Category: Obituaries

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

The first man ever to be named Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison died Monday, Jan. 11 at his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan at the age of 93.

Fleming first joined the UW-Madison faculty in 1947 as head of the Industrial Relations Center. In 1958, he moved to the University of Illinois to assume joint positions as director of the Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations and professor of law.

Henry C. Eichhorn, of Madison, passed away at home on Jan. 2, 2010. Ike’s career responsibilities at the UW Laboratory of Limnology included planning research projects and programs; writing research proposals to fund graduate students and the construction of a new laboratory; providing technical and biostatistical advice to students; and editing reports and studies for publication in professional journals.

C. Richard “Dick” Hutchinson, age 66, passed away peacefully, on Tuesday, January 5, 2010. Dick served as Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy until retiring in March 2000.

Harold Martin Woolf, age 69, died peacefully at his home on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009. Hal most recently worked for the Space Science and Engineering Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Harvey Herman Borgwardt, age 84, of Madison, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010. After World War II he began apprenticeship as an orthotist at the University of Wisconsin Hospital. Harvey invented many appliances; one that gained worldwide attention was a prosthetic leg fabricated for the University of Wisconsin for a cow that was carrying a special embryo. Harvey fabricated the prosthesis from a truck exhaust pipe and a hockey puck.

Teresa D. Mueller, age 28, of Madison and formerly of Richland Center, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, Jan. 4, 2010. She was employed at the UW Hospital for the past six years as a surgical tech in urology/organ transplants.

Linda “DeeDee” Storberg, age 57, of Arena, died tragically in an automobile accident on her way to work on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009. She was an RN who worked for UW Hospital, Mercy ER Hospital, Mendota State Hospital, Tellurian Detoxification Unit and Hope Haven in-patient treatment services.

Shirley A. Hunsaker died on Christmas Eve, 2009, at the age of 64. Prior to her retirement, Shirley worked for the UW.

John Wright Harvey, age 90, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009. He was an assistant professor of music at UW-Madison for many years.

H. Isabelle Peterson, age 82, passed away on Sunday, January 03, 2010. Isabelle loved her work as registrar, at the UW-Madison Medical School, where she was adored by the students, and where a room and a scholarship were dedicated in her name.

University press editor Allen Fitchen spent 38 years working on textbooks and academic publications. But he will be most widely recognized for an aberration in his scholarly career, in which a retired University of Chicago professor named Norman Maclean walked through his door bearing a sparkling draft of “A River Runs Through It.”

It is every editorâ??s dream to have a classic piece of literature dropped in his or her lap and to shepherd the work on its way toward publishing history.Allen Fitchen lived that dream, beginning in 1974 when Norman Maclean walked into Fitchenâ??s office at the University of Chicago Press and handed him the manuscript that would become the legendary “A River Runs Through It.” Fitchen, who later retired as director of the University of Wisconsin Press, died in Madison on Christmas Day at the age of 73.

Marlene M. Vlachina, age 66, of Madison, passed away on Saturday, December 26, 2009. For 41 years, Marlene was employed with UW-Madison. She retired on March 1, 2006, as an administrative assistant.

Marjorie Zupanc (née Wolfenden) passed away on Thursday, December 24, 2009. After serving in World War II, Marjorie was head nurse for Dr. William S. Middleton, Dean of the Medical School, at the University of Wisconsin.

Donald E. “Don” Schmid, age 68, passed away, unexpectedly, on Saturday, December 26, 2009. Don worked for the University Farms in Arlington.

Richard A. Herschleb, age 79, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, December 23, 2009. Dick began his career at the UW-Madison Arlington Agricultural Research Station, in 1961, while still maintaining his family farm. With great pride, he retired as farm supervisor in 1993.

As the result of a sudden illness, Robert Gordon Heideman, age 86, died peacefully at HospiceCare on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009. Before becoming director of education placement and career services in the School of Education at the UW-Madison (1967), he was a teaching assistant in biology and zoology as well as in guidance.

Troy A. Strommen, age 34, passed away on Wednesday, December 23, 2009. He was employed by the University of Wisconsin Police Department.

Sherlock B. Larson, age 79, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009. Sherlock was a longtime employee of the University of Wisconsin working in the security department.

