MONROE - When Kris Wisnefske can't find what she's looking for, it doesn't get her down.
The longtime nurse has moved from medical nursing into direct patient care, in both hospice and faith community nursing - and despite her own obstacles - she still loves helping. She has also stepped up in her community, always offering a warm smile and a helping hand in everything she does.
Wisnefske was born in the Milwaukee area and grew up in West Allis alongside her twin brother and an older brother. Church was an important part of her family life, and she attended a Catholic grade school. Scouting and the fair each summer were things she looked forward to, and once she was old enough, she landed a part-time job at the fairgrounds at Millie's Italian Sausage.
Wisnefske also worked as a sales clerk at J.C. Penney in her teen years and was promoted to a supervisor for a while. She said she still enjoys people and starting out in retail was a great fit.
At West Allis Central High School, Wisnefske said she was an average student who spent a lot of her free time working. After graduation in 1971, she said she never thought twice about what she would do.
"I wanted to be a nurse from the time I was a child," Wisnefske said. "My aunt was a nurse and I always thought it was great."
She wasn't sure what kind of nurse she hoped to become and kept an open mind while attending the Milwaukee County General Hospital School of Nursing. She lived both at home and in the dorm for a while, enjoying the three-year diploma program, and graduated in 1975.
After graduation, Wisnefske went into general nursing at the Milwaukee County General Hospital. She knew she was more interested in the medical side of nursing and quickly had her attention turned toward hematology. She worked on a floor where they offered private rooms, and she would often see patients come up for individual care. She was intrigued.
She met her husband, David, a radiology resident at the hospital at that time. A few months after the wedding in 1977, the couple moved to Cross Plains where he completed his residency at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and she landed a job in hematology with the UW Hospital and Clinics. They were there four years.
When David got a job in Monroe, the couple moved again, this time to Brooklyn with their new son, Matthew. Wisnefske said she had never really heard of Monroe but knew of some good things that eventually brought them here. She was a stay-at-home mom at that time.
"It was small but pleasant," Wisnefske said of the town she then knew so little about. "It had a great reputation for schools, and the clinic had a great reputation too."
In 1986, Wisnefske went back to work after being asked if she would be interested in helping with home and hospice care. It was a change from what she was used to, but it was something she enjoyed immediately.
"I really liked it," she said. "It was a whole different world. It was caring for people in their own home and doing a lot of travel. You really get to know people."
She said it was fulfilling to figure out what worked best for patients depending on what was available to them. Not being able to ask another nurse allowed room to improvise, which sometimes provided comfort for patients. She appreciated the independence it allowed.
In 2002, Wisnefske took on the parish nurse coordinator job at Monroe Clinic, a position she still holds. She had been involved as the parish nurse at St. Victor Church for a couple of years and went back to school for her bachelor's degree, graduating from Viterbo University in December 2001.
Now often called faith community nursing, parish nursing was a great fit for Wisnefske. She was happy to work in homes and provide direct patient care.
"It was another way to reach out and make sure (patients) had their needs met," she said.
Last August, Wisnefske began teaching a public health nursing class at Edgewood College. She feels education is important and enjoys being able to support new nurses. With help from the Monroe Fund, she started an annual education day for parish nurses. Recently, she has also joined the St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Monroe in their parish nurse program, a part-time position she enjoys as well.
Another important part of Wisnefske's life has been politics. Her father and several family members were union workers and stayed actively involved while she was young. In 2000, she was even more involved because it was an important year for health care, and as a nurse, she felt everyone should have a right to it.
She ran for the Wisconsin state Assembly that year and lost - but still served as the co-chair of the Democratic Party of Green County for a few years. She still attends some meetings, and tries to be as active as she can.
Wisnefske hopes to retire eventually, but for now she's happily enjoying her community involvement. She is a member and past president of the Monroe Woman's Club and has helped with the Christmas Stocking Fund project since 1986. She is now in her second three-year term as the vice president for Family Promise and prior to that served on the Homelessness Coalition for Green County. She's also actively involved in the Loaves and Fishes Community Meal and is set to serve as the group's president in January. Wisnefske was also actively involved with scouting in the past while her daughter, Ana, was a member.
