Skip to main content

Category: Obituaries

McGrew, Kris K.

Madison.com

She spent her professional career with the University of Wisconsin—Extension. There she was recognized for excellence in innovation, including being awarded the UW System Academic Staff Excellence Award for Outstanding Service.

Hecht, Rudolph Caro

Madison.com

In 1973, the Hecht family moved to Madison where Rudy began the next chapter of his professional life as clinical faculty and a physician for the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine. He was one of the pioneers in the Department of Family Medicine where he trained many residents as the medical director of the Northeast Family Medical Center.

Kris K. McGrew, 66

WISC-TV 3

She spent her professional career with the University of Wisconsin – Extension. There she was recognized for excellence in innovation, including being awarded the UW System Academic Staff Excellence Award for Outstanding Service.

Fadell, Edward R.

Madison.com

Ed then joined the Mathematics Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was a tenured Associate Professor in four years, won the Emil H. Steiger Teaching Award, and was promoted to Full Professor in 1962. During his academic career, which lasted over 40 years, he wrote over 60 research papers, two books, and always loved to teach both undergraduate and graduate courses.

Harris, Philip E.

Madison.com

Phil was an Emeritus Professor and former chair of the Agriculture and Applied Economics Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he taught agricultural law for 37 years.

Weidanz, William P. “Bill”

Madison.com

In 1990 he accepted a position at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as chair of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology. He served as chair from 1990 to 2000 and then returned to his beloved laboratory and continued on as a fully funded professor until his official retirement in 2011 at the age of 76.

Sauer, Carl J.

Madison.com

For 35 years he was employed at the University of Wisconsin, retiring as a supervisor in the Physical Plant Sheet Metal Shop.

Clayton Chipman survived Iwo Jima, taught school children American history

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Noted: He returned to West Allis in 1946, went to college but dropped out to play professional baseball. Chipman was still a catcher in the minor leagues when his father died in 1950 and he felt he needed to help his mother at home. After earning a degree at Milwaukee State Teachers College in 1952 — plus a master’s degree in education in 1957 at University of Wisconsin-Madison — he was hired by Milwaukee Public Schools.

Barresi, Anthony Leonard

Madison.com

Tony accepted a professorial position in choral music education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1978. While in that position, Tony served also as the chair of the music education program for seven years, conducted the University Choir, and was the Associate Director of the School of Music for two years prior to his retirement in 2000.

Reddan, William G.

Madison.com

He later earned his Ph.D. in Biodynamics at UW in 1965, and was a professor in preventive medicine at Wisconsin until his retirement in 1996.

UW-Extension leader remembered

WI State Farmer

Somersan, who had an exemplary career with UW-Extension and UW-Madison as a teacher, applied researcher, extension educator and university administrator, was a mentor to many.

DeLamater, John Delos

Madison.com

John received his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Michigan in 1969, before moving to Madison, where he taught at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for 48 years as a professor, becoming the Conway-Bascom Professor Emeritus in the Department of Sociology. He dedicated his life to science, focusing on research about sexuality and effecting change in this area.

Rohweder, Emeritus Professor Dr. Dwayne A.

Madison.com

In 1963, he joined the University of Wisconsin Extension Service as Extension Agronomist—Forages, a position he held until his retirement in 1988, except for 2 ½ years (1967-1969) when he served as Agronomist and Chief of Party for the UW—USAID University Development Contract Team at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Vedejs, Edwin “Ed”

Madison.com

He returned to become a professor of organic chemistry at UW-Madison for 30 years and UM-Ann Arbor for 15 years. He was an internationally known scholar and prolific author publishing and editing hundreds of papers and books. He was the recipient of the Moses Gomberg Collegiate Professor of Chemistry Chair and in turn the Edwin Vedejs Collegiate Professor of Chemistry Chair was established in his honor.

Gray, Elaine Evelyn

Madison.com

Elaine formerly worked at Badger Ordinance Ammunition Plant, Grabers, and University of Wisconsin Physical Plant, and retired from U.W. Hospital.

Steven J. Schaefer, 66, of Madison

WISC-TV 3

In 2001, he established the Camp Randall Rowing Club as a non-profit junior competitive rowing program and commenced the capital campaign to restore the Brittingham Boathouse on Monona Bay.

