Extreme Home Makeover, in WI 11-19-06-update on Post 7

[OhMari]

Ty and his crew are doing a home Dundee Wisconsin in the heart of the Kettle Moraine. This area is a gold haven for geologist. The little town even has its own mountain, called Dundee Mountain. It only takes 20 minutes to climb, but you get above tree-level and the fall leave colors are beautiful.

Anyway, they started on the Koepke House this past Friday. The show is suppose to air Thanksgiving Weekend. The family just lost the dad of the house this past August. The dad’s friends I guess wrote letters last spring when he was diagnosised with skin cancer. Ty and his crew were suppose to be there in august, but that is when Matt Koepke passed away.

The home was built in 1930 by Matt Koepke’s grandpa. It had the original porch and clapboard siding on it yet. We all thought they would remodel the home. It got torn down. Some people are upset. All there belongings are in 2 semi-trailers and they were told nothing would be thrown away, but nothing would be used in the house except a few momentous pieces. When the show is over, they can decided what to do with their stuff.

Kohler Co. which makes toilets is donating all the plumbing and furniture. The main contractor is out of Milwaukee WI. All materials are from a lumber company in Campbellsport WI. The volunteers are all local carpenters that will help with the odd jobs. They had over 1500 volunteers apply on-line in 2 hours when the house got announced.

We went yesterday and parked at Camp Matawa, our dd’s YMCA camp which is 3 miles away. If you didn’t have a press pass or a volunteer pass, you could not get up close. We are going to go back over on Wed. the 4th. We were told to park at the State Park and they will shuttle us in, and now you can pay $10 to get up close. I guess they are trying crowd control.

People saw Ty all weekend and he was signing autographs. He would tell people he is not suppose to but he does. People said all the other cast members wave and talk with volunteers. Ty and Spencer are staying in Fond du Lac, WI, which is about 20 miles away. They said the rest of the crew are down in Milwaukee, which is about 30 miles south of Dundee.

We are all wondering how a house can be built on just poured concrete. Concrete usually has to cure for 2 weeks before you can build on it.

Did I mention there is a huge UFO following in Dundee WI. We are all anxious to find out if that information will make the show.

 

[milwaukee1]

Wow, Ihad no idea. Keep us updated!

 

[PoohPrincess76]

When they did the house near where I live they had a machine that dried the concrete with heat while pouring. They poured overnight and started building the next day. It just happened we moved the weekend they were doing the house and had to wait 3 hours to get our paint and we were really lucky they still had any left. The guys at the store said they came in at 3am to do the EHM paint and the crew kept changing the colors!!

 

[mommy*RN]

That is so great that they are in Wisconsin! It sounds like the family deserves a little happiness! Do you know if the family went to WDW while they are doing the work?

Keep us posted! Even though I only live in Milwaukee it would be too hard to travel with the kiddos. Hey though...what hotel is Ty staying in???

 

[OhMari]

The Family got sent to San Diego. The yountest dd turns 16 on Wednesday and they are flying 2 of her friends out to help her celebrate.

Turn on channel 12-out of Milwaukee, they are doing updates starting at 7:00 a.m. in the morning.

Ty is staying at the oldest and classiest hotel in downtown FDL. Every small city has one. I think it's called "The Retlaw" walter spelled backward. he was the guy that built it. People with big money have their wedding receptions there. It actually looks similar to the Tower of Terror Hotel at MGM, and it is suppose to be haunted too.

 

[OhMari]

Here is a link if you want to keep up and we are having a Severe Thunderstorm and it is suppose to last all nite.

Our paper is www.fdlreporter.com

And here is the latest update: http://www.fdlreporter.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061002/FON0101/61002017/1985

 

[OhMari]

Good show, but way to many commercials.

Funny story.

This past Saturday, me and my husband went to Shopko to buy him new glasses. Chris Koepke was our helper and we didn't even recognize her. She mentioned she was off work 3 months and I assumed she had a baby, (bad me), but she looked like she was in her early 30's. She looks really young in person. The phone rang twice for her and it was her daughters and she said they were getting bombarded with phone calls at home. Me and my husband never put it together that it was her.

Back to the show. I can't believe how much they didn't mention. The family receives free food for 1 year from the local grocery store. Kohler Company was a huge contributor. They donated all bathroom fixtures and all furniture. I can't believe this didn't get mentioned. Sears got a plug.

Anyone else watch it.

 

[Big V]

I watched it! Very nice house, but I'm sure she would rather have her DH back.

