Neena Pacholke was a Wisconsin morning news anchor and former college basketball player. She died suddenly at the age of 27 in an apparent suicide.

She joined Wisconsin News 9 WAOW as a multimedia journalist in May 2017, and was promoted to anchor in February 2019.  Her upbeat and vivacious demeanor quickly made her a staple of morning television in Wisconsin.

Neena Pacholke grew up in Tampa, Florida and played basketball for the University of South Florida. She graduated from the University of South Florida, where she lettered three seasons as a point guard.

She was engaged to be married at the time of her death.

Although the manner of her death has not been reported in the news, it is known that she struggled with her mental health in her final days.

One of Pacholke’s last social media posts was about staying positive. She quoted author Jon Gordon:

“We are not positive because life is easy. We are positive because life can be hard. Give yourself (and others) grace. Speak life and encourage others. Look for the good today. Remember your WHY. Believe the best is yet to come.”

An intelligent, beautiful, talented person that was loved by so many will be greatly missed and will always be In Heaven with the Stars.