Oshkosh Public Museum
Interviewee | Collection Sort ascending | Description | Interviewer | Date of Interview | Location of Interview | Affiliation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dan Groeschel | People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish |
In an interview conducted by Ronald M. Bruch and Kathleen Schmitt Kline, Dan Groeschel explains his family history and how he got started spearing. He describes the first time he speared a sturgeon, and how he accidentally pushed his brother into a hole. He also talks about how Sturgeon for Tomorrow got started, and where he sees the club going in the future. |
Ronald M. Bruch, Kathleen Schmitt Kline | Fond du Lac, WI | University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum | |
Jerry Neumueller | People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish |
Jerry Neumueller talks about his experiences with sturgeon spearing and shares some of his knowledge about the sport. He explains how to find a spot, cutting holes, moving shanties, using decoys, and throwing the spear straight. He also talks about how things have changed over the years. |
Dick Ristow | Oshkosh, WI | University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum | |
Estelle Wagner | People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish |
Estelle Wagner is interviewed by Kathleen Schmitt Kline about her history in the Lake Winnebago area of Wisconsin, including sturgeon spearing and its connection with her immigrant family. They listen to and discuss historical recordings she has about sturgeon culture from her father. Identities of other speakers on recording are unknown. |
Kathleen Schmitt Kline | Unknown | University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum | |
Shawn Wendt | People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish |
Shawn Wendt was born and raised at Wendt’s on the Lake. His grandfather, also a sturgeon spearer, started the restaurant. They also run a shanty rental business that his grandfather started. Shawn is active in the sturgeon spearing community and has been treasurer of the Southwest Chapter of Sturgeon for Tomorrow for about 13 years. He recounts stories of his first catch at age 15 and a comical story about some shanty renters. |
Dick Ristow | Van Dyne, WI | University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum | |
Russell Collar | People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish |
Russell Collar describes his experiences fishing for sturgeon using snag lines. He explains his “closest call with a warden”, how to tie sturgeon, when his father was pulled in, and what happened to his albino sturgeon. He also describes his earliest memory of sturgeon fishing, and how he thinks the river has changed. |
Ronald M. Bruch, Kathleen Schmitt Kline | Shiocton, WI | University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum | |
Irene L. Halfmann | People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish |
Irene Halfmann and her husband Greg Halfmann of Malone, Wisconsin discuss their experiences sturgeon fishing. Bill Casper interviews them about Irene’s big catches of 1952 and 1979, methods of cooking sturgeon, how to prevent shanties from blowing around the lake, and the painting of their manual ice saw as art for their 50th wedding anniversary. |
Bill Casper | Malone, WI | University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum | |
Donald Petersen, Sr. | People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish |
Interviewed by Dick Koerner, Donald Petersen, Sr. (also known as Old Timer or O.T.) discusses his experiences with sturgeon spearing. He talks about changes in the sport, his spearing history, and preferences for recipes, spearing locations, and spears. |
Dick Koerner | Neenah, WI | University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum | |
Cynthia Wendt | People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish |
Cynthia Wendt is interviewed by Dick Ristow about her personal involvement in sturgeon spearing on Lake Winnebago. She tells about the challenges and enjoyment of sturgeon spearing, sharing her most memorable experiences. She talks about the people she has come to know through spearing and those that she met during the years that she owned Wendt’s On the Lake. |
Dick Ristow | Fond du Lac, WI | University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum | |
Linda Wendt | People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish |
Linda Wendt, the owner of Wendt’s On the Lake, talks about her experiences with sturgeon spearing and the impacts of sturgeon spearing on her business. She tells one of her favorite stories and talks about being awarded Wisconsin’s restaurateur of the year. |
Dick Ristow | Van Dyne, WI | University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum | |
Dennis and Barb Cook | People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin's Love Affair with an Ancient Fish |
Barb and Dennis Cook and Art and Dorothy Levknecht are interviewed by Kendal Kamke regarding how both couples became involved in sturgeon spearing, and how they came to fish together as a group of four. They tell stories from their past fishing explorations, discuss eating fish, and talk about passing the tradition on to their kids. |
Kendal Kamke | Chilton, WI | University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, Oshkosh Public Museum |