Category: Obituaries

Lenor Blahna Zeeh, “Zeeh”, Madison, died on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy in 1936. Zeeh worked for Rennebohm Drug Stores from 1934 until April 1980, and is believed to be the longest-serving employee of that company.  Zeeh recently retired from the board of the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation, after 28 years of service. Zeeh was an enthusiastic champion of the University of Wisconsin and especially the School of Pharmacy. He mentored many student pharmacists and served on the School of Pharmacy’s Board of Visitors. In 2005, Zeeh was recognized as the First Emeritus Member of that board. In addition, Zeeh worked tirelessly to develop funding for Rennebohm Hall, the current home of the School of Pharmacy. The School of Pharmacy named its innovative Pharmacy Experiment Station in Zeeh’s honor. In 2004, Zeeh received the first-ever Dean’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the UW School of Pharmacy.

William B. Kellman, age 81, died at home on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008. In 1952 he received his degree in American history from the University of Wisconsin.

Percy L. Julian Jr., the path-breaking civil rights lawyer, world traveling photographer, renaissance explorer of many walks of life and beloved mentor, friend, husband, father and grandfather, died Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008. He received a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin School of Law in 1966. He had been hoping to pursue further study in the University’s political science department, where he was also a graduate student. Julian was pressed into service in June 1967, before he had really decided to practice law, because he was almost the only lawyer that student protestors on a Wisconsin campus torn by strong feelings about the Vietnam War could find willing to act as their advocate. In his later years, Julian was an instructor of color photography at the UW Extension.

Robert P. Cox, age 83, died on Feb. 21, 2008. After serving in World War II he obtained his B.S. in chemistry and M.S. in physics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, working his way though school at Bjorksten Research Laboratories in Fitchburg.

Lenor Blahna Zeeh, “Zeeh,” age 93, passed away Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008, at HospiceCare in Fitchburg, surrounded by loving family and friends. Funeral arrangements are pending and a full obituary will follow in the Wednesday editions.

Samuel B. Harper, M.D., age 95, of Madison, died on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008. Sam was an honors graduate of the University of Wisconsin, B.A., M.A., 1935 and M.D., 1937.

John H. Harbort, age 83, passed away with his family by his side on his birthday, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008. He completed his plumbing career in 1987, after 22 years with UW-Madison.

John Carl Neess, age 82, a biologist and beloved friend, passed away Friday, Oct. 26, 2007. His undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin included a fellowship at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. He completed his doctorate in limnology at UW in 1949, followed by a fellowship at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Aldo Leopold was his advisor and mentor during his training. A faculty member in UW’s Zoology Department for 40 years, he inspired several generations of students through a broad array of courses. John served at the UW-Madison Faculty Advising Service and the Summer Orientation and Registration Program from their inceptions, until he retired.

Judge John B. Danforth, age 78, of Jefferson, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008. He completed his law degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1954.

Patrick Lawrence Boss, age 53, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008. Pat’s deep sense of nuturing and compassion lead him to a career in nursing, where he worked at UW Hospital and various other long term care facilities.

Bernice Reynolds, age 87, of Sun Prairie, formerly of Boscobel, and Madison, passed away Wednesday, February 20, 2008. She was employed by the University of Wisconsin as a cook for many years.

Theodore Livingston Hartridge M.D., age 98, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008. From Riverside High School he entered the University of Wisconsin pre med course at age 16 and was a member of Phi Beta Pi and the U.W. Varsity crew. He received his B.A. degree, graduating cum laude in 1931. In 1932, he earned an M.A. in surgery and pathology and taught anatomy, histology and neurology in the University of Wisconsin Medical School.

James C. Adams, age 71, passed away on Friday, Feb. 15, 2008, at the HospiceCare Center. Jim worked for the University of Wisconsin Physical Plant for more than 20 years.

Frank Cawthorne Stoll, age 85, passed away peacefully on Dec. 26, 2007. Frank attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for five consecutive summers to earn a masters degree in Library Science.

Mr. John S. Robinson, age 84, of Montello, died at his home, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008. Following his Navy service, he finished his education at the University of Wisconsin, majoring in business. After many years at General Mills, he returned to Madison and received a master’s degree and became Dean of the business school at Madison Area Technical College.

Emma Rhyner, age 87, died peacefully on Monday, Feb. 18, 2008. Emma was employed at the University Hospital in Madison, as a food server, until her retirement.

Bettina Bjorksten-Orsech died Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008, in her 100th year. In the 1950s she was invited to join the music department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she rose to the rank of full professor. Bettina was especially known as an oratorio soloist and appeared with the Madison Symphony Orchestra and University ensembles.

