JUNEAU, Wis. — Many Dodge County residents are spending their Memorial Day Weekend still cleaning up debris from tornadoes.

The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed at least 15 touched down Thursday, May 15.

One local chef in Juneau spent much of his holiday weekend helping his community on Saturday.

What You Need To Know

  • Chef Chanse Schomber leases the Juneau Community Center, which he opened to the hundreds of storm victims, first responders and volunteers for a free, community meal

  • Schomber has been a chef for more than 30 years and said food equals happiness, which the community needs following the storms

  • He, along with many volunteers, prepared comfort foods, including smoked pulled pork, jambalaya, lemon herb chicken, maple bacon baked beans and other hearty dishes

Chef Chanse Schomber leases the Juneau Community Center, which he opened to the hundreds of storm victims, first responders and volunteers for a free, community meal.

“I was catering Thursday night for a big corporation, and I personally saw the devastation,” said Schomber. “Two of my friends’ barns actually went down. When you see the silo right on their barn and it’s devastated, it’s just heartbreaking.”

Schomber has been a chef for more than 30 years and said food equals happiness, which the community needs following the storms.

“And the food that I get to serve them makes them happy, most of the time,” he joked.

He, along with many volunteers, prepared comfort foods, including smoked pulled pork, jambalaya, lemon herb chicken, maple bacon baked beans and other hearty dishes.

Schomber said his career has taken him to many places, but it felt right to come back to Juneau.

“I’ve been asked that many times in my career. ‘Why don’t I go to a larger town, like Milwaukee, Chicago or somewhere else?’ This is the reason…” he said.

Because, he said, small communities know how to pull together through the tough times.

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