Jennifer & Colten
Wedding Party
Jill Millis
Maid of Honor
Jill is Jen's big sister and best friend. Jen has always looked up to Jill, and accepts that she will never be as amazing as Jill is in every category. Jen was a maid of honor in Jill's wedding and Jen can't wait to see how Jill will top her speech. Jill is the Assistant Athletic Director of Media Relations/Sports Information for UW-Eau Claire. She has been married to her husband, Nick, for 10 years. Their two boys, Evander (8) and Sterling (6), are ring bearers.
Julie Janke
Bridesmaid
Julie is the wife of Jen's brother, Chester. They have been married for 14 years this coming August. Their wedding was one of the most fun nights Jen has ever had! Jen met Julie in middle school when Chester brought her to one of Jill's softball games. Julie cemented her part in the Janke family after taking a shift driving home from a UW-La Crosse football road trip in Ohio. Some of Jen's most cherished memories of her years in La Crosse are the many homemade dinners, Survivor watch parties, and laundry visits to Julie, Chester and their kids' house. Julie has been a true sister to Jen. Julie is a physical education and health teacher in the La Crosse school district and mom to Chester Jr. (11, ring bearer), and flower girls Adelynn (9) and Ella (9).
Tina Roth
Bridesmaid
Tina is the beautiful fiance of Jen's brother, Gene. Tina and Jen have known each other for many years, but have become closer since Jen moved to Madison in October 2019. Jen looks forward to many more summer days of drinking by Gene and Tina's pool and continuing making memories with them in Madison. Tina and Gene are tying the knot in Mexico this fall! Tina is an interior designer in Madison and dog mom to maltipoos, Stella and Louis.
Christina Taylor
Bridesmaid
Christina is Jen's longest-running friendship. They actually don't remember first meeting because it happened sometime before kindergarten. Christina and Jen bonded through the years over Barbies, Spice Girls, basketball and wanting to be cheerleaders. Some of Jen's favorite memories with Christina include watching scary movies in the basement while eating large amounts of chocolate. Jen was very honored to be a bridesmaid in Christina's wedding to her husband, Jack, in 2014. Christina lives in their hometown, Black River Falls, Wis., where her and Jack own their own business, Taylor Media. They have daughter, Abigail, who will be 5 in August.
Danica Rockney
Bridesmaid
Danica is another hometown friend of Jen's. Danica and Jen first met at church Sunday school, but became good friends while attending middle school. They bonded over playing basketball and softball together, as well as being in choir. Jen couldn't muster the courage to sing solo for choir tryouts, so Danica stood by her side to help her. Danica is the smartest and hardest-working friend Jen has ever had. They don't get to see each other much due to living in different states, but never seem to miss a beat when they connect. Dr. Danica is an infectious disease fellow at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, Md.
Michael Cataldo
Best Man
Colten and Mike went to elementary school together and became best friends 20 years ago. They spent countless hours growing up at Mike’s house playing in the pool, playing video games, holding airsoft gun fights and generally causing trouble. Despite Colten moving in junior high and going to different high schools and colleges, they stayed just as close and Colten would visit Mike and the rest of his friends in Naperville at least once a month. Colten was the best man in Mike’s wedding and is the godfather to Mike’s daughter, Olivia. Mike is a branch manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car and lives in Bolingbrook, Ill.
Christopher Dote
Groomsman
Colten and Chris met as kids, but became close friends in college when Colten and Mike lived a street away from Chris and his family. Chris has the same love of sports that the rest of the crew has, but he and Colten bonded more over movies, stand-up comedy, cigars and Seinfeld. Chris made several trips to Platteville to visit Colten, and those weekends were some of the most fun Colten had in college. Always remember, there is no left. Out of all of Colten’s friends, Chris might be the only one who can match the volume of Colten’s speaking voice. Chris is a Senior Logistics Manager at Navistar International and lives in Aurora, Ill.
