A time to remember and celebrate

• Faculty and staff from Hudson Prairie Elementary School will produce "the Oscars" in memory of Kim Warneke

Glitter and glam will be on stage for the “Oscars” Saturday night. Faculty and staff from Hudson Prairie Elementary School will produce the variety show. Photo by Margaret A. Ontl

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Reach into your pocket for that “fiver” and plan to have an evening of fun — all for a good cause. On Saturday, “Ellen at the Oscars” is opening at the Hudson High School auditorium with shows at 6:30 and 8 p.m.

Although it’s a short run, only one night, the Hudson Prairie Elementary staff and faculty have created a show full of fun and surprises, all to remember their colleague and friend Kim Warneke.

The Hudson Prairie teacher lost her battle with breast cancer Jan. 11, and for students and fellow faculty members, many of them close friends, this is a way to pay tribute to her.

The funds raised will go to the Kim Warneke Dream Fund, which is for her daughter Katelyn, who will be participating in the event as a member of the River Falls High School Color Guard. In addition, it will help fund two fellow faculty members, Sue Jensen and Chloe Brine, who are walking in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day event in August.

“Almost the whole staff and faculty of Hudson Prairie are participating in one way or another,” said school counselor Max Hansen. “The idea arose out of the staff and teachers – we feel really bad about her loss. She would have wanted us to do something purposeful.”

“Kim truly was a very, very special person,” said Hansen. “Her caring for the kids in her classroom and her positive nature were remarkable. Even as things became hard for her, she remained positive. We are trying to do something positive for her and the community.”

John Warneke, Kim’s husband, will have Kim pins, mugs and water bottles for sale in the lobby, and there will be a silent auction as well.

“One of the things we plan to create is a Kim’s Korner in the library,” said Hansen. “Students in her classes have started to list and collect her favorite books.”

“It is a way for us to build a community for the staff, build staff morale and show the community that we care about each other,” said Cheryl Klanderman. “We also want to show the kids that we have fun together.”

Warneke taught in the district for over 20 years, the last 10 at Hudson Prairie Elementary School.

For tickets, call (715) 377-3860 or stop by Hudson Prairie Elementary School.

Tags: kim warneke, community, hudson, cancer, benefit, oscars