 

[OhMari]

Hi Big V.
I think so too, with wanting her husband back. They were on the local tv station out of Milwaukee this morning and they were all asked individually what they liked about the house, and they all said the stone bench in the back of the house, with Matt's quote on it.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

I saw it too, I knew it was coming, but forgot about it. I started to watch the show on a fluke and didn't realize it was the local story until way to late to tape it for DH. DId any of you tape it? I would love to share a copy with DH. I cried so much watching it. And I do not remember that storm at all. It was sometime in September, I LOVE storms so I am really surprised that I don't remember it. Cool thing about the food and stuff for the family. What a wonderful thing for them. You could really tell how much they love and miss their dad.

 

[OhMari]

I saw it too, I knew it was coming, but forgot about it. I started to watch the show on a fluke and didn't realize it was the local story until way to late to tape it for DH. DId any of you tape it? I would love to share a copy with DH. I cried so much watching it. And I do not remember that storm at all. It was sometime in September, I LOVE storms so I am really surprised that I don't remember it. Cool thing about the food and stuff for the family. What a wonderful thing for them. You could really tell how much they love and miss their dad.

Where is Wisconsin do you live. The storm came through around suppertime, 6:00 p.m. and there was lightening till almost 10:00 that streaked across the sky. It was the first week in October.

My husband came home at lunch and he told me some of his work crew helped her with her personal items. She had 3 truck loads that she had to sort through. Anyways, the guys told my husband she is having complete strangers knock on her door wanting to see the house. She has people going in her back yard, looking at the stone seat made for Matt and she caught someone yesterday looking at the grill. She is starting to freak out a little.

She also is thinking now of making the home into a Bed and Breakfast. She told someone her electric bill was $400 last month, so they were going through the house turning off lights and unplugging unnecessary appliances.
Vendors in our area are alsoo upset. A local grocery store is giving the family free groceries for one year and it never got mentioned. Also a local beautician shop that does hair-cuts and massages gave the family free services for one year and never got mentioned.
I'm sure there is more out there-a lot of things didn't get mentioned.

It is still sad, as Big V said, this family would give up everything to have the dad and husband back.

 

[AuntieM03]

I have always wondered what happens to the people that can barely make it and then they have these huge houses to take care of. When the show first started they did basic remodels, they made the homes nice but not so grand. A few weeks ago the homeowner mentioned she couldn't pay the electricity on her 900 sq ft home and I couldn't help but wonder how she could now pay it on her mini mansion.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Where is Wisconsin do you live. The storm came through around suppertime, 6:00 p.m. and there was lightening till almost 10:00 that streaked across the sky. It was the first week in October.

My husband came home at lunch and he told me some of his work crew helped her with her personal items. She had 3 truck loads that she had to sort through. Anyways, the guys told my husband she is having complete strangers knock on her door wanting to see the house. She has people going in her back yard, looking at the stone seat made for Matt and she caught someone yesterday looking at the grill. She is starting to freak out a little.

She also is thinking now of making the home into a Bed and Breakfast. She told someone her electric bill was $400 last month, so they were going through the house turning off lights and unplugging unnecessary appliances.
Vendors in our area are alsoo upset. A local grocery store is giving the family free groceries for one year and it never got mentioned. Also a local beautician shop that does hair-cuts and massages gave the family free services for one year and never got mentioned.
I'm sure there is more out there-a lot of things didn't get mentioned.

It is still sad, as Big V said, this family would give up everything to have the dad and husband back.

I live in Washington County, so fairly close to Dundee. OK, I remember the lightning streaking across the sky, that was AWESOME! But I don't remember huge downpours.

WOW, I can't believe people would be so pushy and so rude to come and see her house, go in their backyard and everything. WOW! I feel bad for the companies that donated stuff and didn't get mentioned. That is too bad.

 

[Disney=Love]

The EHM crew came five minutes walking distance from my house about 1.5 years ago. It was a really fun experience. It's kind of disappointing that the family sold the house shortly after though.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I really like the show, but I've wondered several times how the families are supposed to afford the costs that come with it. The upkeep, utilities, etc. all adds up, and if things were tight before, it doesn't get much easier. I Tivo'd this episode, but i've only watched part of it. I cried for that poor family, I can't imagine how hard it is so soon after their husband/father passed away.

 

[MareQ]

The EHM crew came five minutes walking distance from my house about 1.5 years ago. It was a really fun experience. It's kind of disappointing that the family sold the house shortly after though.

Which family/house was that?

 

[Glendamax]

I also watched the show. I cried through most of it. Even though the house was in need of repair, I was sorry that they had to demolish it. I actually winced at the first blow. That's they only thing about this show: the end result is great, but houses with legacies are lost.