Juanita Sophia Goold was born in Baraboo, Wisconsin on August 20, 1908. She attended local schools and graduated from Baraboo High School. Shortly thereafter her family moved to Madison where she attended the University of Wisconsin and graduated in 1930. She taught in Bloomington, Wisconsin for several years before returning to Madison where she worked for the state's Unemployment Compensation Department. In March 1943, she enlisted into the Women's Army Corps (W.A.C.) and received basic training at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia and officer's training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa where she was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. In December 1943, she sailed over to England where she received training in cryptography. She was assigned to the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Forces (SHAEF) and served in France and Germany, achieving the rank of captain. She returned to the United States in October 1945 and was discharged in January 1946.
Gerald Francis Wilke was born in Madison, Wisconsin on March 12, 1916. He earned a bachelor degree at the University of Wisconsin and enrolled in the law school, but he left before earning a degree. He worked as a machine operator for Gisholt Machine Company in Madison from 1940 through 1942. In September of that year, he enlisted into the Army. After stateside training, he was sent to North Africa where he served as a technician with the 529th Heavy Maintenance Truck Company of the 5th Army. He later transferred to the headquarters of the 53rd Ordnance Group and served in North Africa and Italy. He returned to the United States in October 1945 and was discharged in November.
Juanita and Gerald, who both returned to Madison to work for the Unemployment Compensation Department, met at work and were married in December 1946. Juanita passed away on July 16, 1995 and Gerald died January 11, 2001.
