, Feb. 5, Swiss Lanes in New Glarus will be holding a bowling benefit. Information on the events can be found on the Kleeman's Bar and Grill Facebook page.
