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.
Jerome G. Rice
Mar 24, 2025
Jerome “Jerry” Rice, age 74, of McFarland, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, March 24, 2025. Jerry was born on February 12, 1951, to Gerald and Rachel (Joyce) Rice. He grew up in Sextonville, WI, the ninth sibling of thirteen total siblings. Jerry graduated from Ithaca High School in 1969. Shortly after, he enlisted in the United States...
Dori E. Eith
Mar 23, 2025
Dori Ellen Eith-Shelby, 69, of McFarland, left us to be with God on Sunday, March 23, 2025. Dori was born to Alan and Mary Lou (Bushee) Voiss in Chicago, Illinois on September 26, 1955. In 1961, the family moved to McFarland and Dori remained there for the rest of her life. She was a 1973 graduate of McFarland High School.
Dori...
Eleanor Severeid Sather
Mar 22, 2025
MADISON–Eleanor (Severeid) Sather, 93, passed away on Saturday March 22, at Oakwood University Woods-Tabor Oaks. She was born May 21, 1931 to Werner and Ella (Helland) Severeid in Pipestone, MN. After a brief time in California, the family settled in Sioux City, IA, where she graduated from Sioux City Central High School as her class Salutatorian in 1948. Eleanor attended...
Mary Ann Sprague
Mar 21, 2025
Mary Ann Sprague, 86 years old, peacefully crossed to her eternal reward in the early morning of March 21, 2025. Mary was born in Madison on November 29, 1938 to David and Valeria (Langer) Beckwith.
Mary was united in marriage to John “Jack” Sprague on June 10, 1961. Together they enjoyed their favorite pastime, boating and UW Badger Football. They spent...
Ronald Lee Semmann
Mar 21, 2025
Ronald (Ron) Lee Semmann, 89, a dedicated family man and public servant, passed away on March 21, 2025. He was born on May 25, 1935, to Eugene and Marguerite Semmann (Tank), in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Ron married Miriam Goetsch on April 17, 1960, and built their life together for over 50 years. They moved to Sun Prairie in 1966 where they planted...
John A. Thiesenhusen
Mar 21, 2025
John Thiesenhusen, ended his journey here on Earth on March 21st, 2025 . He was born on February 23rd, 1939 in Waukesha to Arthur and Myrtle Thiesenhusen. He earned his Bachelor's in Engineering from UW-Madison, and his Master's in Social Work from Florida State University. John served in the Air National Guard.
He spent his career as a Social Worker locally...
Rita Katherine Roemer
Mar 20, 2025
Rita K. Roemer
June 5, 1952 – March 20, 2025
Janesville/Madison, WI - Rita K. Roemer, 72, passed away on March 20, 2025 at the home of her caregiver in Janesville. She was born June 5, 1952 in LaCrosse, WI, oldest child to Bernard and Josephine (Menard) Roemer.
Rita lived and worked most of her life in Madison. She attended the University of...
Lorene Schultz
Mar 19, 2025
Lorene C. Schultz
June 25, 1933 – March 19, 2025
MADISON – Lorene C. Schultz, age 91, passed away at home on March 19, 2025. Lorene was born in Janesville, Wis., daughter of James J. Shea and Lorene E. Pendergast Shea.
From her childhood, Lorene still proudly displayed the trophy she’d won as “Little Miss Janesville 1936”. In High School, she acted in...
Coletta Elizabeth Corwin
Mar 18, 2025
Coletta Elizabeth Corwin, known to many as Mom, Colette, Coli, and Grandma Coli, was born at home on a 160-acre Nebraska farm to Joseph A. Zavadil and Julia J. Goeden Zavadil. Growing up alongside her sister Mary Ann, four years her senior, she learned the values of hard work, resilience, and a deep respect for nature while helping with housework,...
Ruth L. Morrison
Mar 18, 2025
Ruth L. Morrison (nee Johnson), age 90, a beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Ruth was born on September 9, 1934, in Madison, to the late George and Phyllis Johnson (nee Tozer).
She married John W. Morrison on September 24, 1955. For over 50 years, Ruth worked as a hairdresser...
