Category: Obituaries

Dr. James C. Allen, age 82, passed away on Sunday, April 10, 2011, at his home in Madison. He spent his career at the University of Wisconsin Department of Ophthalmology and the Veterans Administration Hospital.

Dianne K. Mitchell, age 55, of DeForest, passed away Friday, April 15, 2011, after struggling for many years with several health issues. She worked for the Chemistry Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for 30 years.

Rita A. Hallett, age 62, passed away on Thursday, April 14, 2011, at the UW Hospital after a short battle with lymphoma surrounded by her family. She devoted her life to helping others when her career began as a staff nurse for the UW Hospital. Rita?s career continued as she worked for the Visiting Nurses Association, and was the Continuity of Care Coordinator at the UW Hospital.

Edwin Lavell Shumpert, age 62, of Madison, died Saturday, March 19, 2011, of heart complications. He moved to Madison in 1976 and worked for UW Food Service, the Salvation Army, and QMI.

Eric “Rick” James Schumacher, age 56, of the Town of Middleton, passed away on Thursday, April 7, 2011, after a long illness. Eric worked for 30 years for the University of Wisconsin and retired in 2009 as a maintenance supervisor at the UW Extension Pyle Center.

Robert Edward Baldwin, born in Buffalo, N.Y., on July 17, 1924, died in Madison on Thursday, April 7, 2011. He was Hilldale Professor of Economics, Emeritus, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A lifelong academic, Baldwin was one of the world’s most influential thinkers on international trade, an adviser to governments and international organizations, and an inspiring teacher much beloved by generations of students who carry forward his light as renowned scholars in their own right.

Joseph Thomas “Tom” Shaw, age 91, UW-Madison professor emeritus of Slavic languages, died on Monday, April 4, 2011, at Oakwood Village Retirement Community, of a continuing illness. He was chairman of his department from 1962 to 1968 and from 1977 to 1985, and associate dean (Humanities) of the graduate school from 1965 to 1968.

Thurston H. Davini, long time resident of Madison, and Rochester, Minn., died March 31 at Bethany Riverside Nursing Home in La Crosse. She was 89 years old. After completing a Master of Arts degree in library science from the University of Wisconsin in 1972, she accepted the position of head librarian at the University of Wisconsin School of Social Work Library and served until her retirement in 1985.

Lee Hoiby was born in Madison in 1926 and recorded his last piano performance here in 2007. In the decades between, he became one of America?s leading composers, known and cherished best by the singers who revere his vocal works. Hoiby, who earned a bachelor?s degree in music at UW-Madison in 1947 before studying with the great Gian Carlo Menotti, died Monday in New York.

Katherine A. “Kit” O?Dell, 75, passed away in the arms of family at home on Thursday, March 17, 2011, St. Patrick?s Day. Kit retired from the UW Department of Hygiene. She was proud of being a part of the union and was appalled at the union workers rights being taken away.

Roger Dean Biddick, age 88, of Madison and formerly of Livingston, died Tuesday, March 29, 2011, at Upland Hills Health in Dodgeville. Roger received the Honorary Recognition Award from the UW College of Agricultural and Life Sciences in 1975. He also served on the first board of the UW College of Agriculture and Life Science Alumni Association.

Noted: At the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where European musicians had flocked in the years before World War II, Mr. Hoiby studied with the renowned Danish pianist Gunnar Johansen. He also encountered atonal music for the first time, reacting with revulsion. ?If music doesn?t have melody and harmony and rhythm as I understand it,? he said, ?I?m not interested. A lot of that stuff sounds like wallpaper to me.?

Riley V. Whitehead, age 19, of Albany, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 22, 2011, in Madison. Riley was currently a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studying political science. He was also a member of the UW-ROTC.

Richard C. Berry, age 86, passed away on Saturday, March 19, 2011, at Hebron Oaks, Oakwood Village, Madison. Berry’s career took a new turn in 1969, when he joined UW-Extension and ran Management Institute executive programs. As he moved up to full professor, Dick published over 150 articles and five books, mostly on service management and industrial marketing. After a campus reshuffling, he moved to UW-Madison’s Business School.

