Category: Obituaries

Betty Jean Owens, age 88, died on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009. Betty worked for the University of Wisconsin as an administrative assistant.

Inez Ruth Koval, age 84, of Madison, died Thursday, Oct. 26, 2009. Inez worked for 24 years in the UW Hospital Dietary Department.

Jeanette Hill, age 65, Green Bay/Madison, resident, died peacefully on Sunday, October 25, 2009. Jeanette worked part time for UW Colleges in the Registrars Office.

George Lof, a pioneer in solar research, died Oct. 12 at the solar-powered southeast Denver home he had built in 1956. He was 95. In addition to CSU and DU, he taught at the University of Wisconsin.

Frederick C. Winding, Jr., age 80, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2009. Frederick spent thirty-six years working for the University of Wisconsin Foundation, in what he described as a labor of love, serving the interests of the university.

Marjorie D. Wiggen, age 88, of St. Louis, Mo., formerly of Madison, passed away on Friday, October 23, 2009. She retired from the University of Wisconsin in 1984, where she worked in food service.

Kathleen “Casey” Jordan, died peacefully at HospiceCare on Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Casey worked for more than 30 years at the University of Wisconsin, beginning in the Circulation Department at the Memorial Library. She retired from UW in 2001, where she was working as the Ph.D. coordinator of the School of Business.

Craig Thomas Houston, 20, of Neenah, died Saturday night after the motorcycle he was driving apparently was struck by a car on U.S. 41. Houstion was a UW-Madison student.

William Dingler “Bill” Miller, of Madison, died on Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. Bill spent more than 39 years on the staff of UW-Madison, serving most of that time as assistant dean of the College of Letters and Science.

Marion E. Murphy died Monday, Oct. 12, 2009, at the age of 86. Dr. Murphy practiced medicine at the University of Wisconsin Student Health Service from 1951 until her retirement in 1996.

“Dr. Will” Fey passed away on Tuesday morning, Oct. 13, 2009. Will was the first Ph.D. ever hired by the Department of Psychiatry in the UW Medical School. His intuitive clinical skills earned him a primary role in managing the psychiatry residents and he became the face and the heart of that program for 35 years.

Ronald Lawrence Giese, age 75, died on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009, at his home. In 1976 he accepted a position as the Chairman of the Forest Science and Ecology Department at the UW-Madison, until retirement in 1998.

Inaam Najem, age 74, passed away peacefully at the Hospice Center on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009. Inaam continued her nursing career at the UW Hospital until she retired in 1994.

MADISON – Margaret Louise Hopkins Duwe, age 60, died at home in Madison on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009….She attended UW-Madison, where she earned a B.S. in physics in 1970, an M.S. in meteorology in 1975, and pursued doctoral research for several years before deciding that it was more important to spend the time raising her kids. While at the university, she greatly enjoyed her many years as a teaching assistant in both meteorology and Afro-American studies. She conducted hail research in Colorado for her master’s degree and lightning research at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for her doctoral program.

Carol D. Betts, age 84, died on Sunday, October 11, 2009. Carol was a faculty secretary at the University of Wisconsin, School of Social Work, and was employed by different University departments for nearly 30 years, before her retirement in 1988.

Diana S. Webb, age 90, died peacefully on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009. Diana assisted Reid Bryson’s work on a committee for interdisciplinary studies at the University, which led to the formation of the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.

Priscilla Suits, age 94, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009. Priscilla ended her working career in the Registrar’s Office at UW-Madison as the registration specialist for 15 years.

Janet Austrian Fisher, age 91, died on Monday, Oct. 5, 2009. Janet taught economics at the University of Wisconsin for a number of years.

Julia M. Klauer, of Madison and formerly of New London, age 44, died in a motorcycle accident on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, near Spring Green.  Julia worked as a research specialist at the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine.

Irene Adeline Feggestad Hardie, age 87, died on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009. Irene worked as head nurse on the Oncology Unit at UW Hospital for several years, and on the Ophthalmology Unit until the time of her retirement.

