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For the record, this is the first Getting to Know You that encompasses multiple families: Jesse,
Dawn, and Wilson Seltrecht; Jim Matenaer (Jesse’s dad); and Dennis and Mary Leist (Dawn’s parents,
friends of St. John’s).
Believe it or not, they haven’t made it into Ripley’s but seemingly could hold the record for
“Longest Couple Before Welcoming a Baby Home.” Jesse and Dawn started dating in 1995 while he was
working at Car Maid in Cedarburg and she needed new tires; they married in 2000, and after a nine-year
process adopted Wilson in 2016 — 21 years after the couple met!
The Seltrecht family’s lifestyle mainly revolves around two things: school and activities. Jesse
does maintenance for University School of Milwaukee (USM). Dawn was the principal’s secretary at the
Cedarburg middle and high schools beginning in 1999, and then 13 years ago moved to the district office
as the buildings and grounds secretary. Wilson, 12, attends 6th grade at USM and does “all the things.”
Jesse and Dawn joke if there’s a sign-up sheet out, Wilson will put his name on it! He loves sports, and
actively participates in USM tackle football, Milwaukee Winter Club ice hockey, Jr. Chinooks baseball,
and USM golf and track, as well as uses those muscles he has built in sports to help build sets for the
USM musicals. He’s not the only one with interests, though: Jesse enjoys fishing, working on just about
anything motor-related, and UTVing up north; Dawn loves to read, work on puzzles, and travel.
And while we’re on a roll, Jim Matenaer and his wife, Sharon (who sadly passed away in 2009),
were part of the Harley-Davidson 100 TH Anniversary Ride, putting on 2,602 miles from Las Vegas to
Milwaukee. They got married in 1982, and he gained an instant family with her two children, Jesse (11)
and Jody (7). Before retirement, Jim worked at Jorgensen Conveyors in Mequon with Jesse for many
years. At 81 years young, Jim has a garage full of tools and loves working on little projects that get him
out there, as well as following the Brewers and Packers. Besides cross-country trips on their bikes, Jim
and Sharon rode their H-D motorcycles in many area parades, but with those days in his rearview mirror,
you can now find him tooling around Cedarburg on his Honda scooter.
Though retired since 2004 and living the good life up north in Grand Marsh, WI, Dennis and
Mary Leist still make it down here to church a few times a year. Mary worked at Concordia University in
the bake shop and housekeeping department, and Dennis was in Ironworkers Union Local 8. Dawn got
her love of reading from her mom Mary, who additionally enjoys cooking/baking and her grandkids.
Dennis is an avid deer hunter and, like Jim, loves the Packers.
With all they have in common, this blended extended family was just meant to be!

Fun Facts: June 19 is a double cause for celebration in the Seltrecht household: Both Jesse and Wilson
share the date they were born (just multi-decades apart).
A memorable hand-me-down – Seltrecht’s house in Jackson was first the Leist’s house. Dawn
lived there 50 years (minus four in an apartment with Jesse) before she and Jesse recently
moved to River Hills to be closer to USM.
Jim’s first job at age 12 was delivering the daily morning and weekly Sunday papers to 65 houses
in West Bend. His current scooter sure would have come in handy!