“It’s hard to leave here on Sunday nights,” smiled Denise Arneson while talking about the home her and her husband, Curt, completed construction on just last spring in Athelstane, Wisc. The couple originally purchased the 10-acre property almost 20 years ago through a recreational land loan with GreenStone and always envisioned building a home there to vacation in and one day retire to. After years of dreaming and planning, their vision is now a reality.

The Beginning of a Dream

It all started over two decades ago. Curt, a licensed clinical social worker, and Denise, a teacher from the Milwaukee, Wisc. area always enjoyed spending time outdoors and were eager to get away from the hustle and bustle of urban life.

“We started working with a local realtor when looking for land, and they recommended we work with GreenStone on the financing,” explained Curt. “Even back then when we first worked with GreenStone, we really felt like they offered the personal touch of a community lender, while still having specialized expertise,” said Denise.

The Arnesons began their search for property around Silver Cliff, Wisc., and fell in love with everything the area had to offer. With access to ATV and snowmobile trails, plenty of good hunting opportunities, and the quiet, rural setting, they knew it was the place they would one day call “home”.

In 2008, they secured their ideal 10-acre lot and began using the property as a weekend getaway. A few years later, they built a garage and began taking camping trips up to the property with their two children. They always envisioned building a home on the property but wanted to wait until it was the right time for them to build.

“GreenStone never rushed us to build on our property once we started financing the land,” said Denise. “They encouraged us to wait until we were truly ready, which we really appreciated.”

Bringing Their Vision to Life

Shortly after the Covid-19 pandemic, the Arnesons felt it was the right time for them to move forward with construction. “We reached out to GreenStone again to start the construction process. We were spending every weekend up there, so we were anxious to finally start building the home we had been thinking about for so many years,” said Curt. “What began as weekend visits with friends and family was about to become our future permanent residence.” 

After choosing a builder, the Arnesons provided the floor plans to their Senior Financial Services Officer Jason Gengler. The home would have an open-concept layout with two bedrooms, one full bathroom and one half bath. The high-ceilings, patio entrance, and fireplace at the center of the living area were all designed with the Arnesons’ vision in mind: the perfect rural retreat for them, their family and friends, and their two large dogs to enjoy.  

Construction began on the home in 2024, and as Curt explained, “I was expecting a much more complicated experience!”  

“It was the easiest process ever,” agreed Denise. “Jason remained available to us throughout each phase and was in constant communication about the progress or if we had any questions. He worked with us through some of the delays we dealt with during the construction process,” she added. “He even helped us identify some discrepancies in a few of the invoices we received with our final numbers and worked with our builder on any questions they had on the financing too.”  

“Curt and Denise were great to work with,” remarked Jason. “They were very helpful and enthusiastic, and I enjoyed being a part of the process of their dream home coming to life.”  

 

A Home Worth the Wait

Construction took just under a year and was completed in June 2025. In addition to their original plans, the Arnesons’ son even contributed to the project to finish the upper level of the house to create additional living space so he could have his own place to stay when he visited – a true testament to how much the home and property mean to their entire family! 

The home features a heated, attached garage, in-floor heating, and an overall cozy atmosphere thanks to the lavender-colored walls and fireplace. “Our mason incorporated stones in the shape of a heart into the fireplace, which is a really special touch,” Denise added.  

Located at the end of the road with little traffic nearby, the property’s remote destination is the ideal place to enjoy some peace and quiet. The Arnesons have spent just about every weekend the past year there enjoying the home they dreamed about for so long. “We love that when we’re here, we’re here to relax,” explained Curt. “Whether we’re out here completing small projects around the house, enjoying the outdoors, or even just splitting firewood, we love that we can come here and escape the rush of everyday life.” 

As they look to the future, Curt and Denise are excited to continue to improve the property through landscaping and terracing and plan to make other improvements like more outdoor spaces.  

“We’re looking forward to one day making this our full-time residence in retirement, but for now, getting to spend our time here at the end of a long week is priceless,” they both agreed.

 

To view the rest of the 2026 Summer Partners articles please click here.