We started this GoFundMe campaign in support of dear friends and treasured members of the Fort Atkinson, WI, community, Jon and Kirsten Winski. The Winski family is facing a financial crisis resulting from months of ongoing physical health challenges. Kirsten and Jon are raising two young sons and are in urgent need of assistance. I have posted several updates since our campaign began, but circumstances have changed dramatically now, so on September 22, 2025, I edited my original story.

We have set a goal of raising $26,000 in order to address the family’s most immediate needs, and thankfully we have reached almost 50% of that goal.

For those of you who don’t know Kirsten and Jon, I want to relate how their lives have met with unendurable change in less than a year and why we made the decision to reach out on their behalf. Kirsten has struggled with an odontogenic keratocyst in her right jaw for more than 20 years. The invasive, recurring cyst was surgically removed multiple times during those years. In October 2024, doctors at UW Health University Hospital in Madison, WI performed a rare and necessary bone graft surgery to repair her subsequently compromised jaw. The bone graft should have relieved her painful condition; however, after weeks of attempted recovery and treatment, it was determined the graft had failed. Another surgery was performed to remove the failed graft and prepare her jaw for a second attempt 6 months later. During that ordeal, Kirsten missed an extended period of work without pay.

While Kirsten was still recovering from the initial two surgeries in late 2024, the family was met with devastating news.

Jon developed a cough and general weakness in January that continued unresolved for months, despite his doctors’ attempts to diagnose and treat him effectively. He was so ill that he began missing multiple daysof work and was ultimately forced to resign his position at Fort Atkinson Middle School in May. He was finally diagnosed in June. Jon has peritoneal mesothelioma, a cancer that is incurable, debilitating, and often terminal within a year of diagnosis. Jon also suffers from a pulmonary embolism in one lung, a condition exacerbated by his cancer diagnosis and necessary treatment. Jon is 54.

In the meantime, Kirsten’s subsequent bone graft surgery to hopefully end the recurring cyst was performed on August 14, 2025. The surgery took over 12 hours, and Kirsten spent 6 nights at UW Health University Hospital. The surgery seems to have been successful; however, she had to be readmitted to the hospital on September 2nd because of an infection in the jaw wound. She spent another 2 nights there, and she went home with a wound vacuum to manage the leaking fluid from the lymph nodes. Assuming she continues to improve and there are no more set-backs, she will continue to miss work without pay until about November 9th.

On Sunday, September 21, Jon had to be admitted to in-patient hospice due to his rapidly declining health. He hasn't eaten in 5 weeks, and he is suffering many symptoms of his cancer. He enjoyed many visits at home from friends over the past weeks, greeting them with faith, a smile and a grateful heart.

Jon and Kirsten are dedicated community members of their small city and active supporters of their boys’ schools. They have served as band boosters, organized and/or participated in fundraisers, and have been the first to offer to chaperone or otherwise volunteer. Jon founded and coached the middle school chess club, and he served as assistant head coach of the archery team (which happened to go to the NASP National Tournament this year in Louisville, KY!). In addition, Jon also has served as a chaplain to the Dane County Emergency Medical Services since 2005 and, since 2012, the EMS Honor Guard. This is a young family who has been so willing to give to the Fort Atkinson community, modeling generosity of spirit.

Reaching our goal of $26,000 would offset income previously lost, as well as provide financial relief for Kirsten’s time away from her work at Rock River Optical as she heals this fall. In addition, it will help them meet medical insurance costs and co-pays for 2025/26. We hope to set aside some funds to pay for the boys’ extracurricular activities and school needs and for their post-high school education.

Donations will now also pay out-of-pocket expenses for Jon’s in-patient hospice care and eventual funeral expenses. After that, Kirsten will meet life as a single mother of two young boys and without her lifetime partner and very best friend…her rock. If you know them, you know their marvelous relationship and love for each other. They’ve been together for almost 40 years and married for 29 of them, and they like each other.. To say Kirsten will lose her spouse doesn’t begin to describe it; she will truly lose half of her heart.

If you can’t afford to donate financially, please share this campaign with your friends or groups. Post it on social media, mention it at your book club, speak to someone in a local civic organization, or raise the family up at your church. Saying prayers for and sharing words of encouragement with this family is an equally important gift.

If you would like to send a message to Jon, please do so through Facebook Messenger to Kirsten. Every message, even a video, will be received with love.

If you live in or near Fort Atkinson and would like to make a meal for Kirsten and the boys, you can join the Meal Train for the Winski Family by visiting the website at https://share.google/XcER8uiAjjs9QBYNP

Even if we don’t reach our goal, every size donation will help. Kirsten and Jon are incredibly grateful for the donations this campaign has already received, and they will be outstanding guardians of those funds. THANK YOU ALL from them, from Mark & me, and from the many, many friends who love them.

Pat Mattiacci