A 1996 Harley Davidson driven by Julia M. Klauer age 44 of Madison, was westbound on County Road T when Klauer crossed the center line of County Rd T while negotiating a curve and struck an oncoming eastbound 2006 GMC pick up driven by Daniel A. Kruser age 47 of Barneveld head on.

Klauer was an employee of the School of Veterinary Medicine.

The family of Converse H. “Connie” Blanchard, who passed away on Aug. 13, 2009, invites friends to join them in the celebration of his life at the BRADLEY HOUSE (Sigma Phi Fraternity House), 106 N. Prospect Ave. (NW corner of Van Hise and Prospect Avenues in University Heights, Madison) on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009, from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. with informal remarks at 2:30 p.m.

Thomas Lee Wilkinson, age 71, passed away on Friday, Oct. 2, 2009. Tom and his family moved to Madison in 1962 and was employed as a research engineer at the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory until his retirement in February 1993.

Robert Joseph “Bob” Seidl died on Sept. 19, 2009, at the age of 94. After graduating from the UW-Madison in 1937, Bob worked briefly for several private companies before joining, in 1944, the United States Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, where he worked as a research scientist and later manager.

Delbert C. Lamberty, “Uncle Del” age 79, of Verona, died Friday, Oct. 2, 2009. Del was employed for more than 30 years at University of Wisconsin Natatorium. He was proud of his work and enjoyed the opportunity it gave him to meet new friends.

Jack E. Nissenbaum, age 88, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009. During his long life Jack worked for several organizations, including the UW-Madison.

Millicent Coombs Freed, age 100, of Madison, passed away peacefully on Sept. 13, 2009. She served as housing assignment officer for Married Student Housing at the UW-Madison from 1959 to 1973.

Eloda M. Everson, age 79, of Madison, died on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009. Eloda worked at UW Hospital and Meriter Hospital as a unit clerk for many years.

Leonard R. Davidson, age 91, of Middleton passed away peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009. Leonard worked as a cabinet maker at the UW Hospital and was instrumental in designing the model room for the new UW Hospital. He retired in 1982 after 18 and a half years of service.

Louise S. Schultz, age 98 of Madison, passed away Sept. 27, 2009. After moving to Madison, she worked at the Boy Scout office and then the State University Systems retiring after 25 years.

James L. Lee, age 71, of Madison and University Park, Fla., died on July 13, 2009. Jim was a professor of counseling psychology and counselor education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for 35 years.

Shawn L Emerson, age 40, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday Sept. 16, 2009. Shawn worked at a number of facilities including, the UW Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

Noted: Brendan Maher began his career at Harvard in 1960 as a lecturer in the psychology department and left in 1964 to teach at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Noted: He left for a series of teaching posts at Wesleyan College in Delaware, Ohio; the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor; and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he became Professor of Imperial History and published his magnum opus, Britain and the Persian Gulf, 1795-1880.

David J. Miller of Janesville, died on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009. He served on the faculties of the University of Missouri, North Dakota State University, Iowa State University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Minnesota – Duluth.

Robert W. Ahrens, age 75, died on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009. He worked seven years in the Plant Pathology Extension doing applied research.

Dr. Clarence W. Little Jr., age 86, died on Monday, Sept. 21, 2009. After retiring from industry, Clarence joined the Department of Engineering Professional Development at the University of Wisconsin, Madison until his retirement in 1990.

Ronald J. “Putt” Puttkammer, age 70, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009. He retired in 1993 from the UW Physical Plant, where he worked as a storekeeper for 28 years.

Eunice A. Altenburg, age 94, of Madison, died on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009. Eunice worked for UW-Madison in food service for many years.

Noted: In 1993, Brand was among three finalists to become president of the University of Wisconsin, but he withdrew after interviewing. A year later, he became president at IU.

Dane County Coroner John Stanley has died. Stanley was found dead at his DeForest home Sunday afternoon from what appeared to be a heart attack.

….He was chairman of the legislative committee for the Wisconsin Coroners & Medical Examiner’s Association and worked hand-in-hand with medical examiners in the pathology department at UW-Madison who conducted autopsies for Stanley’s office.