Miss Laura Love Linden, age 100, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008, at Attic Angels in Middleton. In 1912, the family moved to Madison, where Laura attended Randall School, Central High School, and the University of Wisconsin – Madison where she graduated in 1928. In 1929, at the age of 21, she received her Master’s Degree in Italian and French.  After a career in teaching, Laura retired to Madison, where for 24 years, as a student senior guest, she audited many courses at the UW – Madison

MIDDLETON – Edward P. Leight, age 88, died Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008, at Heartland Country Village in Black Earth. Ed graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1947 with a B.A. degree majoring in journalism. While attending the UW he worked as a hotel clerk at the Wisconsin Union and was a member of Alpha Phi Omega college service fraternity where he served as treasurer and president.

MADISON – Elisabeth Sequeira, age 75, passed away at home on Friday, Feb. 15, 2008. She was employed for many years by the UW Graduate School Admissions Office and was a member of the Friends of the Arboretum.

EAGAN MINN./MADISON – Georgina R. Forbes (Springer), age 76, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. She worked for WHA Public Television for several years and went on to work and eventually retire from a career as an administrative assistant at the University of Wisconsin Department of Program Information.

William L. Sachse, age 95, of Cheshire, Conn., and formerly of Hamden, Conn., passed away Monday, Feb. 11, 2008. He taught at the University of Wisconsin for almost 40 years.

Edward W. Arnold, age 77, passed away on Monday, Feb. 11, 2008, at HospiceCare. Edward received a degree in entomology from UW-Madison.

The life of George Hekkers, a Washington High School graduate known as “Big George,” included being shot down over North Africa during World War II, playing football for the Detroit Lions and owning Jimmy Durante’s piano. He played at UW-Madison for two years before WWII.

John L. Schrag died on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008. John was a professor of analytical chemistry at the University of Wisconsin for 33 years.

Lorelyn Lavonne Roat, age 29 of Rio, died on Friday, Feb. 8, 2008. Lorelyn was a CNA at UW-Hospital in Madison in the ER room.

Joshua Lederberg, one of the 20th centuryâ??s leading scientists, whose work in bacterial genetics had vast medical implications and led to his receiving a Nobel Prize in 1958, died on Saturday. He was 82 and lived on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

He was also a dedicated educator, working in administrative posts at the University of Wisconsin, as well as at Stanford and Rockefeller and taking an interest in helping and developing young scientists.

Joshua Lederberg, Nobel Prize-winning molecular biologist who shaped the field of bacterial genetics, and served as chair of The Scientist’s advisory board since 1986, died on Saturday (February 2). He was 82.

In 1957, Lederberg founded the department of medical genetics at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and moved two years later to Stanford University where he founded the school of medicine.

William Zeidler Fluck died peacefully Friday, Jan. 25, 2008. William enrolled in the University of Wisconsin-School of Engineering in 1931 and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering with graduate work in the areas of hydraulic and sanitary engineering and public health. After graduation in June 1937 he became one of the original staff of three men who organized the Industrial Hygiene Unit of the Wisconsin State Board of Health, which was the beginning of his 35-year career in industrial hygiene. William traveled throughout the state of Wisconsin studying possible health hazards in the milk canning industry, granite quarries, foundries and schoolrooms. In 1943 he enlisted as an industrial hygiene engineer in the Army Air Force and worked on such diverse problems as radiation hazards, sewage and industrial waste management, and mosquito control. He then returned to Madison as chief industrial engineer for the Wisconsin Board of Health from 1946 to 1950.

Suzanne B. Fregien, age 57, beloved wife, daughter, mother, and grandmother, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008. She was employed as an LPN at several health care facilities, including University Hospital, Madison.

William M. Yen, age 72, a Graham Perdue Professor of Physics at the University of Georgia, died Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008. He held a position on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1965 until 1986.  Dr. Yen was well known internationally as a leader in the field of optical properties of solids and was a pioneer in the application of lasers in the study of condensed matter.

Kenneth Paul Nabholz, age 52, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008. Ken worked in the maintenance and shipping departments of the University of Wisconsin and UPC Inc., respectively.

Donald Lawrie “Pa” Ostrander, age 85, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008. He worked for the University of Wisconsin Medical School for 35 years in pathology.

Frank C. Larson, M.D., age 87, Emeritus Professor of Medicine and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, died on Tuesday, December 25, 2007. He was a member of the faculty of the University of Wisconsin Medical School from 1951 until his retirement in 1989.

