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Our Story…

4PeteSake is accepting applications for potential Fall funding recipients.

Applications are available at www.4PeteSake.com, by mail at 4PeteSake, PO Box 577, Spring Green, WI, 53588, or at Arcadia Books in downtown Spring Green

Please contact Todd Miller at tmiller@4petesake.com or at 608-588-4619 with any questions.

Applicants must live within the boundaries of the River Valley School District and find themselves in health-related circumstances, through no fault of their own, for which assistance is needed.  All applications are reviewed by the 4Petesake Board, who determine the number of recipients to be funded and the amount that each recipient will receive.

2025 Spring Funding Recipients
You matter. The River Valley community cares about each other. This is never more apparent than when I look at the cycle of help and hope provided by 4PeteSake in our community each year.

The next Fall Funding Round will be announced in September. If you, or a loved one, face extraordinary financial need and are unable, through no fault of your own, to provide for yourselves. Your community is here for you.

The generosity of people in the River Valley has brought comfort to the following community members over the last year. I invite you to read their stories and know that they are forever grateful for the contributions you have made in the past. You made a difference.

Diane MacDonald

Powerhouse…that is the word that came to my mind as I drove away from Diane and her
husband, David’s, house in Lone Rock. Diane is a woman who has spent her life making a
difference. Born and raised in central California by parents who were in law enforcement, she
was drawn to that world, spending her early career in the Sacramento Police Department and
was the second in charge of security at one of the largest malls in the area. She is full of stories
of the misbehavior she has witnessed, and the strong, compassionate ways in which she
responded to those behaviors. No one messed with Diane, but if they did they found themselves
treated with fairness and respect.

After her time in law enforcement, she moved to a small town outside of Texarkana, Arkansas in
order to work in her step-father’s mill, being the first woman hired in his molding plant where she
learned to hold her own with all the men working there. Perhaps that background in law
enforcement helped, but I imagine she would have held her own regardless.
The next stop in this amazing woman’s journey was as a paralegal and then a parole/probation
officer in Texarkana. In this role she advocated for victims of rape and domestic violence,
providing respect, comfort, and safety along with her advocacy. I imagine she was fierce and
tireless. I came away from these stories knowing that Diane has touched nearly countless lives,
making them safer and stronger.

When it was time for this powerhouse to retire she first moved to Tennessee to help her
grandson with his children (yet another area in which Diane has brought her skills to the aid of
others–she has “had children in her house her whole life”). She then did school with them
through the pandemic. Once those children were all in school she was finally able to truly retire
to Spring Green!

Diane and David had vacationed in Spring Green for years, visiting her daughter, Dede, and her
family, and finding that, as someone who had spent so many years in law enforcement, it was
nice to be able to have a drink on the front porch, and to go out, without the overarching sense
of authority/being an example/being watched by the community. She could fully relax here. They
decided to move up here, bought a “fixer upper” in Lone Rock, moved into Dede’s Airbnb behind
their house while the fixer upper was made livable…and was diagnosed with cancer.
Like the rest of her life, Diane approached her diagnosis with strength, naming Michael
Jackson’s “Beat It” as her theme song. And, in fact, she is doing that. Now, even before she is
done with her treatments, she is planning how she will become an advocate at the hospital,
helping others go through treatment and remain strong. This journey is making her humble, and
oh so grateful.

The only thing that brought tears to Diane’s voice was when she spoke of 4PeteSake. She is
incredibly moved by the kindness of this community, of the understanding and help provided by
this organization. She is not someone who takes help easily, and she is so grateful for the

assistance that she has received during this challenge. As soon as she is able, Diane intends to
bring her skills and energy to the community, to help instill in others the belief that they, too, can
“beat it.”

Jayne Beresford Update

I am in the process of a pre-surgical work-up for my seizures. I was put on a third seizure medication, but the seizures are still happening frequently. I was in the hospital for six days in early June for an EMU stay hooked onto an EEG machine and monitored 24/7. The doctors discovered that my seizures occur on both sides of my brain, but I also have two types of seizures. I also underwent another test this week to determine my brain’s strengths and weaknesses, and if it would impair my brain to do surgery. I have more MRIs and scans scheduled for July, and from there, they will present the information to the neurosurgeons to determine what is the safest surgery for me. But, in this, it seems that the only way to control these seizures is through surgery, because the seizures are coming from both sides of the brain, and that is why medicine isn’t efficient to stop them. The doctors don’t know what caused me to suddenly have seizures when I was in my 30’s, but they’ve concluded that it must have come from an old injury to my head since I know I have had head injuries in my childhood. They just didn’t manifest until I was 33 years old.

It’s been an emotional rollercoaster, and it was not easy to do the EMU stay, or to hear the results. The doctors and staff at my job at LSM Chiropractic and Forward Natural Medicine have been wonderfully supportive. Two of my co-workers surprised me by ordering me food in the hospital during one of the days I was there. The massage therapist, Laurie, gave me a little massage during her break to relieve the pain from being bed-ridden for six days. The doctors worked on me to relieve my back and neck pain from being in bed too long. They also threw me a birthday party last week for my 40th birthday.

Nathan still drives me to work every day, and I keep busy working in the middle of all this, staying focused on the positive thought that I am doing my very best to get better, because that is what I want more than anything. Nathan has also been driving me all the way to Milwaukee and back for my trips to the hospital, since UW wasn’t able to get me in. Froedtert, on the other hand, is wasting no time in taking care of me.

Letter from Heloise Idstein:
Dear 4PeteSake,

There are many people in my life who have made being a caregiver for Frank easier. I call them our “cancer posse.” It is not possible to be here in person today, so I am writing to you in an attempt to show my appreciation and gratitude for being a “cancer posse” during Frank’s cancer. Your love and support eases our life.

As Frank has been unable to work, your help covering our monthly expenses has been a lifesaver. Expenses such as rent, phones, internet, and utilities.

Securing the roof over our head and assisting in our search for a new home, which you have secured for us.

When Frank was diagnosed with Stage 3 hepatocellular cancer earlier this year my head and heart

was reeling and full of questions and fear. I felt numb, I needed to talk to someone. I contacted a friend who immediately suggested 4PeteSake. They were her anchor during a similar experience. We contacted them and I remember walking into a room in the church where the board was seated, surprised at the sheer number of caring people there who truly cared, who were very positive and supportive, believing we would get through this bump in the road.

Outside there were so many birds and it was Spring, peaceful and beautiful.

Throughout this time, you have helped us through so many phases of our journey, easing fear, worry and the exhaustion of navigating not only these devastating health conditions, but also the financial stress that goes along with it. We are grateful for a bit of respite from the many ongoing challenges we face.

We are truly blessed and so lucky with the best 4PeteSake posse in the world. Thank you!

We are so lucky to have you all in our life.

Heloise Idstein.