Quoted: Dr. Michael Hart, chair of the Department of Pathology

Dane County Coroner John Stanley has died. The Dane County Sheriffâ??s Office said that Stanley was found at his DeForest home sometime Sunday evening and that the cause of death appears to be medical in nature, said Sgt. Mark Olson. An autopsy is scheduled for later today to determine a cause of death.

Erwin K. Welsch passed away on Aug. 30, 2009. Most of his professional career was spent in the Memorial Library at the University of Wisconsin-Madison developing collections on Western European studies, authoring bibliographical guides for the Council for European Studies, and writing and speaking on technology and libraries.

Rita Loose, age 88, passed away Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009. Rita was a cook for the Theta Chi Fraternity at UW-Madison.

William LaFayette “Bud” Clark, age 87, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. Bud worked for the University of Wisconsin Police and Security from 1969 until his retirement in 1987.

Rudolph S. Wolff, age 87, of Portage, died on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009. He worked for the University of Wisconsin as the chief engineer for Wisconsin Public Radio.

C.R. “Skip” Johnson, died on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009. Skip was one of the first three graduates of the Wood Program at RIT, and continued his education at many places, including the UW-Madison, where he was a professor of woodworking from 1967 until his retirement.

Robert W. “Big Bobby” Erickson Jr., age 73, passed away surrounded by his family on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009. Bob worked for 35 years for the UW, where he was Director of Research Administration Emeritus, retiring in 1996.

Julie Ann (Smithback) Haeger, age 52, of Janesville, died on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009. Her nursing career included work at UW Hospital and Clinics.

Dr. Rollo DuBois “Rolly” Lange passed away peacefully on Monday, July 20, 2009, surrounded by family. In 1956 his family moved to Madison where Rolly maintained a successful medical practice as an ear, nose and throat specialist, serving on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin Hospital, and as a staff member of St. Mary’s and Madison General (now Meriter) hospitals.

Alvin J. Greenberg passed away on Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at the HospiceCare Center in Madison. He was on faculty at the University of Wisconsin Hospital.

Stanley Ivan Dodson passed away on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009. Stanley was a Professor of Zoology at the University of Wisconsin from 1970 until his retirement in 2008.

Irwin A. Goodman passed away on August 30, 2009, and Madison mourns the loss of one of its most caring and generous citizens. Along with his brother, Robert D. Goodman, Irwin was instrumental in establishing a long list of facilities, and programs that serve our community.

Jean Marie Backes, nee Cuta, age 56, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009. She was a member of the OT Department at UW Hospital in Madison and held similar positions at other hospitals as well.

MADISON – Jill Dee (Gehm) Wilson, age 56, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009, after enduring two years of cancer. She was born on March 14, 1953, in Madison, the daughter of Gerald and Dolores (Pettis) Gehm. Jill graduated from East High School in 1971. She graduated from the LPN program at MATC and worked at UW Hospital for three years.

Hanson worked for 28 years as a policewoman/ detective for the University of Wisconsin Police Department, devoting much of her efforts to crime prevention, especially sexual assault awareness, and was the operational link between the campus administration and the law enforcement community. Frankly, she blazed the way for many women who now call law enforcement their chosen profession and she helped change the attitudes of many men in the then male dominated profession.

BROOKLYN – On Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009, God placed a double rainbow over the skies of Green County to open the gateway for Karen to return to her Heavenly Father. How appropriate that was. Karen couldnâ??t read road maps, but she could read the beauty and see the “from here to eternity” qualities of a rainbow. She worked for 28 years as a policewoman/ detective for the University of Wisconsin Police Department, devoting much of her efforts to crime prevention, especially sexual assault awareness, and was the operational link between the campus administration and the law enforcement community. Frankly, she blazed the way for many women who now call law enforcement their chosen profession and she helped change the attitudes of many men in the then male dominated profession.

PLATTEVILLE/ VIROQUA – Laurel A. Skrede, age 54, of Platteville, formerly of Viroqua, died unexpectedly from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in Grant County on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009. She attended the University of Platteville where she received a B.S. degree in criminal justice and political science in 1982. Following graduation she served the university campus community through the department of protective services for more than 26 years. Her initial work was as a student security officer. She held progressively more responsible positions and served as chief from 1997 through her retirement at the end of 2008.