Wisnefske has been active in the American Nurses Association and was part of its annual education program. She enjoyed connecting with different groups and making things available to more people.
"It's something in me to volunteer," she said. "Even in parish nursing - if we didn't have volunteers, it wouldn't have happened. It takes a lot of time from people."
In 2012, Wisnefske received news she had stage three breast cancer and after overcoming that, the cancer returned in 2015. She's been through chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries. Ana moved home in 2013 to help, an act for which Wisnefske is still grateful.
"I don't know if I would have survived without her," she said. "It's not what you want - but what can you do?"
But Wisnefske did do something. As she looked for local support and didn't find much, she decided to start a Breast Cancer Survivor Group two years ago. The group meets at Wisconsin Bank & Trust at 6 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month. Always a group between six and eight women, they also work to give back to those going through the initial news and recently began donating gift bags to breast cancer patients at Monroe Clinic.
"Everyone has their own story," Wisnefske said. "But I think it's just nice to have people you can share with. These people know how you feel. It's kind of like walking in someone's shoes - you've been in those shoes, so you know how it goes."
One of the constants in Wisnefske's life has been a family dog. Both she and David love animals and have always had a pet in their lives. In May, they brought home a new puppy for their 40th wedding anniversary, a yellow lab named MilliE, named after both of their grandmothers and their spunk. The puppy is still learning, but Wisnefske hopes eventually to have her become a hospital visitor dog.
"They're just so loyal and happy to see you," Wisnefske said of why having a dog has always been important. "They just love you no matter what."
Church has also been an important part of her life, and Wisnefske has been an active member of St. Victor Catholic Church since 1984. Her children attended grade school there and she has helped with religious education and was part of their parish nurse program for eight years.
She also enjoys time with her family, going on outings with her daughter and visiting the country land her family owns near Argyle, a place they have shared with scouts, students and pets through the years.
"There's a relationship between my faith and what helps me go day-to-day through life," she said. "It's been a support system."
The longtime nurse has moved from medical nursing into direct patient care, in both hospice and faith community nursing - and despite her own obstacles - she still loves helping. She has also stepped up in her community, always offering a warm smile and a helping hand in everything she does.
Wisnefske was born in the Milwaukee area and grew up in West Allis alongside her twin brother and an older brother. Church was an important part of her family life, and she attended a Catholic grade school. Scouting and the fair each summer were things she looked forward to, and once she was old enough, she landed a part-time job at the fairgrounds at Millie's Italian Sausage.
Wisnefske also worked as a sales clerk at J.C. Penney in her teen years and was promoted to a supervisor for a while. She said she still enjoys people and starting out in retail was a great fit.
At West Allis Central High School, Wisnefske said she was an average student who spent a lot of her free time working. After graduation in 1971, she said she never thought twice about what she would do.
"I wanted to be a nurse from the time I was a child," Wisnefske said. "My aunt was a nurse and I always thought it was great."
She wasn't sure what kind of nurse she hoped to become and kept an open mind while attending the Milwaukee County General Hospital School of Nursing. She lived both at home and in the dorm for a while, enjoying the three-year diploma program, and graduated in 1975.
After graduation, Wisnefske went into general nursing at the Milwaukee County General Hospital. She knew she was more interested in the medical side of nursing and quickly had her attention turned toward hematology. She worked on a floor where they offered private rooms, and she would often see patients come up for individual care. She was intrigued.
She met her husband, David, a radiology resident at the hospital at that time. A few months after the wedding in 1977, the couple moved to Cross Plains where he completed his residency at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and she landed a job in hematology with the UW Hospital and Clinics. They were there four years.
When David got a job in Monroe, the couple moved again, this time to Brooklyn with their new son, Matthew. Wisnefske said she had never really heard of Monroe but knew of some good things that eventually brought them here. She was a stay-at-home mom at that time.
"It was small but pleasant," Wisnefske said of the town she then knew so little about. "It had a great reputation for schools, and the clinic had a great reputation too."