Mary Peckham Graye, an early female bank executive who invited all comers to her magnificent Shorewood Hills tulip garden, died Thursday at HospiceCare. She retired as senior vice president of First Wisconsin Bank, now part of U.S. Bank. Graye was the first woman accepted into the Wisconsin School of Banking.

After teaching at the University of British Columbia and the University of Wisconsin, he joined the University of Washington faculty in 1972.

Nellie Rose McCannon, age 93, of Wheaton, Ill., passed away on Friday, March 11, 2011, at Wyndemere Retirement Center where she moved to in 1997 after a long time residence in Madison. She was on the UW-Madison faculty for 37 years, 10 years of that at the Milwaukee County Extension Office. She joined the Agricultural Journalism Department to head its home economics journalism major. She handled the home economics news service and taught news writing and feature writing classes. She initiated a yearly workshop for women editors and reporters in the state and she was president of the Madison chapter of Women in Communications.

Ivan L. Preston wasn?t exaggerating when he found examples nearly everywhere of puffery – his favorite word to describe unsubstantiated advertising claims.

Neither would it be an exaggeration to say Preston became something of an expert on the subject. He long taught with the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication, earning a reputation with his first book, “The Great American Blow-Up: Puffery in Advertising and Selling.”

Ivan Preston, a UW-Madison journalism professor once called the “world?s greatest expert on pure baloney in advertising,” died Tuesday. He was 79. Preston, who taught principles of advertising and other media courses from 1968 to 1999, when he retired, was often consulted on issues related to intentional exaggeration and “puffery,” which went to the heart of consumer fraud.

Karen A. Rulland, age 70, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, at UW Hospital in Madison. She worked for the University of Wisconsin Chemistry Department until she retired in 2000.

Noted: Russell Wilbur Peterson, the eighth of nine children of a Swedish immigrant bartender and barber, was born on Oct. 3, 1916, in Portage, Wis. Unlike his brothers who dropped out of school, he was determined to get an education, and he worked as a dishwasher in the chemistry laboratory of the University of Wisconsin to pay his tuition.

Sheldon David Rose, professor emeritus of social work, age 82, died on Nov. 3, 2010. A memorial service to celebrate Sheldon?s life will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011, at First Unitarian Society, 900 University Bay Dr., Madison.

Joe Lubar, grandson of prominent Milwaukee venture capitalist and philanthropist Sheldon Lubar, has died of injuries suffered in a skiing accident at Copper Mountain.

The son of a prominent Milwaukee family died Friday from injuries he suffered in a Jan. 25 skiing accident in Colorado. Joe Lubar, 21, died at St. Anthony?s Central Hospital in Denver, authorities said.

Martin W. “Marty” Wollschlager, age 54, passed away unexpectedly at home on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011, of a brain aneurysm. Marty was employed with Hydrite Chemical for more than 15 years, before currently joining the UW Kohl Center.

Lindsey Marie Zander passed away in her home in Middleton, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011. Lindsey became a CNA at UW Hospital where she thrived doing what she did best – helping others.

Russell F. Lewis Jr. died at Ministry St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield on Friday, Feb. 4, 2011. He received his bachelor of science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1939, and in 1941, he received his medical degree from the same institution. He remained a loyal Badgers fan and supported the University, the UW Medical School, and the UW Alumni Association for his entire life. In 1993, the Marshfield Clinic dedicated a building, named in his honor, on the Marshfield campus.

The birds curator at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History was killed yesterday in a two-vehicle crash in Pine. Bradley C. Livezey, 56, received a bachelor?s degree in 1976 at Oregon State University, a Master of Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison?s Department of Wildlife Ecology in 1979. Livezey was a world-renowned ornithologist.

John Hackett, age 87, passed away on Friday, Feb. 4, 2011, while at St. Clare Meadows Care Center in Baraboo. John worked as the head of the housekeeping department for the University of Wisconsin Hospital prior to his retirement in 1982.

Michele Mary “Shelly” Heinrichs joined God, her heavenly Father and her beloved Father, Donovan, on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011. She taught classes for MATC for x-ray technicians. She worked at both UW Hospital and Meriter Hospital. She loved both the work and the people at these places.

Patricia Rekstad Stuessy, age 77, of Platteville, died on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011, at Southwest Health Center Nursing Home, Cuba City. She worked as an RN in Vermont, Massachusetts and Minnesota, as well as UW Student Health Services in Madison and Platteville, where she was known as an excellent nurse wherever she was working.