Heinz Juergen Kepper, age 70, of Madison, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009. Heinz worked at the State Laboratory of Hygiene as a microbiologist in the Virology Department until his retirement in 1995.

Soren Bisgaard died in Boston on Dec. 14, 2009. At the University of Wisconsin he worked in a variety of roles and units related to industrial engineering, quality control, and productivity improvement before becoming a Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, Systems Engineering, and Director of the Center for Quality and Productivity Improvement.

Allen Nelson Fitchen, director of The University of Wisconsin Press from 1982 to 1998, died on Friday, December 25, 2009.

Noted: He graduated from Hope in 1947 and received his doctorate from Harvard in 1950. He joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin and stayed until he went to Stanford in 1962, spending the rest of his career there.

Noted: Eugene Van Tamelen graduated from Hope College in 1947, received a doctorate from Harvard University in 1950, and joined the University of Wisconsinâ??s chemistry faculty that year. He quickly rose to full professor and was Wisconsinâ??s Homer Adkins Professor of Chemistry at the time of his move to Stanford University in 1962. He chaired Stanfordâ??s chemistry department for several terms.

Arthur Stanley Goldberger died on Friday, Dec. 11, 2009, at Select Specialty Hospital in Madison just after his 79th birthday. Art was a preeminent economist who taught at the University of Wisconsin from 1960-1999.

Orrin L. Helstad died on Dec. 11, 2009, at the age of 87.  In 1961 he became a faculty member at the UW Law School where he served at various times as teacher, researcher and administrator until his retirement in 1990.

Gordon M. Garnett, M.D., age 86, passed away peacefully on Dec. 13, 2009. He was an Assistant Clinical Professor for the UW Medical School for 40 years, enthusiastically teaching medical students and residents the science and art of practicing medicine.

Lyle B. Frank, age 96, of Middleton, formerly of Ironton, passed away on Friday, December 18, 2009. He worked for the University of Wisconsin for 15 years as a custodian in the dormitories retiring in 1978.

Harold Martin Woolf, age 69, died peacefully at his home on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009. One of Hal’s most significant accomplishments was to develop software that processed data from weather satellites into a form usable by weather forecasters and scientists around the world. Hal most recently worked for the University of Wisconsin.

Since Dale Kiddâ??s death Saturday, at 55, from complications of the swine flu virus, it has become evident just how many people appreciated his music and spirit. Kidd, who served in the Navy, studied fire science at MATC and worked in fire safety at UW-Madison.

W. Thomas Lamm, age 60, died on Thursday, December 3, 2009. His first job after school was at the UW Environmental Awareness Center where, working for Phil Lewis, he wrote the landmark Open Space Preservation Plan for the Town of Dunn, and developed similar plans for municipalities around Wisconsin. In 1989 he went to work for the UW Water Resources Center, where he wrote and edited the center’s newsletter, “Keeping Current.”

Larry J. Bolan, age 61, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009. He worked for the University of Wisconsin for 35 years.

Harold D. “Red” King, age 81, a gentle man, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009. Harold worked for theUW-Extension, serving leadership roles in Marinette Co. and broadcasting a farm program for WHA Radio. In 1967 he joined the UW faculty, where he led the Extension publications unit and helped develop Extension computing services, an educational telephone network, and management information systems until retiring in 1985.

Beatrice E. “Bea” Lynch, age 92, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. Before retiring, Bea was employed by the University as a payroll specialist.

Marjorie J. Smith Schaefer passed away Wednesday evening, December 2, 2009.  Jane worked as a registered nurse for University Hospital, in Madison, from 1956, until her retirement.

Bessie Bea Schey, of Tucson, Ariz., passed away peacefully Monday, Nov. 23, 2009, just three weeks shy of her 100th birthday. Bessie worked for the University Hospital in Madison prior to moving out of state.

Fred Edward Lengfeld, age 92, passed away on Dec. 5, 2009. He served as chair person of Programs on Aging, with the University Wisconsin Extension, since 1964, and was adjunct professor of the Faye McBeath Institute on Aging and Adult Life.

