Category: Obituaries

On April 9, 2010, Virgil Boyd Graves passed away in Austin, Texas. He retired as professor of radiology and neuroradiology at the UW-Madison in 2001.

Marjean Pettis Jondrow died on April 9, 2010, of cancer. Her career included being the public information director of the University of Wisconsin Faculty and Student Memorial Union, senior editor at the Institute for Research on Poverty at UW-Madison, and public information director of the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Cancer Society.

Edward James “Eddie” Hayes, age 97, died on Sunday, April 11, 2010, at Heartland Country Village in Black Earth. Eddie was a carpenter for Milwaukee Railroad and later for the University of Wisconsin.

Collin S. Maxwell, age 35, also know as Shawn C. Litzau, of Madison and formerly of St. Cloud, Minn., died unexpectedly of heart failure on Friday, April 9, 2010, in Madison. Collin worked for DoIT.

Meinhardt Raabe, who played the Munchkin coroner in “The Wizard of Oz” and proclaimed in the movie that the Wicked Witch of the East was “really most sincerely dead,” has died. He was 94. Raabe, born in Watertown, Wis., in 1915, was a member of the Midget City cast at the Chicago Worldâ??s Fair in 1934. He earned a bachelorâ??s degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin and, years later, a masterâ??s degree in business administration from Drexel University.

“By working at these worldâ??s fairs as a midget, I was able to work my way through the university,” Raabe said. He received a bachelorâ??s degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin and, years later, a masterâ??s degree in business administration from Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Pauline G. Clough, age 95, passed away on Saturday, April 3, 2010. She worked for many years as an administrative secretary in the Board of Regents Office at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Gerry D. Curtis, age 77, died on Saturday, March 27, 2010, at the UW Hospital in Madison. Gerry retired from the UW Hospital in 1989, after 26 years of employment.

Raymond M. Virnig, age 95, of Cross Plains, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 31, 2010. He spent 19 years working as a carpenter at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Robert D. Goodman passed away on April 1, 2010, and Madison mourns the loss of one its best known and loved citizens. Bob’s history of kindness, honesty and generous service will continue through the brothers’ many gifts to, and investments in, our community.

Harriet Shetler died Tuesday, March 30, 2010. Harriet worked more than 30 years in print media in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wisconsin. She was a newspaper reporter, scientific and industrial magazine editor, and editor and instructor in editing for UW-Extension. She retired in 1982.

Robert Goodman, 90, who with brother Irwin changed the face of Madison by bringing a smile to it, died Thursday. On the advice of his brother, he transferred from the University of Minnesota to UW-Madison, beginning a fast-pitch softball career that landed him on a “best ever” team for Madison. Both brothers were athletes and promoters of healthy lifestyles, an attitude reflected in their frequent donations to the UW-Madison athletic, nutrition and exercise programs.

Furious and afraid, Harriet Shetler and Beverly Young met for lunch one day in 1977 at the old Cuba Club in Madison. That lunch between two mothers worried about their mentally ill sons resulted in a national movement that would bring solace, facts and practical assistance to the mentally ill and their families.

….Shetler, who worked as an editor for UW Extension, was always interested in words and writing. She was a 30-year member of University League Book Critics, which was founded on her front porch.

Lillian G. Price, of Madison, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Tuesday, March 23, 2010. Lillian worked for the State of Wisconsin for 15 years at the Department of Transportation and the UW photo lab.

Jean A. “Jeanne” Miller, age 61, of Portage, lost her long, courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer on Tuesday, March 23, 2010. From 1985-1988 Jeanne was administrative secretary for UW-Extension. From 1989-1998 she was the office manager in the accounting department.

Carey Dulaney Hall Jr., age 80, passed away on Tuesday, March 23, 2010. Carey worked as a protection and security officer for the University of Wisconsin for more than 24 years, retiring in 1989.

On Saturday, March 13, 2010, with his beloved family and friends present, Anthony Lamar Brown quietly entered into the presence of his Lord. He earned his Ph.D. in educational administration, higher education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Cookie Weitenâ??s long journey and battle with Pickâ??s Disease finally came to an end on March 13, 2010. She worked as a nurse consultant for Wisconsin Physicians Services, the University of Wisconsin and, finally, the State of Wisconsin.