Bram, Lora Lynn

Madison.com

Throughout her working career, Lora worked for various departments within the University of Wisconsin including Department of Medicine, Oncology, and Surgery for over 35 years.

DeWalt, Jacqueline “Jackie” Alarice

Madison.com

Retiring from the University of Wisconsin-Madison this year, Jackie was the Director of External Relations, Partnerships and Development for the Division of Diversity, Equity and Educational Achievement. Preceding this position, she was the Director of the UW-Madison Pre-college Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence (PEOPLE) for over 10 years. Jackie was committed to securing the educational dreams of our community’s under-represented youth.

Anna Sphar, 92

WISC-TV 3

She worked for the state of Wisconsin for 30 years, primarily at Mendota Mental Health Institute but also at UW Genetics and Soil Science doing secretarial work and word processing.

Brownfield, Mark S.

Madison.com

Mark worked as a professor for the University of Wisconsin, School of Veterinary Medicine, for 35 years. Upon his retirement in October 2016, he was granted Emeritus Status and enjoyed continued work in his lab with many talented personnel.

Nordman, James Emery

Madison.com

Jim received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin in 1962. He then joined the faculty of the Electrical Engineering Department, teaching and mentoring scores of students.

Sphar, Anna M.

Madison.com

She worked for the State of Wisconsin for 30 years, primarily at Mendota Mental Health Institute, but also at U.W. Genetics and Soil Science, doing secretarial work and word processing

Witte, Jeanne Marie

Madison.com

As head of Access Services and a member of the Steenbock Planning Group, she contributed to planning and implementing many library improvements, including library remodeling projects and creating staff efficiencies. As operations manager for the UW-Madison/Google Book Initiative Jeanne supervised the scanning of books and research projects into digital media form. She developed and implemented the library’s Information Specialist Internship Program, managed the UW-Madison Shelving Facility, implemented software programs facilitating inter-library loan system and the on-campus document delivery. Her work touched the lives of many, many UW students.

Lee, Wai-Ming

Madison.com

He moved to Madison, Wis. in 1985 to study Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and graduated with a Ph.D. in 1991. He remained at the University of Wisconsin—Madison as a virologist until 2011.

Otto, Wayne R.

Madison.com

Wayne was professor and two-time chairman of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, specializing in reading education. He retired in 1995 as emeritus professor after 30 years at UW-Madison.

Heinritz, Patrick Mark

Madison.com

He was a passionate supporter of the University of Wisconsin and worked there more than 35 years. Pat started as a payroll and benefits assistant, was departmental administrative head of two departments and retired as a valued team member of a large multi-city research consortium studying inner city asthma, for which he was the Director of the Administrative Center.

Koster, Kim

Madison.com

She enjoyed a variety of nursing positions throughout her career including … IT system analyst at UW-Madison.

Manitowish Waters philanthropist Betty Koller passes away

The Lakeland Times

Noted: To help with other aspects of the cranberry industry while continuing to honor their son, the Kollers established a fellowship in the Horticultural Department of Agriculture and Life Sciences at UW-Madison for cranberry research and each year funded a medical research grant at the Lawton Center in Marshfield.”

Rowe, Bill

Madison.com

He then returned to public education when he accepted a position in Human Resources at UW-Madison.

Lightfoot, Edwin Niblock Jr.

Madison.com

He began his teaching career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1953, where he was a distinguished member of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering for over 50 years. His research interests were in separation processes and controlling the dynamics of biological systems.

Manchester, Jean

Madison.com

She was a member of the UW Foundation Board of Directors beginning in 1982 (ex-officio in recent years), and was the first woman to chair the Foundation (1996-1998).

Nimmow, Esther Marie

Madison.com

Esther served as head of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association and later was a dietitian for two residence halls at UW-Madison.

Lutze, A. Frederick “Fritz”

Madison.com

For his professional career, Fritz worked in sales positions at Nabisco and Great Lakes Homes, following which he entered an extended career with UW-Madison Housing, both in student housing and family housing.

UWPD K-9 laid to rest

The Mcfarland Thistle

Odin, a McFarland canine and member of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department, died Oct. 3. Odin, who had been with the UWPD since June 2010, lived with his handler, Lt. Brent Plisch.

Peter Fox

Austin Daily Herald

Peter Fox, 21, of Brookfield, Wisconsin, passed away unexpectedly and found peace on Friday, Oct. 6, 2017.