Lobsters, bluebirds and a yellow school bus — Sheboygan-area residents share tales behind their tattoos

SHEBOYGAN - Memories of life moments and loved ones are captured in ink on arms and legs of community members across the area.

Sunsets and palm trees. A purple infinity sign. A pheasant feather. Overcoming cancer. Celebrating friendship. Remembering a father.

The Sheboygan Press asked readers to share their tattoo stories ahead of National Tattoo Day. Here are a handful of the stories we received.

Road mapping years of service

Sherry Mytko, 70, was a New Holstein school bus driver for 37 years.

To celebrate 25 years of service, she got a tattoo of a yellow school bus on a road marked with a 25 mph speed limit sign.

She got it in 2014 at Rhode Island Tattoo Company near Providence, Rhode Island, where her daughter lives.

At 30 years, she added a 30 mph speed limit sign.

When she retired after 37 years, she added a “Road Closed” sign.

Mytko likes her tattoo's "cute bus." She said she loved driving and built relationships with the students.

"I have been to graduations and weddings of 'my kids,'" she said.

Finding strength from Indiana Jones

Indiana Jones collector Michael T. Miller, 53, wondered why his physical therapy wasn't progressing after knee surgery a few years ago.

“All of a sudden, something just hit me,” Miller said. He felt he needed to get a tattoo.

After going back and forth on what type of Indiana Jones tattoo to get, he got the iconic logo. His recovery took off.

“It was like a shield of honor," Miller said. "I was like, ‘I can't let it down.’ And it hasn't ever let me down."

About five years later, his other knee bothered him.

“I know exactly what the recipe is for this,” he thought.

Miller’s second tattoo — “The whip still cracks for me” — celebrates his second recovery.

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“The Polar Express," one of his favorite Christmas movies, partially inspired the tattoo. The main character begins as a Santa nonbeliever but learns the spirit and magic of the season. He holds onto that belief through adulthood, saying, “The bell still rings for me" at the end.

He got both tattoos at Full Throttle Ink in Sheboygan Falls.

Pair of lobsters share a lifelong bond

Gregg and Jen Mcwherter, both 49, share matching lobster tattoos, inspired by the iconic “Friends” episode where Phoebe Buffay likened Rachel Green and Ross Geller to lobsters, essentially soulmates.

Gregg said they're "bonded for life."

The couple met at Lakeland University, where they later married. Gregg said he initially was against tattoos, but then Jen suggested the lobster. They’re both huge fans of the show. He was “totally in.”

They got their tattoos at Plymouth's Full Throttle Ink.

A spur of the moment decision, the Mcwherters also got tattoos of their handwritten initials in a heart to celebrate their 25th anniversary. They went to Fat’s Tats in Baraboo.

Soul sisters for more than 50 years

Vicki Depies, 70, and Ellen Stark, 72, share matching infinity tattoos with their initials and “1971” to symbolize their enduring friendship.

Depies said they’re “soul sisters.” They met working at St. Michael Hospital in Milwaukee in 1971, but unbeknownst to them, both attended Custer High School.

Depies said she was “leery of getting inked” at age 69 but eventually agreed.

After that, they got matching bluebirds for happiness and two other birds — a cardinal for Stark and an orchard oriole for Depies.

Depies wanted two more tattoos for her parents who passed away — “All of my love” (a common signoff from her dad) and “Stay here forever” (some of her mom’s last words before she passed away).

She got all her tattoos done at Homeward Bound Tattoo in Port Washington.

A mark of steadfast faith

Karen Mansker, 66, has always been a woman of faith.

For a long time, she wore a silver-and-gold bracelet with an ichthys clasp. Mansker wanted a tattoo of the symbol, also coined the “Jesus Fish.”

“My faith and my belief in the power, protection and guidance of Christ are the foundation of who I am,” Mansker added.

After sporting a temporary tattoo on a family camping trip, Mansker’s daughter-in-law surprised her with a visit to Rick’s Tattoos in Green Bay in spring 2011.

She said she brought the bracelet to the appointment and “the rest is history.”

Triumphing over cancer

Mistine Mattie, 52, and her oldest son Mason, 28,got matching tattoos this June after Mistine’s last radiation treatment for breast cancer. She was diagnosed in the spring.

Mason suggested celebrating after the appointment. Mistine thought they were getting food. Instead, they pulled up to Artrageous Ink in Green Bay.

They got matching palm tree and sunset tattoos for Mistine’s favorite place to be.

“I will never forget this,” she said.

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Commemorating the loss of a loved one

Kelly Brotz, 49, has a tattoo of a pheasant feather with, “I’m so very proud of you, Stay beautiful Love you, Dad." It was his last message to her in a birthday card.

Brotz's dad unexpectedly passed away in October 2020. Brotz said he was an avid pheasant hunter. She chose something important to him because he was important to her, she said.

“He was my hero and my best friend,” she said. “I feel like I am always carrying a part of him with me.”

She got the tattoo at Bird’s Eye View Tattoo in Slinger. The pheasant feather is her favorite tattoo among others she has for her dad.

Contact Alex Garner at 224-374-2332 or agarner@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @alexx_garner. 

This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Sheboygan tattoo stories honor school bus driving, Indiana Jones