Matthew Schefke
Groomsman
Colten and Matt met in elementary school — (are you sensing a pattern here?) — and have been friends since. They share a love for NFL football, pro wrestling and sarcasm. Colten can always count on Matt to share the latest song — “yamz,” if you will — or TikTok video. Trips to Matt’s places in Bloomington-Normal have produced a number of great memories, including the night Colten and Jen got engaged. Colten helped plan Matt’s Nashville bachelor party, an unforgettable trip for all involved, and was a groomsman in Matt’s wedding. From what Colten remembers, it was a swell time. Matt is an Underwriting Lead at Country Financial and lives in Bloomington, Ill.
Joseph Stejskal
Groomsman
Colten and Joe met in elementary school and have been close as can be since. Joe was almost always with Colten and Mike growing up, and the three of them would watch and re-watch movies constantly. Joe and Colten joked often that they were like Rob and Big. Joe and Colten have far too many inside jokes together that result in laughs years later. Throughout college and after, Colten and Joe would talk on the phone at least once a week and have always stayed connected. Through highs and lows, Joe has been one of Colten’s most supportive friends. Joe is a sales manager at Dick’s Sporting Goods and lives in Aurora, Ill.
Nick Schurr
Groomsman
Nick and Colten met when Colten moved to Iowa in sixth grade, and they were tight from the start. At Nick’s family’s farm, city-kid Colten actually did some real work. They also had a lot of fun riding ATVs and other equipment around the farm. Nick and Colten played football and basketball together growing up, playing next to each other on the offensive line during high school. Visits to each other’s college campuses included seeing a Dave Chappelle show and a wild weekend in Platteville. Nick and his long-time girlfriend, Regina, are two of Colten’s closest friends to this day. Nick is a Program Manager for a law firm and lives in New York City.
Zach Berger
Groomsman
Zach and Colten met and played football together at UW-Platteville, proving that Colten had the ability to make friends after grade school, but just didn’t do it often. Zach and Colten lived together for three years in college, and came one game short of an intramural basketball title together. Colten carried Zach through freshman English class, and they had a great deal of fun over those years. They’ve shared some all-time sports nights together, watching the Broncos win the Super Bowl in January 2016 and the Cubs win the World Series that October. Zach is a parole officer and lives in Marshfield, Wis.
Chester Janke Sr.
Usher
Chester is Jen's big brother. Once Jen started at UW-La Crosse, Jen became a fixture at Chester's house in Holmen. Between doing loads of laundry, babysitting/visiting their children — Chester Jr. and twins Adelynn and Ella — and free dinners, Jen spent a lot of time at their house. Chester has been an amazing source of support and love for Jen, despite all the teasing he'd direct her way when he would come home from college. Chester is a middle school physical and health education teacher in the La Crosse School District. Chester's wife, Julie, and their kids are also in the wedding party.
Gene Janke Jr.
Usher
Gene is Jen's youngest big brother. They didn't get to see each other much since Gene moved to Madison after college, but they are making up for it now! Especially since Gene and his fiance, Tina, bought a home last winter with an inground pool. Summer 2020 was full of pool parties and cookouts at the Janke/Roth household and we suspect Summer 2021 won't be much different. Jen has treasured this chance to spend more time with her youngest big brother. Gene works for the State of Wisconsin doing very important things. He lives in Madison with his fiance, Tina, and their maltipoos, Doggie and Little Dog.
Zack Bartholomew
Usher
Zack is Colten’s “big” brother, and the big is in quotes because he’s been smaller than Colten for a solid 15 years. Zack spent the first decade or so of Colten’s life beating him up, and then when Colten could win, Zack stopped wrestling him. Zack and Colten have very similar personalities in that they find something that they like and obsess over it. For Colten, obviously, that was sports. For Zack, that was poker. They combined those forces to bond over betting on football all season. Choppy first year — blame Clemson, donkey coaches like Pete Carroll and not being allowed to bet Wisconsin unders. The two haven’t lived together for more than a decade, but they have always been close. Zack is a professional poker player and owns a roofing company in suburban Dallas, Texas.