Former Museum Treasurer Faces Trial in $70K Theft
Steven Jahnke, former treasurer of the Hearthstone Historic House Museum, has a trial date set for January 19, 2027.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Financial Crime
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A trial date of January 19, 2027 was set for Steven Jahnke, 78, the former treasurer of the Hearthstone Historic House Museum, who faces one count of theft in a business setting. Prosecutors allege he stole about $70,000 from the museum, and his defense attorney, Susan Holloway, has received a plea offer from the state.
Why it matters
The case centers on alleged embezzlement of nonprofit funds over several years, a matter that affects the museum's finances and public trust in organizations that rely on volunteer and board oversight. The outcome of the plea negotiations and trial will determine whether the allegations are resolved in court.
Jahnke, 78, faces one count of theft in a business setting, with a trial scheduled for January 19, 2027. Defense attorney Susan Holloway has received a plea offer from the state, and the case has not yet been resolved.
The players
Hearthstone Historic House Museum
A private nonprofit museum housed in a building constructed in 1882 that was originally a residence and is noted as the first hydroelectric-powered home in the world.
Steven Jahnke
The former treasurer of the Hearthstone Historic House Museum, age 78, who is charged with theft in a business setting.
Susan Holloway
The defense attorney representing Steven Jahnke, who received the state's plea offer in the case.
The details
According to a criminal complaint, Jahnke allegedly embezzled museum funds for his personal use from 2019 to 2025 and admitted he took the money to pay for his own expenses. The Hearthstone Historic House Museum, built in 1882 and a private nonprofit since 1986, was originally a residence and was the first hydroelectric-powered home in the world.
Timeline
2019 to 2025: Period in which Jahnke allegedly embezzled museum funds.
November 3, 2026: Trial date was set and the plea offer was received.
January 19, 2027: Scheduled trial date for Jahnke.
Legal Context
Cases charging nonprofit financial officers under Wisconsin's business-setting theft statute, as in this matter, typically turn on documented embezzlement over multi-year periods and are frequently resolved through plea agreements. The Jahnke case fits that pattern, with a trial date set and a state plea offer already on the table.
Donors, members, and visitors to nonprofit organizations in the Appleton area may want to ask how financial controls and independent audits are handled, since this case involved alleged embezzlement over several years. Organizations that rely on a single treasurer may consider stronger oversight to reduce similar risks.
The takeaway
Nonprofits can reduce the risk of embezzlement by requiring dual signatures on large transactions and having an independent party review bank statements regularly. Regular audits help detect irregularities before losses grow over several years.
What happens next
A trial is scheduled for January 19, 2027, and the court will need to address the state's plea offer before then.
Further reading
For more on related cases, browse the Financial Crime section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WLUK.
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