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.
Joanna B. Ruchala
Mar 25, 2026
Joanna B. Ruchala, age 53, passed away surrounded by her family March 25, 2026. She was born March 13, 1973 the daughter of Jerome and Bonny Randall in Milwaukee. Joanna married Kenneth Ruchala January 13, 1996 in Milwaukee. She graduated from Miami University and later received her Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Joanna and Kenneth have...
Isaac Knapton
Mar 25, 2026
Isaac Knapton passed away peacefully on March 25th at the age of 75.
He was a loving husband and father to wife Sheri and daughter Tam. He found his calling as a hard-working letter carrier with the United States Postal Service and took great pride in providing excellent service to his customers. He enjoyed going fishing up north and working in...
Shawn Slotten
Mar 25, 2026
Shawn K. Slotten, 69, of Marshall, WI passed away on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg.
Shawn was born on October 30, 1956 in Chicago to Gordon King and Charlotte (Sweeney). Some of her favorite childhood memories were summer trips to Wisconsin lakes with her late brother, Roger.
She attended Luther High School North and went on to study...
Thomas Sidney Kilbury
Mar 23, 2026
Thomas Sidney Kilbury, born September 15, 1930 in Plain City, Ohio died March 23, 2026 in the late evening surrounded by his family. Tom was a 1948 high school graduate of Sunbury Ohio High School. He enrolled the following year at Ohio State University. His enrollment and graduation was interrupted by two significant lifetime events; a marriage on March 18,...
Mary Pat Koranda
Mar 23, 2026
Mary ‘Pat’ (McCamy) Koranda of Waunakee, WI was born June 21, 1948, and passed away peacefully on March 23, 2026.
Mary Pat grew up with her siblings Nancy Albers and Michael McCamy in Fargo, North Dakota. While in high school her family moved to Greendale, WI where she graduated from Greendale High School in 1966. She went on to attend University...
Marian M. Pawlowsky
Mar 23, 2026
Marian Pawlowsky, age 92, passed away peacefully on March 23, 2026, in Madison, Wisconsin. She was born on February 7, 1934, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Marian was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, remembered for her kindness, humor, compassion, and generous spirit.
She is survived by her four children: Toni Lynn, Mark (Michele), Timothy, and Jennie (Rob Davis). Her legacy...
Alan Anthony Klein
Mar 23, 2026
Alan Anthony Klein, age 67, of Waunakee/Madison passed away on March 23, 2026 at his residence in Madison. He was born on July 6, 1958 to Anthony and Dorothy (Gallagher) Klein. Al was an avid fan of the Badgers and Packers. He cherished the friendships he built with the Waunakee Fire department. Al was also a devoted fan of John...
Anne Taylor Wadsack
Mar 23, 2026
Lawyer, musician, outdoor enthusiast, loving wife, mother, and grandmother Anne Taylor Wadsack, 81, passed away March 23, 2026, in the company of her family, due to complications of advanced Alzheimer’s disease.
Anne was born December 13, 1944 to Fannie Turnbull Taylor and Robert Taylor in New York City, where Robert was deployed during World War II.
Anne and her older sister Kathy...
Michael Alan Ritter
Mar 22, 2026
Michael Ritter, age 75, passed away March 22, 2026. A Private Service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery.
Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road Madison
(608) 238-3434
Huldah Jean Pierce
Mar 20, 2026
Huldah Jean Hyers Pierce, 98, was born in Toms River, New Jersey, on January 15, 1928, and passed away on March 20, 2026, in Stoughton, Wisconsin. She moved to Florida with her family and graduated from Coral Gables High School where she enjoyed playing clarinet in the marching band. She went on to attend Palm Beach Junior College. Her first...
Bernard C. Easterday
Mar 17, 2026
Bernard C. Easterday died on March 17, 2026. He was born September 16, 1929, to Harley and Alberta (Bodenbender) Easterday. He graduated from Hillsdale High School in 1947, earned his DVM degree with high honors from Michigan State University in 1952, and immediately began his veterinary medical career as a large animal veterinarian in Hillsdale until his country called. He...