John E. Short died peacefully on Friday, Jan. 11, 2008. His career in Wisconsin civil service spanned 37 years, includling 16 with the University of Wisconsin Purchasing Department.

Wolfram E. Nolten, M.D., Professor of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, passed away on Friday, Jan. 11, 2008. For the past 33 years, he practiced medicine and taught at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics as an endocrinologist within the Department of Medicine.

Vincent A. Vanderheiden, age 94, died on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008. Before the onset of World War II, Vincent pursued his study in electrical engineering at the UW and taught evening classes in radio communications and industrial electronics in the University Extension Division.

Howard Lee Stone, age 80, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008.  A UW-Madison alum, Stone was a professor at the University of Wisconsin Medical School in Madison for 24 years until his retirement in 1994.

Donald Hodges, age 70, of Potosi, died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008. Don was employed as a research laboratory manager in the Bimolecular Chemistry Department of the Medical School.

Dr. Richard and Ilse Meyer passed away on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008, in Madison. Richard was a distinguished professor at the University of Wisconsin. He was recognized worldwide for his groundbreaking research in mathematics and fluid dynamics.

Donald E. Williams, age 81, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008. Don worked in the Personnel Department at UW-Madison.

Donald J. Tremaine, age 82 of Fennimore, died on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007. He worked for many years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a custodian, retiring in 1989.

Adeline M. Siekert, age 90, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007. Adeline was a cook under Carson Gulley at the University of Wisconsin supporting the Navy during World War II.

Harold W. Helwig, age 69 of Dodgeville, died on Friday, Dec. 21, 2007. Early in his career, Harold worked for Madison Newspapers, Gisholt Machine, Company and UW- Madison.

Betty Ann Russo, age 61, died on Friday, Dec. 21, 2007. Betty spent over a decade working as both a clinical pediatric nurse in Milwaukee and as an instructor at the UW-Madison School of Nursing.

Patricia Ann (Hogan) Ploc, age 86, of Madison, passed away on December 25, 2007.  Pat retired from the University of Wisconsin – Extension Conference Centers in 1992.

Madeleine C. Macho, age 85, passed away on Monday, Dec. 24, 2007. She worked as an administrative assistant for the Ag. Econ Dept., CALS, UW-Madison.

Charles F. Curtiss, age 86, passed away on Monday, Dec. 24, 2007. He was a professor of theoretical chemistry at the University of Wisconsin for 41 years.

Frank C. Larson, MD, age 87, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, died on Christmas Day. He was a member of the faculty of the University of Wisconsin Medical School from 1951 until his retirement in 1989.

Dr. Henrik A.L. Hartmann, age 87, died on Friday, Dec. 28, 2007. He was a professor of pathology at UW Hospital with a specialty in neuropathology research.

On nearly every college campus there is a professor whose lectures are legendary.
These professors not only inform but also enlighten. And they do so in such an entertaining fashion that their popularity among students is unmatched.

Lee Dreyfus was like one of those professors.

In fact, he was one of those professors in the 1960s and 1970s at UW-Madison and UW-Stevens Point. But he made a more historic impact later, with the same insightful and colorful manner, in a very public life as governor from 1979 to 1983 and then as newspaper columnist and elder statesman.

Edward A. Fitzhugh, age 65, died on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007. Ed worked for the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the Planning and Construction Department for 36 years before his retirement in 1999.

Leroy J. Ayers, age 95, of Black Earth, died on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007. He worked building highways and doing road construction, farmed, worked as a carpenter, and retired after working as a custodian at UW-Madison.

Daniel W. Hildebrand, age 67, passed away on Monday, Dec. 31, 2007. Dan earned a B.S. degree (Phi Beta Kappa) in 1962 and a L.L.B. (Order of the Coif; Editor, Wisconsin Law Review) in 1964 from the University of Wisconsin. He had more than 40 years of legal experience, with a major focus in appellate work as well as in all areas of business and professional litigation, and professional ethics matters.  He also taught courses in federal jurisdiction and professional responsibility at the UW Law School for many years.

Frank Rickey, age 93, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008. Frank worked for the UW-Madison Painting Department from 1948 until his retirement in 1976.

Duaine Counsell, age 83, of LaCrosse, formerly of Wisconsin Dells and Stevens Point, died Monday, Dec. 24, 2007, at Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse. He received a masters degree in physical education from the University of Wisconsin in Madison and from Stevens Point. Duaine also was a professor for 31 years at UW Stevens Point.

Adeline M. Siekert, age 90, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007, at the Mid-Michigan Medical Center in Midland, Mich. Adeline was a cook under Carson Gulley at the University of Wisconsin supporting the Navy during World War II.