OREGON, Wis. – A retired Dane County Sheriff’s Deputy goes above and beyond to honor the legacy of a loved one.
Jim Groenier makes award-winning craft-style turkey calls for hunters. But instead of turning a profit, the octogenarian donated all proceeds to the Carbone Cancer Center for breast cancer research.
Groenier’s wife, Darlene, died of the disease three years ago, and Jim thinks Darlene (also an avid turkey caller creator) would like his effort.
“She would appreciate it, yes,” Groenier said, as representatives of the Carbone Cancer Center have said to date the UW Health System has received $15,000 in contributions.
“The path [Darlene] was treated, I can’t say enough for them (Carbone Cancer Center),” he explained.
Medical oncologist Dr. Mark Burkard is beyond grateful for the funding that supports his research into gene-targeting drugs.
“If we can do [treatment] precise, especially with chemotherapy therapies, then we could guarantee that they will work for these people,” Dr. Burkhard said of the experimental study.
Groenier also makes the “oven minnow”, a wooden stick that looks like a minnow and pulls an oven rack in and out. Hand-made devices were sold not only throughout the country, but all over the world.
“From Australia to Paris, through the Netherlands, Germany, Cuba, Mexico and places in between,” Groenier said.
Ultimately, the octogenarian is just grateful to be able to do something small to perhaps support a breakthrough in what he knows to be an ugly and deadly disease.
“I just appreciate the people who bought them and donated money to Carbone Cancer on behalf of my wife and I hope [doctors] find a cure for breast cancer,” he said.
Those interested can purchase canned and wing-bone turkey decoys as well as learn more about “baked minnow” by contacting him directly on his Facebook Business page.