Helme Irene Steinke, age 91, passed peacefully away on Friday, Jan. 28, 2011, at a local healthcare center. During her life she had varied interests and employment as a cake decorator, a nanny, a nursing assistant, an aircraft riveter during World War II, and her favorite position, which was in the Bursar’s office at the University of Wisconsin, from which she retired.

Kathryn Marie “Kathy” Kludy, age 66, was called to heaven after a 10-month battle with cancer on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011. She taught upholstery at MATC-Truax and worked at the Memorial Union doing upholstery. She was a lifelong member of the Hoofer Sailing Club.

Bernard Harris passed away peacefully on Friday, Jan. 28, 2011, at Tulane University Medical Center in New Orleans, La., following complications from heart surgery. Harris was a professor in the Mathematics Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1964 to 1985, and a professor in the Statistics Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1966 to 2002.

Bernard Harris passed away peacefully on Friday, Jan. 28, 2011, at Tulane University Medical Center in New Orleans, La., following complications from heart surgery. He was a professor in the Mathematics Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1964 to 1985, and as a professor in the Statistics Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1966 to 2002.

Harry John Steindorf, Captain USMC, age 64, of Cottage Grove, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011, in Arizona due to complications from diabetes. Harry graduated from UW-Whitewater and attended law school at UW-Madison. He served as an administrator for the Ho-Chunk Nation and retired from UW-Madison after 23 years.

Mary Magdalene Kreul, age 91, died on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011, at St. Mary?s Care Center. Mary was employed with the FBI in Washington, D.C. (1941-48), University of Minnesota (1949-53), Marquette University (1953-59), University of Montana (1959-61), and University of Wisconsin (1961-81) where she was a professor and dean in the School of Business.

Agatha A. Norton, age 92, of De Pere, formerly of Madison, passed away on Monday, Jan. 24, 2011. She was a professor in the Related Art Department and Environment, Textiles and Design program at University of Wisconsin-Madison for 30 years. In 1956 she accepted an offer from the Related Art Department at UW, where she taught courses relating to apparel design, interior design and textile arts. She served as chair of the department from 1965 to 1972.

Patricia Jane Carroll Sopsick, age 51, of Madison, passed away on Monday, Jan. 24, 2011, at her home after a lengthy battle with cancer. She had been employed by UW Hospital, UW-Whitewater and the UW Medical Foundation.

Taylor Floyd Shriver Jr., age 90, of Madison, died Monday, Jan. 24, 2011, at HospiceCare, Inc., in Fitchburg. Floyd worked at WKOW-TV and retired from WHA-TV, having enjoyed a long career working and teaching in the fields of radio and television.

Noted: “I remember on a couple of occasions when he would return to Wisconsin, he would play in the alumni band during one of the football games. And I knew that because one of my duties was I worked security with (UW Band Director) Mike Leckrone at the football games,” Mahoney said. The director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison marching band said he remembers Baitinger as a young man dedicated to his craft. “We get to know the kids all pretty well, but Tom was one of those kids that was a doer, he was involved in everything. He was in the band at some great times,” Leckrone said. Leckrone said Baitinger was part of UW-Madison?s historic “100-year band” in the mid-1980s and was one of the first to march at a Badgers bowl game.

Kevin Wayne Ireland, age 51, of Fitchburg, died on Friday, Jan. 21, 2011, from injuries sustained in an accident that occurred in Sacramento, Calif. He was employed as a clinical perfusionist for more than 25 years and spent 14 of those years at University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics. He was most recently employed at University of California Davis Medical Center.

A Minnesota woman is among eight Americans killed in a tour bus crash in southern Egypt. The 61-year-old physical therapist was born in Milwaukee and earned her bachelor?s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Keith R. Sanders, age 71, passed away at his home on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011, after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Keith began his career as an assistant professor at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He went on to hold many titles. Some of those were: Chancellor and Professor of Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point; Senior Vice President for Administration and Chief Operating Officer for the University of Wisconsin System; and Executive Director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

Barbara S. Spennetta, age 68, of Madison, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully at home on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011. She worked for the university as a lab technician and manager of the Genetics Research Lab. She made many contributions to genetics and animal sciences including creating the first pasturella-free rabbit colony.

