Obituaries
Recent obituaries in Madison, WI
The obituaries in the Madison, WI Area reflect the region's diverse population, featuring individuals from a variety of ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. Some were pioneers in their fields, while others dedicated their lives to community service or philanthropy. Their stories serve as a reminder of the richness and complexity Madison's history and identity.
Paola Di Piazza
Dec 31, 2025
Please register at this link to view a livestream of the funeral mass for Paola:
https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=d1440fdd-becb-4599-b5b3-8c4a4f63de52
Paola Di Piazza "Pauline," of Madison, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at the remarkable age of 103, surrounded by her loving family. Her life spanned more than a century, a testament to her strength, resilience, and a heart that was truly bigger...
Tatum Joseph Lee Mohan
Jan 4, 2026
It is with deep sadness we announce the passing of our baby boy, Tatum Joseph Lee Mohan, known to those who knew him as “Tatum the Tiger.” Born on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, Tatum fought heroically with the support of the NICU team at Meriter Hospital. Unfortunately, the fight was too much, and he passed away in his parents’ arms...
Karen S. Johannsen
Dec 26, 2025
Karen Sue Johannsen, age 66, passed away at UW Hospital on December 26, 2025.
Karen was born June 3,1959 in Davenport Iowa. Karen and her family moved to Madison in 1960. She was a West High School graduate, class of 1977. She was a very proud Florida Gator, receiving her bachelors degree in Horticulture from University of Florida in 1981. Karen...
Elizabeth Anne Murphy Prescott
Dec 10, 2025
Elizabeth Anne “Liz” Murphy was born to Julia and William Murphy in Evergreen Park, Illinois, on December 6, 1957. She grew up surrounded by love, seeing her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins nearly every week. As a child, she excelled in school, played baseball with the neighborhood kids, went boating on Lake Michigan with her grandparents, doted on her younger...
Paul W. Schwister
Jan 5, 2026
Paul W. Schwister, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, died on Monday, January 5, 2026, after a brief illness. He was 86.
Born on April 25, 1939, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, Paul was the son of John and Olivia (Kaiser) Schwister. He was blessed with a childhood surrounded by loving grandparents, aunts and uncles, and many adventurous cousins, all growing...
Deborah Lynn Hoffman
Jan 9, 2026
Deborah L. Hoffman left this earth on January 9 th, 2026. Deb – also known as D’vorah Dinah – was born on March 5, 1961 in Columbus, Ohio. She was preceded in death by parents Heinz (a Holocaust survivor) and Marcia Shechtman Hoffman. She is survived by sisters Karen and Aileen and brother Gary (Basha); her nieces Michal Hoffman, Aliza...
David J. Coisman
Jan 8, 2026
Sun Prairie – David J. Coisman, at 81, passed away peacefully on Thursday January 8, 2026, in Sun Prairie. He was born November 29, 1944, in Algoma, WI. to the late Raymond and Vida (Herlache) Coisman. David’s education included being a 1962 graduate of Algoma High School and in 1968 received his associate’s degree with Honors in Electronics Engineering Technology....
Georgy Vavilov
2026
Georgy Vavilov, 84, peacefully passed away on January 6, 2026 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. Born to Arseny and Galina Vavilov, he grew up in Sverdlovsk (Russia), where he graduated from School No. 9 before studying Chemistry at the Ural Polytechnic Institute.
Georgy received his doctorate in fine chemical synthesis and began his professional career at the Research Institute...
Rose G. Zahn
Jan 3, 2026
Rosemary “Rose” G. Zahn, age 75, passed away after an illness on Saturday, January 3, 2026 with her family by her side. She was born on May 26, 1950, the only daughter to Palmer and Esther (Rennicke) Gollnick. She was united in marriage to Dennis Zahn on June 4, 1966, and they had 46 great years together.
Rose worked at MPI...
Dorothy Ann Gordon Zografi
Jan 3, 2026
Dorothy Ann Gordon Zografi of Madison, Wisconsin peacefully passed away at the age of 89 on January 3rd, 2026, at Oakwood Village. Her best friend and loving husband of 68 years, George Zografi, was at her side at time of passing.
Dorothy was born on September 19th, 1936, in Montvale, New Jersey to John L. Gordon and Gertrude Mitchell Gordon. Dorothy...