Eunice M. Hoffman, age 89, moved on to her next great adventure on Friday, March 12, 2010, after a wonderful life. She worked in the College of Engineering Administration Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

James Gerard Brunker, age 57, of Greenfield, died on March 9, 2010. Jerry worked as a custodian for the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1996-2001.

Harold Walter Sorenson, of Baraboo, passed away on Friday, March 5, 2010, at his home with his family by his side at the age of 101. Harold worked for Harveson-Walker Stone Quarry in LaRue as well as at UW-Madison as a supervisor and security guard.

Helen Marie Matheson Rupp, age 88, of Madison, passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 3, 2010. She began her career at the Wisconsin State Journal in 1942, while still a senior at UW-Madison and worked as a reporter, feature writer, copy reader and assistant news editor. During her 35 years on the newspaper’s staff she was honored repeatedly for her editing, writing and public speaking ability.  She also was a part-time lecturer at University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism.

Cleve “Bumpa” Shaw, age 73, passed away on Wednesday, March 3, 2010. He worked for University of Wisconsin Hospital as an x-ray technician supervisor, retiring in 1991.

Helen Matheson Rupp, 88, a pioneering figure in Madison journalism, died Wednesday at the Capitol Lakes retirement home in Madison. Matheson Rupp, who retired in 1977, was the first woman executive at the Wisconsin State Journal. She began at the paper in 1942 while still a senior studying journalism at UW-Madison.

Edward “Ed” Malcheski, age 89, of Madison, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010. Ed served as extension dairy specialist at the University of Wisconsin from 1951 to 1955, and farm director at WISC-TV from 1961 to 1972, where he claimed he was the star of stage, screen and the barnyard.

Martin Damon, age 85, of Monona, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, Feb. 26, 2010. He ushered at UW sporting events for 43 years.

Margaret E. Sande, age 91, passed away on Friday, Feb. 26, 2010. She was employed at the University of Wisconsin’s McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research from 1953 until 1980.

Ruth L. Hine, age 86, died peacefully on Tuesday, February 23, 2010. Dr. Hine was the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in zoology at the UW-Madison. Dr. Hine enjoyed a 35-year career with the State of Wisconsin’s Conservation Bureau, later renamed the Department of Natural Resources, ultimately becoming the Chief of the Public Information and Publications section of the DNR Bureau of Research.

Jacob “Jock” Evanson, age 75, died peacefully on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010.  Jock served the UW-Madison as a statistical consultant for many years.

A nurse, a pilot and an academic, Dorothy Jean â??D.J.â? Douglas was a trailblazing woman who taught in medical schools, nursing schools and flight schools. But before all that, Douglas, who died Feb. 10 at age 82, lived as a boy.

Graham B. Hovey died on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010, in Allentown, Pa.  Mr. Hovey was a member of University of Wisconsin School of Journalism faculty for five years in the 1950s, rising to the rank of associate professor. He also broadcast a weekly “Background of the News” commentary over radio station WHA and affiliate stations of the Wisconsin State Broadcasting Service.

John Farnsworth Dixon, age 69, died Feb. 18, 2010. For the majority of his career John worked at a University of Wisconsin research laboratory with Dr. Lowell Hakin. He and Dr. Hakin co-authored and published approximately 30 chemistry research papers.

Helen E. Bill, age 89, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010. She worked as a paid staff member at WHA, and then at the UW-Madison Memorial Library until 1969.

Florence L. Shapiro, age 93, passed away on Friday, February 19, 2010. Florence worked at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the residence halls for over 15 years beginning in 1971.

Cynthia Joy Laitman died on February 19, 2010. Cynthia built a long and productive career as a medical writer, working for the University of Wisconsin Department of Surgery, the National Wildlife Health Center, the World Health Organization, and as the managing editor of the Annals of Surgery.

James Myron Brewer Jr., age 56, passed away on Feb. 15, 2010. James worked for the University of Wisconsin until his early retirement in 2008. He was so proud to have glazed many of the windows in the new buildings on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, as well as the new University Hospital addition.

Robert S. Morris, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend and co-worker, age 89, of Madison, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010. In 1972 Robert was fortunate to begin his dream job at UW-Madison as a cataloguer of foreign language books.