Nicholas Peter Pollis
Mar 15, 2026
Nicholas Peter Pollis “Nick” was born into an immigrant Greek family in Washington Heights, NYC, on November 29, 1928. His father was an importer of Greek foods. At that time, the Heights was a Greek and Jewish neighborhood. Nick enjoyed stickball and loved going to classical, big band, and jazz performances by era greats. Summer jobs included being a busboy...
Russell Wayne Fye, Sr.
Mar 15, 2026
McMinnville, TN resident and Abrams, WI native Russell Wayne Fye, Sr., age 88, was born April 30, 1937 and died March 15, 2026 surrounded by his family, following an extended illness.
A U.S. Army veteran of Vietnam and retired millroom technician with Uniroyal Corporation, he was the son of the late Edward and Eva Baker Fye. In addition to his parents,...
Gail M. E. Lewis
Mar 14, 2026
Gail M. E. Lewis (nee Chapman), age 91, went peacefully in her sleep to be with her friend Jesus, on March 14th, 2026. Born on July 13th, 1934 in Darlington, WI to Elmer and Jeanette Chapman, she was the third of ten children. She graduated from Dodgeville High School in 1952. On June 11th, 1955, she married the love of...
Curt Allen Grinde
Mar 14, 2026
Curt Allen Grinde Arlington/LaCrosse/Waunakee
September 21, 1961 - March 14, 2026
Curt Allen Grinde, age 64, left this world in peace on March 14, 2026. He was born on September 21, 1961, in Portage, WI to Richard (Dick), and Anita (Bender) Grinde.
Curt’s life will be marked by creativity, compassion, and complexity.
Curt was a dedicated teacher for 32 years at Hintgen Elementary School...
Margaret C. Spahr
Mar 13, 2026
Margaret “Maggie” Spahr (Berg), 87, of Madison, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on March 13, 2026, surrounded by family.
Maggie grew up in Barron, Wisconsin, the daughter of Fanny and Gust Berg, and sister to Dolores. She was married in 1964 to John “Jack” Spahr until his passing in 2010.
She is survived by her children, Karen Spahr, Nancy (Scott) Kimsey, and Rachel...
Roger O. Dalby
Mar 13, 2026
Roger O. Dalby, 83 and a lifetime resident of Deerfield, passed away on Friday, March 13, 2026 after a courageous battle with cancer at St. Mary’s hospital in Madison.
Roger was the son of Stanley and Mildred (Schultz) Dalby. He worked for the State of Wisconsin, in the department of transportation, for 40 years.
He was a lifelong member of the Deerfield...
Ted Szczech
Mar 12, 2026
Theodore (Ted) Joseph Szczech, 86, of Madison died on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Ted was born on August 21, 1939, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Joseph and Constance (Brożyna) Szczech. Ted grew up in Northeast Minneapolis and graduated from Edison High School in 1957. He then attended the University of Minnesota, where he met Cynthia (Cici), whom he married in 1962. After...
Charlene R. Stelzer
Mar 12, 2026
STOUGHTON – Charlene “Rae” Stelzer, age 92, passed away peacefully at The Heritage Center at the Skaalan Nursing Home on March 12th surrounded by family and love.
Born on June 10, 1933, in Stoughton Wisconsin, Rae was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Nelson. Rae graduated from Stoughton High School and married Kenneth C. Stelzer, her high school...
Dennis Walter Krajewski
Mar 12, 2026
Dennis Walter Krajewski passed away peacefully on March 12, 2026, in Madison, Wisconsin, at the age of 86.
He was born on September 23, 1939, in Duluth, Minnesota, to Bronce and Isobel Krajewski.
Dennis built his life around hard work, family, faith, and a love of the outdoors. He was an avid fisherman who especially enjoyed spending time fishing at Fish Lake...
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