Building Trades Volunteer When it Matters Most
In 2005, Vikki Krocka and Donna Vanderhei met at a time in their lives neither imagined they'd ever face. They had both recently lost their sons and were attending meetings to help with their devastating losses. Throughout the year, Vikki visited a children's memorial in Oak Creek to remember her son, but she struggled with traveling so far from her home — and she knew she couldn't be the only one looking for a children's memorial in Waukesha County.
With that in mind, Vikki decided to create a children's memorial garden more centrally located in Waukesha County for the many families suffering the loss of a child. After hearing about the project from Vikki, Vanderhei volunteered to do whatever was needed to make it happen. Vikki enlisted her husband, Randy Krocka, a Business Representative with Sheet Metal Workers, Local 18, and the wheels haven't stopped turning since.
Once Vikki secured a location at Prairie Home Cemetery in Waukesha, she hired an architect to put her vision on paper. Through Randy, Vikki met Mike Sorge, Field Operations Manager at M.A. Mortenson, and they worked together to start fundraising. Randy was confident the children's memorial would become a reality with the help of his brothers and sisters in the union trades, which freed Vikki and Vanderhei to focus their efforts on raising money.
"Without Randy's career in the trades, I'm not sure if the Memorial Garden would be a reality for us," said Vikki. "I was taken aback by the outpouring of support we received, and am in awe at just how amazing it turned out. I know it gives me a lot of peace and pride knowing not only how great it looks, but the quality behind the work."
In all, the following trades and associations offered assistance with the project: Carpenters, Bricklayers, Roofers, Painters, Sheet Metal Workers, Laborers, Electricians, and the AFL-CIO.
"When Vikki came in to ask for our help, we looked at what had already been done, and it was a no-brainer," said Rick Gutierrez, Business Representative with Electrical Workers, Local 494. "Because electrical work is usually the last component to most projects, we weren't surprised by how great it was turning out.
"We're always glad to help out using our skills and talents," added Gutierrez. "We're even more willing to help when it's for causes like this."
Sorge acted as the project manager on the project, and he knew it would be an undertaking like none other.
"Without the volunteers' energy, effort and desire to make it happen, I'm certain the project would not have gotten done," said Sorge. "There were hundreds of hours in labor and thousands of dollars in materials that were donated to create this space for grieving families."
What makes the Children's Memorial Garden unique compared to other children's memorials is the extensive and personalized brick work, one-of-a-kind sculpture, and intricate gazebo for events to honor the children who have passed away.
Vanderhei has taken charge of the personalized bricks for families to purchase as a memorial for their child. Because of the trades generosity, they are able to offer a brick to any family regardless of whether they can afford one. However, she continues to sell the bricks to raise funds for upkeep of the Garden, as well as adding components that weren't part of the original design.
What has always been her and Vikki's goal was to provide a place to remember, and what has become reality was beyond her expectations. "Vikki and I know too many people who have suffered like us," said Vanderhei. "But knowing how compassionate the volunteers were, and the amount of time and materials donated by the contractors and unions, means the world to us. Without each improvement made, it just wouldn't be the same."
UPDATE
We received a listing of contractors and volunteers who made the Children's Memorial Garden possible. Vikki Krocka, Donna Vanderhei and Mike Sorge all said the project couldn't have been done without all of their help - both contractors and trades people. Here's a list (in no particular order) of the people and companies who made the beautiful Memorial Garden:
Contributing Contractors:
- M.A. Mortenson
- Spancrete Industry, Inc.
- Lincoln Contractors Supply
- Waukesha Labor Council
- Sengraph Communication Inc.
- Ambassador Steel
- Staff Electric
- Milwaukee Building Trades & Construction Trades Council
- David J. Frank Design and Landscape
- Payne & Dolan, Inc.
- Fabco Rentals
- Nations Roof
- Mann Brothers, Inc.
- Ottawa Ready Mix
Volunteers
Laborers Local 113:
- Anthony Neira
- Michael Emordeno
- Michael Wilburn
- Marcos Huerta
- Sal Corral
- Noe Morales
- Tracy Fizer
- Charles Greene
- Steve Bako
- Steve Cagle
- Adrian Fuentes
- Miguel Corral
- Cristoval J. Rocha
- Adam Shock
- Peter J. Seeg, III
Sheet Metal Workers Local 18
- Randy Krocka
Roofers Local 65
- Christopher Zioroth
- Matthew Rynders
- Heinrich Reis
- Gerardo Ferreira
- Steve Schmitt
- Christopher Polzin
- John Kubica
Southeast Wisconsin Carpentry Training Center
- Joe Weisling
- Leonard Bahr
- Jamie Jensen
- David Sinkula
- Jeff Jacobson
- Pat Wondra
- Jacob Frederick
- Timothy McNeill
- Adam Long
- Kevin Fink
Painters and Allied Trades District Council 7
- Leonard Sommers
- Jeff Arnold
Bricklayers Local 8
- Raymond Wersel
- Gary Burns
- Jerry Sutherland
- Jeff Evica
- John Pike
- Gary Nelson
- Brian Tirberger
- James Birler
- Mark Graf
- Hunter Ramos
- Nate McDonald
- Mike Bryant
- Kevin Porter
- John Watson
- Fred Hultquist
- Jim Vick
- Russel Engel
- Ben Gutkowski
- John Gundermann
- Fred Kindler
- Richard Lloyd
- Phil Dupor
- Roy Vaquez
- Fabian Johnson
- Brad Moore
- Juan Guzman
- Leslie Sudberry
Thank you to all who helped, and who went above and beyond to make this happen. We hope we got all of you, but let us know if we didn't.
To learn more about purchasing a brick, please contact Donna Vanderhei at (262) 968-9633. To learn more on how to donate for future upkeep, please contact David Brenner, Cemetery Manager at (262) 524-3540.
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