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Louis Paetsch Memorial Fund

This fund was created in honor of Louis Paetsch to help assist children in the Waterford Community to reap all the benefits that our youth programs have to offer.  According to the National Recreation and Park Association, in the past decade, participation in youth programming has decreased by 8% and the gap is growing, especially for lower income families.  Recent research published by the Rand Corporation confirmed that children from lower income families are less likely to participate in youth programming outside of school.

Who is Louis Paetsch?

Louis taught in Waterford from 1964 to 1996.  In 1964, he was hired to teach History and Phy Ed at the Rochester Agricultural School, which was the site for 7th and 8th graders due to high enrollment.  While leading a career in teaching, he also met his wife, Mary Palmer who was also a teacher at the Rochester Agricultural School.  In 1968, the staff would move into the new Fox River School.  Louis immediately engaged in community athletics by working the chain gang for Waterford High School football games and then teamed up with another teacher, Joe Whitford, to help coach a junior high school basketball team.  He also coordinated with other teachers to plan Faculty vs Student Volleyball games and even today, former students still remember their Square Dancing Phy Ed units.  He also taught World History and during summer academic breaks, he would even help with custodial work and landscaping at Fox River School.

Louis taught all three of his children, Chelle, Peter and Timothy.  His daughter Chelle was a Freshman in high school during the inaugural year of Title IX in 1972, which enabled female involvement in competitive sports.  Louis would go on to help coach whichever sports needed assistance and also volunteered to help coach the Girls Track and Field team, which was one of the first sports established with the new Title IX provisions.

While teaching, Louis achieved his Master's Degree in History.  In 1971 he would then become a member of the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad in Waterford where he served the Waterford Community for 35 years.

Teaching was the perfect profession for Louis as he was a kind man but also demanded respect while giving mutual respect to his students.  His family agreed that having funds available to assist Waterford Community students who financially could not afford to participate in Waterford Recreation Department activities was the best way for the family to honor his commitment to welfare of the youth.

How to apply for financial assistance?

If you feel that your family could use financial assistance to register your child(ren) for any of our Youth Programs, please complete the form below.  The Waterford Recreation Department will use our discretion to provide up to 50% reduction in Youth Program registration costs.  Please complete the form below before registering online for any youth program(s) of interest.  Once the form is completed, the Waterford Recreation Department will reach out via email with more information.

Louis Paetsch Memorial Fund Application (Click Here)


***If you are interested in donating to the Louis Paetsch Memorial Fund, you can do so online below or you can reach out to the Waterford Recreation Department at waterfordrec@waterford.k12.wi.us.  All funds donated will only be used to help assist those children in need of financial assistance to participate in our Youth Programs.***


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Register Activity Ages Grades Days Date/Time Fees
 
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Louis Paetsch Memorial Fund Donation 
N/A N/A   10/28/2024 - 10/28/2050

 $1.00
* Adjustments and discounts will be applied during checkout if applicable. *

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