By Chris Spangler
They say timing is everything.
That certainly was the case for the Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson when it unveiled its “Puppy Serenade” statue at Rock River Park on June 15th.
Passersby undoubtedly have admired the bronze sculpture created by Fort Atkinson artist Mark Dziewior. Located near the entrance to the disk golf area, it joins a human/canine/bottle-filling fountain and bench offering two- and four-legged visitors a brief respite during long walks.
The statue salutes the Kennel Club’s three founding members — Patty Beran, Marleen LaPlant and Rita Hasel — and their respective dogs, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever “Cody,” Dalmatian “Dottee” and Scottish Terrier “Scarlett.”
“Puppy Serenade” could not have been dedicated at a more perfect time because just two weeks and two days later — on July 1 — Marleen passed away.
A family member said that June 15th was one of the happiest days Marleen had experienced in years, and I witnessed that personally when, despite poor health, she proudly joined Rita and Patty for a photo. Petting a dog alongside her wheelchair, she smiled for the camera.
Of course, Marleen smiled a lot in her life. And she laughed … a lot. Having bowled with her in the Wednesday Night Ladies League at Rock River Lanes for decades, I can attest to the fact that she loved people and sharing good times. Her hearty, often boisterous, laugh could be recognized by bowlers many lanes away.
For those who did not have the good fortune to have known Marleen, she was an Oakland native who graduated from Fort Atkinson High School in 1961. Eleven years later, she married John LaPlant. Joining Nasco early in her working career, Marleen was responsible for competitive bidding for large orders and shipping for the international corporation. Also having helped host the Nasco booth at World Dairy Expo in Madison for many decades, she retired in 2008 after 45 years with the company.
The Nasco job was a good fit, as Marleen had grown up on a dairy farm. It was there that she fostered her lifelong love of animals. I remember her saying, “I don’t like to dust; I don’t like to cook. Just let me go outside with the animals, and I’m happy.” Active in the Jefferson County 4-H Program, she raised Guernsey cows, winning many showmanship awards at the county and state levels. As an adult, Marleen often judged 4-H events.
In addition to the Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson, Marleen was involved in conformation dog shows and various dog obedience activities. She also enjoyed taking her Dalmatians to nursing homes for therapy visits and the Dwight Foster Public Library for its Reading to the Dogs program.
So perhaps it really is no surprise that, in 1991, Marleen, Patty and Rita began meeting to train their dogs together. The following year they officially formed the Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson Inc. and were soon joined by other dog enthusiasts. The organization continues yet today, teaching dog training, modeling responsible dog ownership and undertaking community service and improvement projects like “Puppy Serenade.”
As I first mentioned, the timing of the dedication was perfect. But even had it not worked out that way, I know Marleen would have been fondly remembered throughout the Fort Atkinson area.
For legacies are sculpted from actions, not bronze. And Marleen’s will live on through all she contributed to the dairy, 4-H, bowling and canine communities long after “Puppy Serenade’s” shine darkens with age.
Godspeed, Marleen. Say hi to “Dottee” for me.
Patty Berans, from left, Marleen LaPlant and Rita Hasel gather for a photo at the dedication of “Puppy Serenade,” a sculpture saluting the three women and their dogs as founders of the Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson. Sadly, Marleen passed away 16 days later following a lengthy illness.
File photo/Chris Spangler
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