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Community shows support for Higgins

Residents of the city of Clintonville came out in droves to a brat fry fundraiser for Darwin “Nubby” Higgins Friday, April 10.

The brat fry started at 10 a.m. in the Econofoods parking lot. Higgins’ daughter Sandy Bruette said there was a steady line of people from 10 a.m. until about 2 p.m. She added that part of that time there were two lines of people more than 10 feet long.

“I was hoping everybody was going to be patient enough, and they were. Everybody was so good. It’s just a good feeling to think that so many people care and are showing their support for dad,” Bruette said.

The proceeds from the brat fry are going toward Higgins’ medical care.

Higgins is an 81 years old husband and father of three. He is a retired veteran who underwent an extensive heart surgery on July 22 and spent seven months recovering in the hospital.

Bruette said Higgins is currently dealing with his heels. She said he had some bedsores on his heels that were going to take a year to heal and were infected. Surgery was required to clean out the infection. In order to accomplish that, an inch of his Achilles tendon was removed, as well as bone from the heel and some ligaments.

“Right now he has a lot of pain, but slowly he’ll be healing and hopefully walking again soon,” Bruette said.

Bruette added Higgins’ wife Shirley has spent all of her time with him.

He is currently at a hospital in West Allis.

That is why these fundraising efforts are so important for the family.

“It’s almost overwhelming,” Bruette said. “It just gives you a good feeling that there are people out there who care and they want to help.”

“It’s been wonderful. The people have been so generous coming up and donating their change back to us,” added Patsy Kautz, Higgins’ other daughter.

Randy Higgins said by 5 p.m. 450 brats were sold and roughly 300 hamburgers.

Bruette, Kautz and Higgins said the brat fry wouldn’t have been successful without the help of many volunteers, including: Jenny Detjen, Ashley Kautz, Sara Dimic, Lyndsey Malliet, Rachel Moeller, Melissa Thomack, Terry LaCanne, Dolly and Ken Krueger, Jeff Kautz, and Tyler Steenbock.

The family will be holding another benefit for Higgins on Saturday, May 2. The benefit will be held at Clintonville Lanes from 2-7 p.m.

Hauser’s Hotshots will be performing music from 2-6 p.m.

Other activities include bucket drawings, silent auctions, 50/50 drawing, paddle wheel, and kids bowling.

Top prizes include a quarter of beef and a 32-inch TV.

“We have a lot of good donations from different businesses,” Bruette said.

Anyone who wants to donate an item for the benefit can contact Bruette at 715-823-3314.

Monetary donations can also be sent to any Fox Communities Credit Union for Darwin Higgins Benefit.

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