Esther Doughty Luckhardt died peacefully in her sleep Friday, Jan. 14, 2011. She was 97 years old. On Dec. 21, 1987, Gov. Tommy Thompson appointed Esther to the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents. In 1995, he also appointed her to the National Committee on Aging held in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Richard W. Edwards, age 80, well-known family physician of Richland Center, died Friday, Jan. 14, 2011. He held key positions directing, teaching and overseeing health care. For 20 years he was on the State Medical Society Commission of Peer Review. He was an instructor in the Wisconsin School of Nursing for nurse practitioners and assistant professor of the Department of Family Medicine.

Curtis Allan Johnson passed away at home Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011, after an inspirational fight against metastatic ocular melanoma. He was a professor in the School of Pharmacy and Department of Medicine (Nephrology) at UW-Madison from 1978-2004 and was appointed associate dean for professional and student affairs from 1993-1996 and associate director of the School of Pharmacy’s Office of Global Health from 2004-2010.

Joan Isabel Vass was born in New York City on May 19, 1925, the only child of Max and Rose Kaplan, who owned several laundries in Brooklyn called Square Deal. She was a philosophy major at the University of Wisconsin, where she met Mr. Vass and married him before completing a thesis on Kierkegaard.

Judy F. Mislivecek, age 66, passed away at HospiceCare in Fitchburg, on Friday, Jan. 7, 2011. She worked as the department secretary for the College of Agricultural Journalism at the University of Wisconsin for over 25 years.

Noted: In 2002, the city of Madison, Wis., dropped a plan to name a park in his honor after a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor cited published sources alleging that Vang Pao had ordered executions of his own followers, of enemy prisoners of war and of his political enemies.

Noted: She remembers the same eco-conscious sibling all the way to his first teaching job at the University of Wisconsin. In Madison, he lived on a rural hill by the campus where he taught rural sociology and kept his car parked in neutral.

Elisabeth (Ann) Lambert Farrell died unexpectedly on Dec. 24, 2010. Ann was an active volunteer with Madison Museum of Contemporary Art’s Art League, the UW-Arboretum’s Development Council and finally the Madison Symphony Orchestra League.

Mary Lou Vernon passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday Dec. 28, 2010, surrounded by her family. She worked as a speech pathologist in the Morton Grove School District, as a clinical instructor for the Communicative Disorders Department at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, and in several capacities for the Madison Public School District.

Paul J. Kaesberg, age 87, died on Friday, Dec. 24, 2010, surrounded by his family at his home in Madison. In 1948, Paul received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He then joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, rising to become the W.W. Beeman Professor of Biochemistry. Paul was a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, and a past president of the American Society of Virology. He received international recognition for his pioneering research on small viruses. In 1991, Paul was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. He was also honored by Professor Paul Ahlquist, who took the title Paul Kaesberg Professor of Biochemistry.

Mary Joan Gefke, age 81, of Oregon, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010, surrounded by her family.

Joan’s time working on the UW campus during the Vietnam Era was one of the most exciting times of her life, and she would often regale anyone who would listen to her of the stories from this time of her life. In her capacity as a UW project specialist from 1962 until 1974, Joan worked closely on several important projects.

Ron Linde, age 56, of Madison, died unexpectedly on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010. He worked for the UW as a custodian for more than 30 years, primarily at the Waisman Center, and was known for his reliability and dependability.

Wilfred Joseph Pierick, age 92, passed away on Dec. 19, 2010. In 1964, Pierick moved to Madison as a 4-H youth development specialist with UW-Extension. In his position he was responsible for the production and distribution statewide for agricultural, home economics and other 4-H youth development literature. During this time he edited and authored numerous publications. In 1982, he retired as professor emeritus of UW-Madison Extension.

M. Vere DeVault, age 88, died at his home, peacefully, on Dec. 9, 2010.Vere was a man who enjoyed people and reached out to them as a friend and teacher, in his long career as an academic and also in his daily life. He joined the faculty at the University of Texas-Austin in 1953 and in 1961 moved to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he worked in the Mathematics Education group in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. He was also the founder and director of Computer Fest.