West Bend, Wi – Tonight is the 16th Avenue Flood Relief Benefit to raise funds for families whose homes were severely damaged by record-breaking floods. The event is Wednesday, September 17, 2025, from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the back patio at Gary’s Place, 110 Wisconsin Ave., West Bend, WI.
It was August 9, 2025, when eight families suffered significant losses from the devastating floods.
Interviews with several affected families are below. Their stories contain one common denominator…. they all need financial help. One hundred percent of proceeds from tonight’s fundraiser will go to the 16th Avenue families.
It’s been more than a month since record rainfall on August 9 caused devastating sewer backups across parts of Washington County, but for Rita and Dan Fellenz, the damage is far from repaired.
“We haven’t got any money except from the Red Cross,” Rita said. “Insurance isn’t even contacting us.”
The couple’s home sustained severe flooding in the basement. While they’ve worked to clean up, new problems keep surfacing. A basement wall requires $10,000 worth of repairs. Their front stoop has sunk and will need to be torn out and replaced at a cost of several thousand dollars more.
They also lost major appliances: furnace, water heater, washer, dryer, and two dehumidifiers. Beyond that, priceless keepsakes were destroyed. “A lot of collectibles, a lot of memories, and some Terry Redlin prints. That’s what hurts,” Dan said.
Neighbors have assumed recovery is complete. “Somebody went past and said, ‘I see you people are doing well,’” Rita recalled. “They should see our basement.”
For the Fellenzes, insurance has denied coverage, claiming sewer backups aren’t included. The city has declined responsibility, citing “an act of nature.” FEMA has announced assistance for affected counties, but so far, the couple hasn’t seen any help. “We went on FEMA’s website and filled out the questionnaire, but they told us there are no guarantees,” Dan said.
The uncertainty has left them in limbo. “We need help,” Rita said. “This has really been a big hit.”
Cindy and Mike Damschen have been living a nightmare since the flooding on 16th Avenue. Cindy said she wakes up at 2 a.m. and can’t sleep as her mind races on how they will fix their house and garage before winter.
The high water shifted their pavement. The couple can’t even access their garage to get to their car because the runners on the garage door aren’t aligned anymore. In the house, both toilets were pushed up through the flooring. One bathroom is not usable. Their story is below.
Cindy and Mike are still reeling from the damage left behind after record flooding. They describe themselves as “numb” as expenses pile up and the list of repairs grows.
“We’re still trying to get a hold of or get a good bid from some type of foundation people,” Cindy said. “We actually have a drain tile test person coming tomorrow. They’re very hard to get a hold of. We lucked into this guy.”
On top of foundation concerns, electricians are scheduled, and quotes are beginning to arrive. One estimate to replace soil that washed away under the back wall came in at nearly $10,000. “We have to dig some out, put in some type of stone, refill it with the right kind of stuff, and they’re going to try to work around the deck that we partially had to take down back there,” Cindy said.
Removing the deck entirely would make the repair easier, but that comes with added costs. “He said it would be like $1,500 to take it out, but then we have to replace it. So it’s either pay more man hours or take out and put in a new deck.”
The front stoop also needs attention, with decisions still up in the air whether it can be covered or must be replaced.
“There’s just a lot, and it’s like we haven’t even scratched the surface,” Cindy said. “It’s been how long, and we don’t even have a dollar value yet. We just know it’s a lot. So, we appreciate everything that everybody has done.”
Jessica Sabo and her husband Robert Gripentrog are living a life of phone calls to contractors, attorneys, real estate and insurance agents. The damage to their home is so significant they wonder how the home could have even been built in the first place.
As they tore up carpet and ripped away drywall the couple found signs of previous water damage. The entire scenario has been a nightmare, and their bills are topping six figures.
“We’ve been complaining for years that something needs to be done to fix the drainage and this street. All we got was higher taxes,” said a homeowner.
Scammers have already taken advantage of the elderly couple on the block.
“Just the front quarter of the lower level alone is about $25,000,” Sabo said, referencing the initial estimate. “And that’s just to stabilize the structural part — not to restore, not to address any other issues. It’s the bare minimum.”
The flooding caused severe settling in the home’s foundation, leaving parts of the structure visibly sloping. Contractors have told the couple that repairs would involve digging out the concrete floor and temporarily losing access to the front entrance for at least a week.
Even then, assurances are shaky. “They flat-out told us there’s no guarantee if we do it or not,” Sabo said. “At that point, what’s the point of doing it? We know we don’t want to stay here.”
The couple is now weighing their options — consulting lawyers and preparing to speak with real estate agents about the uncertain prospect of selling their home.
Adding to their stress, a county meeting scheduled the same day as a fundraiser the couple hoped to attend. “I thought that was ironic and very inconvenient,” Sabo said. “My husband and I are going to divide and conquer. I’ll go to the meeting, then join him at the fundraiser. I’d like to talk to some folks there and get more information.”
For now, the couple remains caught between repair bills that continue to mount and the difficult question of whether their home can even be salvaged.
Please come out tonight to the 16th Avenue Flood Benefit for families and help support your neighbor. More details below.
Click HERE to learn more about the 16th Avenue Flood Relief Benefit in
West Bend, WI
Event Highlights
• Delicious Food and Beverages: Enjoy offerings from Gary’s Place, with 10% of proceeds donated to the families.
• Live Music: Local favorite Downtown Harrison will perform, creating a lively and uplifting atmosphere.
• Sample Beverage Tastings: Participating vendors will offer tastings to delight attendees.
• Charity Raffle: A raffle at 7:30 PM will feature prizes from local sponsors and a 50/50 raffle. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for businesses and individuals.
“The floods have been devastating for our community,” said event organizers Riley and Ashley Hansen, and Chris and Jenni Thompson. “This benefit is a chance for us to show kindness and support to our neighbors in need.”
Reservations and Sponsorships
• Indoor table reservations at Gary’s Place can be made by calling (262) 429-1003. No reservations are available for the back patio.
• To sponsor items for the charity raffle, contact organizers Riley and Ashley Hansen or Chris and Jenni Thompson directly.
Join us for an afternoon and evening of community, music, and generosity to support our neighbors. Together, we can make a difference for the 16th Avenue families.
Media Contact
Riley and Ashley Hansen
Chris and Jenni Thompson
Email: 16thaverelief2025@gmail.com
Phone: (262) 235-2862
About Gary’s Place
Gary’s Place, 110 Wisconsin Ave., is a beloved West Bend establishment known for its welcoming atmosphere and commitment to community events that unite people for meaningful causes.
Note: For sponsorship inquiries or additional details, contact the organizers directly.