RANDOLPH – Friends, family and fans worked together to make sure
a woman would stay warm this winter in her rural Randolph
home.

Shirley Haldemann lost her husband in May. Dennin Haldemann, 62,
was killed in a motorcycle accident outside of Fox Lake.

“So many of our family and friends said ‘if there’s anything you
need done, just ask’,” Haldemann said.

Haldemann said she was not sure she’d use the wood burner in her
house this winter, and just told a few people when she made her
decision to use wood heat “and everyone just showed up, some I
didn’t even know,”

People arrived to help on Sept. 25, including her family, friends,
people Dennis raced with and racing fans.

“Some of the people he raced against, their kids were there,”
said daughter Sheila McNally.

They estimate that about 34 people turned out to help. They were
hoping to get 12.

“And then people just kept coming,” Haldemann said.

There were three log splitters running, and people who came to help
haul a log splitter with them. About five to seven people were
cutting with chainsaws all day.

McNally said they had a hard time keeping up with the stacking
because of all the guys splitting.

“It was really amazing to watch,” Haldemann said.

They said no one was standing around and they had to get the
splitting crew to take a break so those stacking wood could catch
up. Wood was stacked under two carports, and and a third carport
was half-filled for use in the fireplace.

“A lot of them are very big Packers fans, and gave up watching the
Packers game,” McNally said.

Haldemann and McNally estimate that about 18 cords of wood were
cut, split and stacked in about six hours.

“I appreciate everyone who came to help,” Shirley said. “I was
overwhelmed. It was just unbelievable.”

alutey@capitalnewspapers.com