The giver becomes the receiver

Muskego -Sue Jeske has a reputation as the person to go to for help for pretty much anything.

Between activities in the community, helping out with Scouts, high school dances and all sorts of student council activities, plus volunteering at church, the energetic mother of two is "the one who takes care of everybody," says long-time friend Nancy Holen.

"She has an extremely giving heart," Holen adds.

So when Jeske was diagnosed with stage 4 liver and pancreatic cancer in July and medical treatment expenses not covered by insurance inevitably began to mount, friends decided she and her family were the ones that needed some help.

To keep the Jeske family from being buried by expenses, they are putting on a fundraiser and inviting everyone to come.

Eventful fundraiser

The event includes a silent auction, stuff to buy, bowling, food and more, all from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 22at Alpine Lanes, W18700 Apollo Drive, Muskego.

Admission is free and proceeds from the auction and a portion of the cost of bowling, food, drink and vendor sales the group will get will go to an account established at the Associated Bank in Muskego. Individual donations also may be made to Associated Bank c/o Sue Jeske Benefit Account, S76 W17655 Janesville Road, Muskego, WI 53150.

Because the family is so well known in the area, "The response has been tremendous," said Holen who is organizing the fundraiser along with Faith Gaber, also of Muskego.

Restaurants and many other businesses have donated many silent auction items such as gift certificates. Even businesses outside Muskego are helping.

Hawks Nursery in Elm Grove, for example, has donated 10 hours of landscape design services valued at $600.

"I thought that was just phenomenal," Holen said.

Another auction item that really caught her eye is a model Nascar racer.

"It would be really neat in a bar," she said, admiringly.

Payback time

Jeske's friends have stepped up because they see her leading a valuable life.

"She would be the person to give a benefit for someone else," said friend, Bethanne Maus-Schaefer, director of youth ministry at St. Leonard's Parish in Muskego, where the Jeskes go to church.

Maus-Schaefer always knew that Jeske's door was open to her if she needed help, and she didn't even have to knock.

"She was constantly emailing asking, 'Do you need anything?' " she said.

Ironically, it was Jeske who started the annual Relay for Life benefit for the American Cancer Society in Muskego several years ago, in honor of two close friends who died of cancer at a young age and her mother, who is a cancer survivor.

And she took part in the Muskego Relay for Life last June, just like always.

"I didn't know I had cancer at the time," she said.

Others have given of themselves with kind words.

Jeske has helped run the Ready, Set Grow preschool program for the Muskego Recreation Department for the last 18 years. Two of her former preschool pupils wrote some kind words on the Caring Bridge online page that Jeske and many others with life-threatening illnesses have.

One of those little ones is now 18 years old and the other is 10. Jeske taught them when they were only 3 or 4.

"It was very touching to think they still remember me after all these years," Jeske said.

Making adjustments

Since her diagnosis, Jeske has had to give up running the preschool program.

But despite her illness Jeske and husband Karl made sure their son and daughter went back to college this fall.

With the fundraiser coming soon, Jeske is a little overwhelmed.

"It's very hard to accept people doing things for me because I'm used to doing things for people," she said.

And the sheer number of people flocking to the site to write notes of encouragement and remembrance is overwhelming to her.

"I never realized how many peoples' lives I touched over the years," she said, choking up just a bit.

For her now, it's one day at a time.

"Each day is a gift because you don't know what tomorrow brings," she said.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: benefit for the Sue and Karl Jeske family

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 22

WHERE: Alpine Lanes, W18700 Apollo Drive, Muskego

COST: free