Robert Lee Stowell
Mar 18, 2025
Sun Prairie – Robert Lee “Bob” Stowell, age 82, passed away on Tuesday March 18, 2025 at his home in Sun Prairie. He was born April 19, 1942 in Reedsburg, WI. to the late Elmer and Edna (Hartman) Stowell. Bob married Susan Fritz on October 29, 1966 in Boscobel, WI. He is a graduate of Madison Business College and worked...
Ralph "Dale" Cotter
Mar 18, 2025
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Ralph Dale Cotter passed away peacefully on March 18, 2025 at the age of 95. Dale was born December 8, 1929 to Ralph U. and Myra C. (Knutson) Cotter in St. Paul, MN. He graduated from Murray High School (St. Paul) in 1947, from the University of Minnesota with a BA degree in Geology (split minor in Math and Physics)...
Reinhold “Reiny” Meihsner
Mar 17, 2025
MIDDLETON - Reinhold (Otto) “Reiny” Meihsner passed away at the age of 90 on March 17, 2025. Reinhold was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Reinhold and Johanna Meihsner in 1934.
He graduated from Concordia High School in 1953 in Milwaukee and attended Stout State University in Menomonie, Wisconsin graduating in 1957. While attending Stout, Reiny met Rita Jackson when they were...
Marilyn H. Lein
Mar 16, 2025
Marilyn Helen Lein Hagen, age 93, of Stoughton Wisconsin, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her 3 daughters on March 16, 2025. She was born the daughter of Harry and Ermine (David) Manning on December 20, 1931. Marilyn grew up in Clyman, WI, and was a 1949 graduate of Hustisford High School. She moved to Stoughton Wisconsin in 1972...
John D. Fassbender
Mar 16, 2025
Middleton—John D. Fassbender, age 90, of Middleton, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, on March 16, 2025. He was born on July 2, 1934, in Steuben, WI, to James and Neva (Rockwell) Fassbender.
John attended Mount Hope High School, where he met the love of his life, Sharon (Clark) Fassbender. Following high school, John served in the...
Kari L. Behnke
Mar 16, 2025
Kari Lynn Behnke (Johnson), age 51, passed away peacefully on Sunday March 16th, 2025, in her home surrounded by her husband and children. She was born on November 16th 1973, in Watertown, WI and was the daughter to Robert and Marion Johnson (Wittnebel). She married the love of her life, Rick Behnke, on September 9th , 2000. Together they celebrated...
Stephen Lee Busch
Mar 16, 2025
Stephen Busch passed away on March 16, 2025, after a brief illness. He was 58 years old.
Steve was born on June 21, 1966, and was a beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend. He is survived by his parents, Duane and Bette Busch (Spangler); his sisters, Shelley Bednar (Dan) and Deanna Wiese (Steve); and his nieces and nephews, Ryan Sperle, Morgan...
Lorraine N. Nepstad
Mar 15, 2025
Lorraine Naomi Nepstad née Shade
April 18, 1928-March 15, 2025
Lorraine (Laurie) was born in Chicago and lived in a predominately Swedish district located on the Northside during her early years. The family, which included a younger sister, Beverly, moved to suburban Skokie when Laurie was twelve. In Skokie, Laurie formed lasting relationships, most significantly with Donald Nepstad.
Laurie married Don in 1950....
James R. Mayhew
Mar 13, 2025
James Raymond Mayhew, age 80, passed away at Oakwood Village on March 13, 2025, from complications of congestive heart failure. Born on March 12, 1945, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Arthur and Virginia (Harreld) Mayhew, Jim was a lifelong academic who earned his Bachelors degree at Washington University. He continued on to a Master's from the University of Missouri and...
Antoinette Laufenberg
Mar 13, 2025
Waunakee/Ashton
Antoinette (Frederick) Laufenberg, age 91, of Waunakee passed away on Thursday, March 13, 2025 in Middleton. She was born on May 19, 1933 in Waunakee to Math and Elizabeth (Meffert) Frederick. She married Walter Laufenberg on April 23, 1955 and he preceded her in death in 2024.
Antoinette graduated from Waunakee High School and went to work at Madison General Hospital...
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