Kenneth E. "Ken" Nehring

1929 - 2025

Whitewater, WI - Ken E. Nehring passed away November 26, 2025. Ken was born on November 9, 1929, in Crystal Lake, Illinois. He was the son of Leo and Matie Nehring. Ken graduated from Watertown High School in 1948. He attended UW Platteville from 1948-1951. He served in the Army from 1951-1953 which included a tour in Korea. After his Honorable discharge from the Army, Ken returned to UW Platteville and graduated in 1954 with a BS in Industrial Arts. Ken married Janice (Rosa) Nehring on January 3, 1953, in Madison, Wisconsin. Upon Jan's passing on December 6, 1987, Ken married Sandy (Bachmann) Nehring on May 27, 1990, in Whitewater. Ken started his teaching and coaching career in Broadhead, Wisconsin from 1954-1955. From 1955-1989 he taught Industrial Arts and coached basketball at Whitewater High School. Ken's moonlighting job for 23 years was the caretaker at Camp Singing Hills on Lauderdale Lake for the Racine County Girl Scouts. Ken had a passion and love for coaching basketball at Whitewater High School. He often said he hoped all the young men he coached enjoyed the time they spent being a Whippet basketball player. Ken enjoyed the many coaches, officials and fans he met over his 34 years in the Southern Lakes Conference. Coaches are known for their records and here are some of Ken's team records. In the 739 games he coached, his record was 470-269. Ken's Southern Lakes Conference record,1955-1989 was 306-137. Ken's teams finished in first place or tied for first place 8 times with the 1969-1970 team finishing 18-0. His teams won multiple District and Regional WIAA tournaments and competed in the Sectionals. He coached many players that received Southern Lakes Conference All Conference Honors and a few who received All State Honors. In 1989, Ken was honored by the community when the gym he coached in was named the Ken Nehring Gym. In 2019 the gym (now the Middle School Gym) was rededicated when the gym floor was redone. The new floor has a logo showing it is the Ken Nehring Gym, which also includes his signature. Having the gym named after him made Ken very happy. Ken was inducted into the Wisconsin Coaches Hall of Fame in 1990. He was an accomplished basketball player for 4 seasons and was inducted into the UW Platteville Hall of Fame as a player in 2002. Ken was an active member of the Whitewater Lions Club spending hours helping improve the building at Whitewater Lake. He was an active member of the American Legion where he was an important part of organizing and getting the 4th of July parade started on time for many years. Ken was an avid sports fan and followed the Whippets, Warhawks, Pioneers, Badgers, Bucks, Brewers and Packers. He played in the WIAC and felt fortunate to get a job in Whitewater so he could follow the conference over the years. Ken is survived by his loving wife, Sandy (Bachmann) Nehring; and by his son, Scott Nehring (Brenda Wall), along with Scott's children: Brett (Elizabeth Sedlak) Nehring and their daughter Joy, Emilee (Carl Baird) Nehring and their children Mackenzie and Chase. He is also survived by his daughter, Sally (Don) Pope, and their daughter Kenley; as well as his granddaughter, Abby Nehring, daughter of his late son, Daniel Nehring. He is further survived by his sister-in-law, Shelly Rosa; and his nieces and nephews: Rob Rosa, Michelle Rosa Rosinski, Nichole Rosa-Robinson, and Chris Rosa Bieser. Ken was blessed with a loving extended family. His stepchildren Jeff (Cynthia) Bachmann and their children Kai (Monica), Nathan (Heather), and Ben (Bernadette); Jay (Valerie) Bachmann and their children Kenton and Ellie; Tamara (Brian) Garrity and their children Shannon and Grace; and Tiffany (Mike) Vienneau and their children Luke, Siri, and Soren also survive him. He is additionally survived by five great-grandchildren who brought him endless joy. Ken was preceded in death by his wife Janice Carol (Rosa) Nehring; his son Daniel R. Nehring; his parents Leo and Matie Nehring; his sister Jane Riddle and brother-in-law Dick Riddle; his niece Nancy Burdick; his father- and mother-in-law Ronald and Ruth Rosa; brother-in-law Robert C. Rosa; sister- and brother-in-law Patricia and Dave Fritz; and niece Vicki Schaefer. Visitation will be held at 10:00 AM on December 6, 2025, with services to follow at 12:00 PM at First English Lutheran Church (401 Main St, Whitewater, WI 53190). A hosted lunch will follow the service at 841 Brewhouse (841 E. Milwaukee St, Whitewater, WI 53190). A private burial will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery in Watertown, Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in Ken's memory to the Whitewater High School Basketball Program, Whitewater Lions Club Building Fund, or First English Lutheran Church. Nitardy Funeral Home is serving the family.