Lori E. Rappé, age 54, of Monona, died at the HospiceCare Center in Fitchburg, on Feb. 16, 2010. Lori worked at the University of Wisconsin Foundation for more than twenty years and was especially proud of her work in the building campaign for the construction of the new Pharmacy building which opened in September of 2001, her work in women’s philanthropy and her work on behalf of the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.

Dr. August P.”Gus” Lemberger, age 84, was called home to the Lord on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010. He was one of the UW-Madison’s first male cheerleaders. Gus was a member of the Pharmacy School Faculty at the University of Wisconsin from 1953 to 1969; then served as dean at the University of Illinois-Chicago College of Pharmacy 1969 to 1980 when he returned to University of Wisconsin-Madison as dean of Pharmacy. He retired in 1991.

Arlys Luick Bender, age 80, died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010. Arlys worked first at the UW School of Education Dean’s Office and later transferred to the UW School of Nursing in the business office as an Account Specialist II. She was in these positions for 28 years and retired in 1996.

Marguerite Elliott, DO, age 61, of Madison, died on Monday, Feb. 15, 2010. In addition to practicing medicine at UW-Health Verona Clinic, she founded and was head of the Osteopathic Residency program for the University of Wisconsin system.

Sylvia McLean Saecker, age 94, died on Friday, Jan. 29, 2010. Sylvia worked as an administrative assistant for the UW-Madison.

Marjorie Luella “Marge” Zoeller died on Friday, February 5, 2010. She worked for Dane County and as a legal secretary for the Wisconsin Department of Justice and the University of Wisconsin.

Jessie Rugaard Grunow, age 85, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010. Jessie worked for the University of Wisconsin, School of Commerce in the late 1940s.

Noted: After yet another stop, this time at the University of Wisconsin, the Burbidges landed at the University of California, San Diego, in 1962.

Ron Rudy passed away peacefully but unexpectedly at his home on Jan. 30, 2010. Ron served as an associate clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Wisconsin

Mary Ann Stoeberl, age 79, passed away peacefully on Friday, Jan. 29, 2010. Mary Ann worked at the University of Wisconsin Medical School and later the Office of the Registrar, retiring in 1992.

Francisco Orlando Canto died on Monday, January 25, 2010. Born in Cuba, he moved his family to the U.S. in search of a better life in 1962. Settling in Madison, he worked as a draftsman at the University of Wisconsin in the Department of Medical Physics until his retirement.

Mavis I. Score, age 81, of Madison, passed away on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. She was employed by the University of Wisconsin, where she worked in housekeeping.

Jeffery William Walker, age 55, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010. Jeff was a tenured professor in physiology at the UW-Madison, who developed new ways to study heart function and improve cardiac healthcare.

Robben W. Fleming, who as president of the University of Michigan in the late 1960s and â??70s steered it through a turbulent era of student protests, using his labor negotiatorâ??s skills to help defuse crises before they could turn violent, died Jan. 11 in Ann Arbor, Mich. He was 93.

Hilda O. Angell, age 94, of Onalaska, died on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010. Hilda worked in the dietary department at University Hospital in Madison for more than 37 years.

James Dobrient, age 65, of Madison, passed away on Friday, Jan. 1, 2010. James retired from the University Hospital where he was a supervisor in the Environmental Services Department.

Opal Esther Larson, age 95, of Red Wing, died Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010. She was employed for many years in the biochemistry department of the University of Wisconsin as a laboratory manager.

Donald Edward Goerke was born in Waukesha, Wis., on Aug. 8, 1926. (The family name is pronounced GUR-key.) He earned a bachelorâ??s degree in mathematics from what was then Carroll College in Waukesha and an M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin.

Noted: After his discharge, he earned a bachelorâ??s degree from what is now Carroll University in Wisconsin, where he met his future wife, June Marie Uthus. He earned a masterâ??s degree in statistics from the University of Wisconsin. Before joining Campbell, he was a market researcher for Blatz Brewery in Wisconsin.

Alvar E. “Ole” Olson, age 92, of Stoughton, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010.  Ole worked for a time as a stock clerk at UW-Madison.

The University of Wisconsin-Madisonâ??s first chancellor, Robben W. Fleming, died at his home in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Monday at age 93. He called police to end a student protest against Dow Chemical Company recruiters in 1967.

The University of Wisconsin-Madisonâ??s first chancellor has died. The university says Robben W. Fleming died at his home in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Monday. He was 93.