David Zuke serves currently as the President of the Board of Directors for Patriot K9s in Wausau, Wisconsin. He helps guide the organization’s direction and works with the board and leadership team to support the mission of providing trained service dogs to veterans.
David brings a practical, people-first approach to leadership, with a focus on keeping the organization strong, and mission-driven. He collaborates closely with fellow board members, staff, and community partners to support program growth, responsible decision-making, and long-term sustainability.
He is proud to be part of an organization that makes a real difference locally and is committed to helping Patriot K9s continue serving the Wausau and North Central Wisconsin community with integrity and purpose.
Robert Kittel serves Patriot K9s as the Board Treasurer, a post he took over in June of 2021.
Robert was born and raised in Wausau. He left to attend college at UW-Oshkosh, where he received both his BBA-Accounting and MBA.
While working in Appleton at his first job, Robert met his wife, Kelly. They moved back to Wausau to raise their two children, Emily and Clark.
Robert recently retired from a local bank where he served as the Chief Financial Officer. He wanted to put his accounting skills to use for local non-profits, and chose Patriot K9s.
He and his family currently enjoy the company of their son’s Springer Spaniel, Sophie.
Robert also volunteers in various capacities at his local church.
Gary Bezucha joined the board of Patriot K9s in July of 2021.
Gary grew up in Milwaukee but came to Wausau more than 30 years ago to work at Wausau Hospital. He’s spent his entire career in health care, first as a physical therapist, then as healthcare administration.
Gary has been around dogs his entire life, and currently has a 14-year-old yellow lab named Hannah.
Veteran, Wisconsinite, Mother, Animal Connoisseur, Hobby Collector, Foodie, Travel Seeker and Always Letting the Dogs Out.
For almost a decade she cascaded through clouds, strapped heavy heated boots on her feet, and mastered the multifaceted structure of my Naval occupation, motherhood and online education forums. She traveled without question to foreign places and filtered between complete concord, bliss, dissention and the deepest of torments that one should never feel. Her time in service came to an unexpected end being medically retired and confronted her with another challenge to stomp grounds with.
It was during this transition that she found Patriot K9s of Wisconsin and became a service dog team with now 8-year-old golden retriever Angus. “It was a profound turning point in my life. I was and am profoundly impressed by the communication and the desire PK9 staff and members have to aid veterans in their service team endeavors.” She has been volunteering with PK9s since 2021 and became a board member in 2023.
Cassandra has had and been around dogs her entire life. She has some experience in assisting with fear responsive dogs and basic training. She has an affinity for servitude and is currently pursuing a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
Cassandra currently lives in Holcombe, WI with her two daughters Juliette and Aubrey, and her partner Tyler.
Megan was first a volunteer with Patriot K9s of Wisconsin in 2019 and was the handler for Liberty who was the face of Patriot K9s of Wisconsin at the time. March of 2023 Megan joined our Board of Directors.
Megan was born and raised in the greater Wausau area and graduated from Northcentral Technical College with an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice. Megan has worked in Law Enforcement for the last 11 years. She has seen first hand in both her job and personal life the struggles veterans experience and that’s why she’s passionate about Patriot K9s of Wisconsin.
Megan and her husband Jeremy have 3 Labrador retrievers, yellow, chocolate and black. Their chocolate lab loves running FastCAT and flyball while the others prefer to relax on the couch.
In her spare time, Megan enjoys being outdoors with her dogs and spending time with her family.
After graduating from Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1989, Wendy moved to Wisconsin to practice mixed animal medicine.
She has been a practicing veterinarian in the Wittenberg-Birnamwood area since 1995. Like many others she has always had pets and understands the importance of the human animal bond.
She first heard about Patriot K9s of Wisconsin at a Christmas party with her husband and Lani Rethaber. Raising a family of three busy boys and working full time did not allow her to devote time to any new organizations.
After her boys graduated from high school she was approached by Lani and asked to consider becoming a board member.
It has been an honor to become a member of such a worthwhile group that is devoted to helping our veterans who have served our country and now are in need of our help. Thank you for this opportunity.
Heather was born and raised in Central Wisconsin. After marrying she and her husband, John, moved around the U.S. while he served our country in the Army for 9 years. Her sons, Jordan and Andrew, were born at Ft. Bragg, NC, and Ft. Riley, KS. They returned to their roots in WI to raise their boys near family and reside in Marshfield.