In 1986, Wisnefske went back to work after being asked if she would be interested in helping with home and hospice care. It was a change from what she was used to, but it was something she enjoyed immediately.
"I really liked it," she said. "It was a whole different world. It was caring for people in their own home and doing a lot of travel. You really get to know people."
She said it was fulfilling to figure out what worked best for patients depending on what was available to them. Not being able to ask another nurse allowed room to improvise, which sometimes provided comfort for patients. She appreciated the independence it allowed.
In 2002, Wisnefske took on the parish nurse coordinator job at Monroe Clinic, a position she still holds. She had been involved as the parish nurse at St. Victor Church for a couple of years and went back to school for her bachelor's degree, graduating from Viterbo University in December 2001.
Now often called faith community nursing, parish nursing was a great fit for Wisnefske. She was happy to work in homes and provide direct patient care.
"It was another way to reach out and make sure (patients) had their needs met," she said.
Last August, Wisnefske began teaching a public health nursing class at Edgewood College. She feels education is important and enjoys being able to support new nurses. With help from the Monroe Fund, she started an annual education day for parish nurses. Recently, she has also joined the St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Monroe in their parish nurse program, a part-time position she enjoys as well.
Another important part of Wisnefske's life has been politics. Her father and several family members were union workers and stayed actively involved while she was young. In 2000, she was even more involved because it was an important year for health care, and as a nurse, she felt everyone should have a right to it.
She ran for the Wisconsin state Assembly that year and lost - but still served as the co-chair of the Democratic Party of Green County for a few years. She still attends some meetings, and tries to be as active as she can.
Wisnefske hopes to retire eventually, but for now she's happily enjoying her community involvement. She is a member and past president of the Monroe Woman's Club and has helped with the Christmas Stocking Fund project since 1986. She is now in her second three-year term as the vice president for Family Promise and prior to that served on the Homelessness Coalition for Green County. She's also actively involved in the Loaves and Fishes Community Meal and is set to serve as the group's president in January. Wisnefske was also actively involved with scouting in the past while her daughter, Ana, was a member.
Wisnefske has been active in the American Nurses Association and was part of its annual education program. She enjoyed connecting with different groups and making things available to more people.
"It's something in me to volunteer," she said. "Even in parish nursing - if we didn't have volunteers, it wouldn't have happened. It takes a lot of time from people."
In 2012, Wisnefske received news she had stage three breast cancer and after overcoming that, the cancer returned in 2015. She's been through chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries. Ana moved home in 2013 to help, an act for which Wisnefske is still grateful.
"I don't know if I would have survived without her," she said. "It's not what you want - but what can you do?"
But Wisnefske did do something. As she looked for local support and didn't find much, she decided to start a Breast Cancer Survivor Group two years ago. The group meets at Wisconsin Bank & Trust at 6 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month. Always a group between six and eight women, they also work to give back to those going through the initial news and recently began donating gift bags to breast cancer patients at Monroe Clinic.
"Everyone has their own story," Wisnefske said. "But I think it's just nice to have people you can share with. These people know how you feel. It's kind of like walking in someone's shoes - you've been in those shoes, so you know how it goes."
One of the constants in Wisnefske's life has been a family dog. Both she and David love animals and have always had a pet in their lives. In May, they brought home a new puppy for their 40th wedding anniversary, a yellow lab named MilliE, named after both of their grandmothers and their spunk. The puppy is still learning, but Wisnefske hopes eventually to have her become a hospital visitor dog.
"They're just so loyal and happy to see you," Wisnefske said of why having a dog has always been important. "They just love you no matter what."
Church has also been an important part of her life, and Wisnefske has been an active member of St. Victor Catholic Church since 1984. Her children attended grade school there and she has helped with religious education and was part of their parish nurse program for eight years.
She also enjoys time with her family, going on outings with her daughter and visiting the country land her family owns near Argyle, a place they have shared with scouts, students and pets through the years.
"There's a relationship between my faith and what helps me go day-to-day through life," she said. "It's been a support system."