Three named Athens Distinguished Alumni

By Casey Krautkramer

There was a joyous celebration in Athens on Sunday afternoon when three Athens High School graduates became Distinguished Alumni. Their plaques will join 21 others that have been hung on the wall of the Athens Middle/High School commons since the Distinguished Alumni ceremony began in 2018.

Juli Gauerke-Peter, current middle/ high school principal and a 1992 Athens High School graduate, gave the opening remarks during Sunday’s induction ceremony. She provided the audience with the definition of distinguished, which means “successful, authoritative and commanding great respect.”

“As I think about the honorees this year, I think that each and every one of them have absolutely exemplified that, as have their predecessors on the wall behind me,” she said. “It is with great pride that we continue to recognize all those folks that continue to do great things, whether it’s here in the community of Athens or in the greater surrounding areas or even in other states, because a lot of our other distinguished alumni have left Athens but taken a piece of what they learned here with them.So, they are always very good at representing what we stand for here in Athens.”

Allison Halverson, Athens Class of 2009, nominated Dr. Davis Zubke, her friend and classmate at Trinity Lutheran School and Athens High School, as one of the 2025 Athens Distinguished Alumni. Halverson spoke about several of Zubke’s life accomplishments, starting with the Eagle Scout Award he earned by mapping out Athens Cemetery. He also volunteered at Camp Restore, which runs a shelter for up to 240 people at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in New Orleans, to help with the Hurricane Katrina relief.

“He was truly a jack of all trades,” she said. “He stepped up and helped out where it was needed.”

Zubke was the Athens Class of 2009 valedictorian before enrolling in Marquette University’s pre-dental scholar program where he met his wife. He graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Marquette University in 2013 and got married to his wife in 2014. He graduated cum laude with a doctor of dental surgery degree from Marquette in 2016. In 2021, Zubke purchased a dental practice in Escanaba, Mich., where he has worked since graduating from college. He and his wife and their three children live in Escanaba, where he owns and operates Zubke Family Dentistry.

“He continues to diligently update his practice to ensure he is providing his patients with the quality of care they need, with a focus on their health and well being,” Halverson said. “His friendly and kind demeanor have helped him build an excellent reputation with his patients.”

Dr. Zubke told the audience that he was “truly honored and humbled to receive this distinction.”

“When Allison first reached out to me about wanting to nominate me for this award, I was caught off guard and I told her that I didn’t think I was a qualified candidate and somehow here I am. As I see it, I am just a regular guy who is lucky enough to live out my childhood dream of becoming a dentist and doing my best to live out my life the way God calls me to.”

“When I reflect on my own life, I realize how fortunate I am to always have excellent role models. When I think back to growing up in Athens, I think about all the support and encouragement that I received from the community. First, my parents taught me a strong work ethic and to lead by example.”

He also thanked his “teachers and other school staff that helped me academically and my friend Allison that stood by me throughout my challenges in high school. In so many ways I was very fortunate to be surrounded by a great community that gave me a great start.”

Steve Janke’s four children — Jessica Janke, Class of 2012; Savannah (Janke) Ellenbecker, Class of 2015; Gabriella Janke, Class of 2018, and Aiden Janke, Class of 2023 — nominated him as a 2025 Athens Distinguished Alumni.

Jessica Janke spoke about how college was not the path her father wanted to take. After working many jobs, he honed in on the construction industry he grew up with but really never wanted to do. Savannah Ellenbecker said her father started Janke General Contractors in 2001 to do construction on recreation and marine projects. She said bicycle paths and snowmobile trails turned into multimillion dollar projects that won national and state awards. She said he started JAGS Fabrication in 2018 to make bridge components distributed throughout the country.

Gabriella Janke said, while building and managing both Janke General Contractors and JAGS Fabrication, her father became part of the investor team that was instrumental in the development and construction of Athenian Living, an assisted living facility in the village. Her father is still involved, plowing the snow from the parking lots at Athenian Living at no cost.

Aiden Janke said his father is an avid supporter of the Athens School District, serving on the board of education for many years and generously donating money for the sports programs and technology education projects in hopes of building a better future for Athens athletes and students.

Steve Janke, Class of 1988, told the crowd that he was “truly humbled by this honor, and I’d also like to thank the committee.”

“The way I look at his recognition is not that it’s a reflection of myself but it is one that I feel recognizes all the people in my life that have supported and believed in me.”

He said that he couldn’t own and operate two successful businesses without the help and support from his wife, Andrea Janke.

Steve Brewster, Class of 1990, nominated his best friend, Glen Luetschwager, Class of 1974, as a 2025 Athens Distinguished Alumni. He said Luetschwager was his mentor when he became an Athens EMT, and they formed a friendship because they both had the same vision for an Athens trails system.

“In March of 2014, a group of us interested people formed the Athens Area Trails Association, and I was elected president and Glen has been vice president ever since our formation. So, in the last 11 years, Glen has basically become my best friend,” Brewster said. “We talk and plan and share not only the future of the trails association but a shared vision for the village as well. During those years, I’ve also gotten to know his wife, Lynn, and their two kids and they truly and collectively are some of the best people that I’ve ever known. They are all hard workers and they take care and look out for each other.”

Glen Luetschwager, who also served on the Athens Board of Education, addressed the audience.

“I was an EMT for 37 years and I always enjoyed that, but I had to quit for medical reasons,” he said. “I’ve always loved dragging the trails. I would just like to thank everyone for recognizing me.”

Gauerke-Peter gave the closing remarks of the induction ceremony.

“As a 1992 alumni, I look forward to following in the footsteps of many of you…We get started right here in the small town Athens and take all that we’ve been given and all the support that we’ve known with us wherever we go,” she said. “I haven’t worked here my entire life, but I started life here and circled back, so it is just beyond extraordinary to see so many folks be recognized for all they have done and continue to do for us – the community and the world around us – in making it a better place each and every day.”

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI - Shown are this year’s Athens Distinguished Alumni award recipients, holding their plaques at Sunday’s induction ceremony. Award recipients are, from left to right, Dr. Davis Zubke, Steve Janke and Glen Luetschwager. STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER