Esther & Dante

THE ESTHER BENCRISCUTTO &
DANTE RENZONI FAMILY

As I look back on my life I wanted to recall everything I could about the years I spent growing up in our wonderful family. To my surprise it seemed as if nothing really important happened. The days went by and I know we all worked very hard to contribute to the success of the family. I can see now that those were important years of character building. Many of my strengths and attributes were the result of the influences surrounding me during my childhood. Some of my memories, however, are more specific.

Belonging to the CYO, which just seemed like fun at the time, actually turned out to be a spiritually grounding period in my life. I had so many good friends in school. One of the highlights during my school years was winning the state volleyball championship, going undefeated five years in a row! We represented Washington Jr. High School and were coached by Miss Peterson who taught us well. After high school I joined the city basketball team for girls. The games were played at the Douglas Park gymnasium which has hosted prep basketball for years. There, too, my team won the city championship two years in a row. I guess I inherited some of the athletic ability so obviously possessed by my accomplished brothers.

Besides sports, I loved to dance and swim. Every Sunday night some friends would gather at the Eagles Club in Kenosha where we would dance the night away to big band sounds playing swing and jitterbug. It was there that I met my future husband, Dante Joseph Renzoni. There were quite a few different men who were interested in marrying me but Dante was the only really good man I met during my single years. He was drawn into the service during World War II in 1942. We corresponded for three years while he was away.

With much-needed encouragement from my brother Louie and Dante, I decided to enter a nurses training program sponsored by the government. Against my parents' wishes I went to live at the hospital. During the next three years I didn't get much sleep between school and work but I survived and graduated with the highest grades in my class in 1947. The war was over in 1945 and Dante returned safely to Racine. When we decided to get married a blood test was required.

I had been pushing myself so hard for so many months that my blood count was down below the limit that would allow us to get a marriage license. I had to rest for a week. We tried again and I was all right. Dante and I were married in 1946, on November 30. Kathleen Marie was born on September 1, 1947. Dante Anthony was born on April 20, 1951. Kathy attended Whitewater State University in 1965 majoring in Elementary Education. It was there she met a Madison, Wisconsin native, Francis Levi Retelle, son of Russell and Helen Retelle. They were married on August 31, 1968. Their first son, Chad Francis Retelle, was born on August 23, 1971. Their second son, Shawn Levi, was born on April 7, 1975, but died shortly thereafter on June 11, a victim of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Dante Anthony went to Dominican College in Racine from 1969 to 1973, when he graduated with a biology major. He completed a Masters Degree in Soil Science at Stevens Point.

ESTHER & DANTE'S FAMILY

ESTHER CHRISTINE
Born: 2-19-1923
Vocation: Retired Registered Nurse
Activities: Dancing, volunteer work at the hospital
Phone: 608-232-9337
Address: 4715 Sheboygan Ave. Madison, WI 53705

DANTE JOSEPH
Born: 4-18-1922
Vocation: Retired Racine Unified School District Employee
Activities: Bocci Ball, travel, gardening
Phone: 608-232-9337
Address: 4715 Sheboygan Ave. Madison, WI 53705

ESTHER AND DANTE'S CHILDREN

THE KATHLEEN RENZONI
&
FRANCIS RETELLE FAMILY

KATHLEEN MARIE
Born: 9-1-1947
Vocation: Ended a 20-year Career as Credit Administrative Officer for the M&I
Bank in Madison, Owner of Savoir Faire Cards & Gifts, Inc.
Activities: Shopping, travel, gourmet cook, wine aficionado, entrepreneur
Phone: 608-238-7766
Address: 2239 Commonwealth Ave. Madison, WI 53705

FRANCIS LEVI
Born: 11-16-1948
Vocation: Police Detective for the City of Madison
Activities: Golfing, traveling, sports
Phone: 608-238-7766
Address: 2239 Commonwealth Ave. Madison, WI 53705

FRANCIS & KATHLEEN'S CHILD

CHAD FRANCIS
Born: 8-23-1971
Vocation: Computer Engineer for Levi Strauss Corporation
Activities: Skiing, all sports including golf and tennis, computers, music
Phone: 415-681-8903
Address: 631-A Frederick St. San Francisco, CA 94117

THE DANTE ANTHONY RENZONI
&
JEANINE GETCHUIS FAMILY

DANTE ANTHONY
Born: 4-20-1951
Vocation: 4-F for Taylor County Wisconsin
Activities: Fishing, nature activities, gardening
Phone: 715-748-0148 Fax 748-0153
Address: N 3487 Woodland Road Meadford, WI 54451

JEANINE
Born: 1-9-1956
Vocation: Dietitian Consultant, Raises Airedale Terriers, Dog Grooming
Manufacture Burlwood Clocks, tables and furnishings, paintings (with Dante)
Activities: Gardening, fishing, nature activities, biking, rollerblade
Phone: 715-748-0148 Fax 748-0153
Address: N 3487 Woodland Road Meadford, WI 54451

DANTE & JEANINE'S CHILD

KENDRA BRI
Born: 5-13-1984
Vocation: Attending school
Activities: Horse riding, plays clarinet, dog handling, volleyball, swimming
Phone: 715-748-0148 Fax 748-0153
Address: N 3487 Woodland Road Meadford, WI 54451