Heather joined the Board of Directors in 2024 following the death of her son Andrew, a U.S. Army veteran, who was serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Andrew was killed in action in 2023, and she became a service dog team with his black lab, Pepper. As both the spouse and mother of a veteran she saw the opportunity to assist other veterans in need.
She has served her community as an educator for 30 years holding degrees from UW Oshkosh, Kansas State University, and UW Stevens Point. Her animal family includes Pepper, a German Shepherd (Panzer), a Rat Terrier (Ingrid), and a calico cat (Stella).
Mark Wilkes was born and raised in North Dakota, moving to Neenah, WI, in 1968, where he graduated from high school in 1969. He later moved to Wausau in 1998. He spent 41 years in the railroad industry, with most of those years in management.
He has been involved in veteran support groups for about 20 years. He did not serve in the military but is passionate about helping veterans. Being involved in veteran support groups, and specifically Patriot K9s, is a way for him to give back to those who have served.
Brad Rothermel was born in Wisconsin Rapids. He graduated in 2002 and joined the Army one month later. He served in the U.S. Army as an infantry man for 15 years, with four deployments overseas, before his time in service was cut short and he was medically retired. He works closely with many different veteran organizations, helping get veterans back into the outdoors. During this time, he found Patriot K9s of Wisconsin and became a service dog team with his now 2-year-old chocolate lab, Delilah. “She has changed my life in more ways than I probably know.” In his spare time, Brad enjoys getting disabled youth in the outdoors and taking other veterans hunting, or just spending time with his dog and mother nature.
Gil joined the board in 2019, bringing with him two separate careers of experience. Gil’s 23-year military career began with the 82nd Airborne Division of the Army; he ultimately retired as chief warrant officer at Fort McCoy in 1996, while concurrently building a 35-year career with Wausau Insurance Co. (Liberty Mutual Group).
Since “retiring,” Gil continued service to veterans through the American Legion, 82 Airborne Association and VFW Post 388. After meeting Sarah Thuot at a Marathon County Veterans Coalition, the connection was immediate. Patriot K9s of Wisconsin fits with his families’ future personal quest to assist his son, who is a 100-percent-disabled veteran of the Afghanistan and Iraq operations as a member of the 3 Battalion 505 BDE U.S. Army.
Gil is inspired to stay involved because of the contact and impact that this program makes on veterans, especially his son.
Gil’s oldest son presently is serving as a chief master sergeant with the Wisconsin National Guard. “As you can see, we are a military family, on many different levels.” – Gilbert
Thom Passow is a board member for Patriot K9s of Wisconsin.
Thom has been deeply involved with the Wausau community for more than 40 years now.
He has owned and operated Wausau Awards and Engraving since 1980. He was a representative for the State Medical Society of Wisconsin from 1974-1980.
Today, he’s also an officer for the Montgomery-Plant-Dudley Post 10 American Legion, as well as the President of the Wausau Masonic Center Association Board of Directors. Those are just a couple of the many organizations to which Thom gives his time.
Thom was also the facilitator for the Veterans Avenue of Honor project on Grand Avenue from May to November of 2021.
Thom served in the U.S. Army and Wisconsin National Guard from 1967-1973.
Bob was born in Peoria, Illinois. Him and his wife Karen were married September 3rd, 1961. Bob served with the 182nd Tactical Fighter Group, Illinois ANG from October 1962 to 1968. With three children, nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren he remains busy.
Bob’s business career of fifty plus years was spent in the electrical wholesaling, and contracting industries. Now his retirement years have been and are GREAT!
Gillian Waukau served as Board President for Patriot K9s and has been an active member of the organization since 2019.
She originally joined the board because Patriot K9s was a passion of her father’s but grew to love the mission quickly. She continues to serve because she wants to take care of the veterans who risked their lives to defend her freedom.
Gillian has had many dogs in her lifetime. She currently has a German Shepherd named Lola, who acts as her personal support dog.
Gillian has lived in Wausau for more than 40 years, and currently works as a manager of the claims department at United Healthcare.
She has been married to her husband for 14 years and has four kids and two grandkids.