Robert W. (Bob) Simmons, Jr., passed away suddenly on Sunday, November 22, 2009, at the age of 76. He was a member of the faculty of the University of Wisconsin, from 1962 until 1970, in the Linguistics Department, teaching Slavic languages and literature.

Donald J. Voegeli, age 89, well known Madison musician, Professor Emeritus of the UW Extension, died on Saturday, November 21, 2009, due to complications after a fall. Professor Voegeli had a joint appointment with the Department of Communication Arts and School of Music, where he taught part-time.

Thereâ??s sad news to pass along. Don Voegeli, composer of the themes that All Things Considered listeners have heard since the show debuted in 1971, has died. He was 89, according to an obituary posted online at Madison.com.

Longtime Madison resident and University of Wisconsin Emeritus Professor Duard Lee Walker, MD, died Monday, Sept. 14, 2009.

Katherine M. Coronna, age 90, passed away on Sept. 19, 2009.  Katherine was a lifelong Madisonian and an employee of the University of Wisconsin.

Melford T. Hanson, age 93, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009. He worked for the University of Wisconsin in the animal laboratory, retiring in 1981.

John Frederick Kreul, M.D., age 63, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. John was emeritus professor of anesthesiology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (UWSMPH).

Niels Ingwersen, age 74, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009. For almost 40 years, Niels was a key faculty member at UW-Madison, serving several times as chair of Scandinavian Studies and Folklore as well as teaching thousands of students

Esther Mae Winger Hart died on Sunday, November 15, 2009. Esther worked as a nursing assistant at University Hospital for thirty-five years, finally retiring in 1996.

Walter Hubbard Argraves, age 93, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009. Walter spent ten summer sessions as instructor in the Clinical Reading Program at UW-Madison.

Leonard W. Gafke, age 82, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. During his long life, Leonard held several jobs, including at the University of Wisconsin.

Mary Ellen Lechnir, age 75, of Sun City West, Ariz., and formerly of DeSoto and Madison, died Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. Following her retirement from teaching, Mary Ellen worked part time at several UW food service units including “The Shed” and “Pop’s Club.”

Clara I. Sweeney, age 88, of Madison, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. After raising her family, Clara returned to employment as a radiotherapy technician at the University of Wisconsin Hospital, where she worked until retirement.

Virginia A.(Baebler) Ryan, age 83, passed away peacefully, on Sunday, November 8, 2009. Virginia worked at University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics for over 47 years. She retired at the age of 77 due to deteriorating health.

Susan J. Hoogland, age 54, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, November 6, 2009. Susan worked for more than 20 years at the Peripheral Vascular Surgical Clinic, at UW Hospital.

Kelly M. McGraw-Campa, age 33, passed away unexpectedly at UW Hospital of natural causes on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. Kelly was employed as a CNA with UW Hospitals.

J. Keith Eccarius, age 52, died Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. J. Keith was employed by the University of Wisconsin as a financial analyst.

Dr. Glen E. Dirreen, age 75, passed away peacefully on Oct. 27, 2009. Glen worked as the director of General Chemistry Laboratories at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1972-1984. Indefinite appointment was granted in 1983. He became the coordinator of the General Chemistry Program and associate director of the Institute for Chemical Education 1984-1994.

Thomas Edward Cleary, age 75, of Madison, died unexpectedly at home on Monday evening, Oct. 19, 2009. In 1968, Tom became the personnel director at the University of Wisconsin Memorial Union in Madison, until his retirement in 1997.

Ivan Orosz, age 72, of Cottage Grove, on Friday, October 30. In 1966 Ivan moved to Madison to work as a research engineer at Forest Products Laboratory. He later worked for the UW Physical Sciences Lab, on loan to the nuclear accelerator at Fermi Laboratory.

Clarence Kailin, the last surviving Wisconsin veteran of the Spanish Civil War has died at age 95. Kailin worked as a photo technician at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for much of his life.

The last surviving Wisconsin veteran of the Spanish Civil War has died. Clarence Kailin was 95.

When he was 22, Kailin joined the Abe Lincoln Brigade in 1936 to fight against Spanish dictator Francisco Franco.

After the war that ended in Franco’s victory, Kailin became a labor organizer and an advocate for civil rights. He worked as a photo technician at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for much of his life.