Slain bank employees remembered for kindness, giving spirits
Editors Note: Bob and Dianne Look spent years in South Dakota before moving back to central Wisconsin. The original version of this story listed the wrong state.
ROTHSCHILD - A cold rain fell this weekend on a white cross decorated with angel wings outside Marathon Savings Bank. A black scarf was draped around the cross, and people had placed bouquets of flowers at its foot. Yards away, yellow police tape encircled the bank, which had been closed for two days.
Mourners constructed the memorial for two longtime employees of the bank who were killed during a shooting there early Wednesday afternoon. Karen Barclay, 62, a customer service representative, and Dianne Look, 67, an assistant vice president and office manager, were the first victims of a string of shootings that would also kill Schofield attorney Sara Quirt Sann, 43, and Everest Metro Police Detective Jason Weiland, 40.
Police have in custody one suspect, Nengmy Vang, 45, of Rothschild. Vang was severely wounded in an exchange of gunfire during a standoff with police at Aspen Street Apartments in Weston and is hospitalized. Law enforcement officials believe a "domestic incident" motivated the shootings. Vang's estranged wife, who was not hurt, works at Marathon Savings Bank and Sann was her attorney. Weiland was killed while establishing a perimeter around the Aspen Street Apartments.
The rampage left the entire community steeped in pain and sadness. And friends and coworkers of Barclay and Look are in shock at the loss of two women they say were kind, caring and compassionate.
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"Karen and Dianne were both warm, wonderful women who were beloved by our Marathon Savings Bank family. We are heartbroken over the loss of our friends and mourn for their families and for the families of all the victims," said Nicholas Zillges, president and CEO of Marathon Savings Bank.
Barclay worked at Marathon Savings Bank for nearly seven years. She had one daughter and two granddaughters, age 4 and 7.
"Karen was the sweetest person ever," said Norah Brown of Wausau. Brown worked at Marathon Savings Bank for several years, and is the daughter of Bob Brooks, who was president and CEO of Marathon Savings Bank until his battle with ALS forced him to retire in 2014. (He died from the disease in late 2015.) Brown considers both Barclay and Look friends.
Brown once complimented Barclay on a shirt that Barclay was wearing. "She went out and bought it for me, because there were only a few left and she did not want me to miss it," Brown said. "She cuddled my babies when I brought them in as if they were her own."
Barclay made an impression on bank customers, too. "She was the sweetest lady I've ever met," said Dorothy McCown, 48, of Weston. McCown and her husband are self-employed and frequently visited the bank to take care of business. Often, McCown would be accompanied by her grandsons, and Barclay never failed to give them lollipops and connect with them in a such a way they beg McCown to take them to the bank.
"Even when I went through the drive-through, she'd ask me, 'Do you have those handsome boys with you?' And I would roll down the back window and she'd say hi to them (as they sat in the back seat),'" McCown said. "I've been going to the bank every day and putting flowers at the memorial there. And I cry every time."
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Look, the mother of two children, worked at the bank for nearly 19 years. She and her husband, Bob Look, a radio announcer for a Wisconsin Rapids station, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in February.
Look made jewelry in her spare time, Brown said. She sold her work and donated the money to charity. Like Barclay, Look "was always looking out for us," Brown said. "I remember being pregnant with my second and having morning sickness. Dianne ran home and brought back a big soft pillow so I could put my head down and rest."
After Bob Brooks died, Look often sent little cards to Brown. "Just when I needed it most, I would open my mailbox and see her handwriting," Brown said.
Those kinds of stories do not surprise Bob Look.
"She always was most interested in making other people feel better and feel important," he said.
Dianne Look's caring also manifested itself in her drive to help build and grow the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. Bob and Dianne Look met in Wausau in the late 1980s, but Bob Look's career took them to South Dakota for years. While there, Dianne worked at other banks and got involved in Relay for Life. When the couple moved back to the Wausau area in the late 1990s, Dianne got involved with the fundraising effort here as well, helping recruit Marathon Savings Bank employees to walk in the event. The bank also became a corporate sponsor of the event, Look said.
"She would grow her hair out long before the Relay, then cut it short and donate it to Locks of Love (for wigs for people undergoing cancer treatment) just before it," Bob Look said.
Dianne Look later helped Mosinee begin its own Relay for Life event.
The visitation for Look will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Brainard Funeral Home-Everest Chapel, 5712 Memorial Court, Weston.
Marathon Savings Bank on Friday established a fund to support the families of Barclay and Look, and is providing an initial gift of $30,000. The bank also has created a GoFundMe page to accept donations from the public, the "Barclay and Look Family Fund." That can be found at www.gofundme.com/barclay-and-look-family-fund.
On Friday afternoon, 20 people had donated over $4,000 in five hours.
That fund joins several other efforts that have sprung up in support of the shooting victims and their families, including:
► River Valley Bank set up a victims' family fund account for the community to support those affected by the deaths, with a $25,000 match from the bank. People can donate by cash or check at any River Valley Bank location. Donations can be mailed to River Valley Bank c/o Victims Family Fund, 327 N. 17th Ave., Wausau. Donations also can be made online at www.rivervalleybank.com/victimsfamilyfund.
►Intercity State Bank is taking donations for the Weiland Memorial Fund. All proceeds will go to the family of Everest Metro Police Detective Jason Weiland, who was shot and killed Wednesday as he approached an apartment complex in Weston. People can drop off donations at any Intercity State Bank location. The Wausau branch is at 3600 Stewart Ave., Suite A, the Schofield branch is at 962 Grand Ave. and the Weston branch is at 2900 Schofield Ave. People can also mail donations to P.O. Box 560, Schofield, WI 54476-0560.
► Residents have donated meals to the Everest Metro Police Department and other local police agencies. People who want to donate food to police officers should call 715-359-4202 and ask for Kristy.
Keith Uhlig: 715-845-0651 or kuhlig@gannett.com; on Twitter @UhligK.