Jafar "Aziz" Abbasnejad
Jan 3, 2026
In Loving Memory of Jafar Abbasnejad (“Aziz”)
Jafar Abbasnejad—known to his family, friends, and all who loved him as “Aziz,” the beloved—passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, January 3, 2026, after a battle with cancer. He was 84 years old. His wife of 35 years, Prof. Julie Kailin, was by his side.
Born in 1941 in Bojnurd, Iran, to Rajab...
Dolores Marie (Delphey) Schmitt
Jan 2, 2026
Dolores Marie (Delphey) Schmitt, age 87, died on Jan. 2, 2026, at her home in Madison, Wis. She was born on March 2, 1938, to Edward A. and Mildred M. (Hogan) Delphey in Dubuque, Iowa.
Dolores grew up in Harpers Ferry, Iowa, on the bank of the Mississippi River where her father, grandfather and uncles worked together as commercial fishermen. Many...
Judith M. Hable
Dec 31, 2025
Judith M. Hable
Judy M. (Taugher) Hable, age 85, passed away surrounded by family on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, after a short illness.
Judy was born in Milwaukee, on May 20, 1940, to Norman and Jane (Urbanek) Taugher. The family moved to Madison during her childhood. She graduated from UW Madison with a degree in Dietetics....
Steven A. Rasmussen
Dec 31, 2025
MADISON, WI - Steven A. Rasmussen, of Madison, WI, passed away on December 31, 2025 at age 79. Steve was known for his gentle soul, ready laugh, and devotion to his family and friends.
Steve was born on July 6, 1946, the second of eight children of Nathaniel and Mary Ann Rasmussen. Growing up in the boisterous and loving milieu of...
Virginia "Ginny" Hanson
Dec 29, 2025
Virginia (Ginny) Olson Hanson, passed away peacefully at the age of 90, on December 29, 2025, at Skaalen Nursing Home. She was born on March 21, 1935, in Madison, Wisconsin, to her parents Alvin and Marie (Jensen) Olson. A proud graduate of East High School in Madison, Class of 1953, Ginny went on to marry the love of her life,...
Britt Lordel Knutson
Dec 29, 2025
Britt Lordel Knutson (nee Rodian), age 47, of Waunakee passed away on Monday, Dec. 29th, 2025 at UW Hospital in Madison, WI. She was born on July 13th, 1978 in Green Bay, WI, the daughter of Steve and Jill Rodrian. She married Blake Knutson on May 26th, 2007 in Green Bay. Britt graduated from Green Bay High East High School...
Stella M. Blocker
Dec 27, 2025
McFarland - Stella Marie (Barner) Blocker was 84 years old when she left our presence on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at University of Wisconsin Hospital.
She was born on Tuesday, June 24, 1941, at Mercy Medical Hospital in Gary, Indiana. Stella was born to Clifton Barner and Ida (Sneed) Barner. Ida was Clifton’s second wife, and he had a son from...
Thomas Norman Seamonson
Dec 27, 2025
Thomas “Tom” Seamonson passed away peacefully on December 27, 2025 at the age of 80.
Tom was born in Stoughton on January 17, 1945 to Norman and Marian (Flugum) Seamonson. He graduated from Stoughton High School in 1963. He then enlisted in the US Navy in 1964, where he served in San Diego on the U.S.S. Gregory and earned the rank...
Sherman Zimmerman
Dec 27, 2025
Sherman R. Zimmerman, age 90, passed away peacefully in his sleep December 27, 2025.
Sherman was born in Warren, MN on September 12, 1935, as one of three children of Anton and Loretta (née Kile) Zimmerman. Anton moved the family to Madison in the early 1940s to work at Oscar Mayer. Sherman graduated from Madison East High School in 1953. He...
Diana W. Kidd
Dec 27, 2025
Diana W. Kidd, age 70, passed away surrounded by her family on Saturday, December 27, 2025. She was born on June 6, 1955 to James and Christa (Hamerla) Kidd.
Diana is survived by her two sons Steven (Heather) and Michael Hackl; three grandsons Alan Blucher, Tyler Hackl, and James Hackl; her mother Christa Kidd; three brothers Mark Kidd, Arthur “Lee” (Louann)...
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