Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
DOREEN AND Rod Passuello arrive at a Saturday benefit at the Kimball, Wis., Community Center.
A BOARD of photos honors Doreen Passuello Saturday at the Kimball, Wis., Community Center.
KIMBALL, Wis. - Friends of Doreen (Martinson) Passuello raised funds for her on Saturday afternoon with a spaghetti meal, raffles and music.
People from across the Gogebic Range and farther turned out for the benefit dinner that generated funds for Doreen, who was diagnosed with leukemia, requiring treatments at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
She is known throughout the area and nationally for riding and showing horses. She started her riding career at the age of 4.
Volunteers at the benefit, including many former equestrian students of Doreen, wore orange "I Ride for My Hero" shirts in her honor and signed a special shirt at the entrance to the Kimball Community Center.
"She has taught so many of these kids who are here today to ride," said volunteer Tim Krall.
A trail of horseshoes led into the building along the sidewalk for the special occasion and Doreen, a 1974 graduate of A.D. Johnston High School, in Bessemer, and her husband, Rod Passuello, followed it in around 2 p.m.
The couple purchased the Spring Valley Ranch, near Bessemer, in 1980 and she has taught horsemanship and raised horses for more than 25 years.
The Passuellos have been prime supporters and animal exhibitors over the years of the annual Gogebic and Iron County fairs.
Rod Passuello is a retired investigator with the Ironwood Public Safety Department.
All of the money raised Saturday goes to offset Doreen's medical bills and expenses.
