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.

Ethel Sorensen

Ethel Sorensen

Jun 15, 2015

MADISON - Ethel E. Sorensen passed away peacefully on Monday, June 15, 2015. She was born in Marshfield on December 20, 1926 to the late Johann and Emma (Helmke) Capelle. She was a graduate of Waukesha High School. She attended Teachers College in Milwaukee. On August 18, 1951 she was united in marriage to Donald Sorensen in Watertown....

Dorothy Mcmahon

Dorothy Mcmahon

Jun 15, 2015

Madison - Dorothy L. McMahon, age 81, passed away with her loving family by her side on Monday, June 15, 2015 at Agrace HospiceCare. She was born on July 19, 1933 in Owego, New York, the daughter of Fred and Rachel (Gage) Chrystler. In 1951, Dorothy graduated from Newark Valley High School. On October 11, 1952, Dorothy was...

Mary Hommen

Mary Hommen

Jun 15, 2015

Cambridge- Mary J. Hommen, age 43, of Cambridge passed away unexpectedly on Monday, June 15, 2015 at her home. She was born on April 13, 1972 in Orange County, CA, the daughter of William Evans and Bonnie Moss. She married Bill Hommen on July 10, 1993 at St. Paul's Liberty Lutheran Church in Deerfield. Mary graduated from Cambridge...

Ben Washburn

Ben Washburn

Jun 14, 2015

MADISON - Walter L. "Ben" Washburn passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, June 14, 2015 at age 90. Ben was born in Portage on September 4, 1924, the son of the late Walter B. and Grace (Hettinger) Washburn. He married Sarah Ann Tillotson on October 25, 1946. He attended the UW Medical School and...

Anne Gaylor

Anne Gaylor

Jun 14, 2015

Anne Nicol Gaylor, 88, Madison "Lucie Anne" Nicol, Nov. 25, 1926, was born at home in rural Tomah, Wis., to Lucie Sowle Nicol, a former schoolteacher, and Jason Theodore Nicol, an educated farmer who managed a cooperative grain and feed store. Anne, 88, died June 14 at Agrace Hospice, Fitchburg, following care at UW Hospital, after falling May...

June Krings

June Krings

Jun 14, 2015

Madison-June F. Krings, age 95 died on June 14, 2015, 16 days prior to her 96th birthday. She was born June 30, 1919 in Superior, WI, the youngest daughter of William A. and Adele A. Frymiller. She graduated from Superior Central High School in 1937, attended Superior State Teachers College and graduated from Duluth Business University. A lifelong...

Ruth Curtiss

Ruth Curtiss

Jun 14, 2015

Ruth Thompson Curtiss, 97, of Darlington, WI, died June 14 at Waunakee Manor having lived a life filled to the brim with love, curiosity, compassion, intellect and vitality. Her relentless appetite for new challenges and opportunities to contribute, as well as her empathy for those less fortunate, was practiced the entirety of her life. Ruth was born in...

Doris Roberts

Doris Roberts

Jun 12, 2015

Doris Hunley Roberts, age 100, passed away on June 12, 2015 in Madison, WI, where she had lived for the past 25 years. She was born in Troy, Ohio on April 11, 1915 to Walter and Hazel (Ditmer) Hunley. Doris had one brother, Robert Hunley. Doris graduated from Troy High School in 1933 where she lettered in basketball,...

Emilly Zhu

Emilly Zhu

Jun 12, 2015

Emilly Yue Zhu passed away on Friday, June 12, 2016 at the age of 23. Friends and family may gather from 9-9:45 AM on Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at the Cress Center, 6021 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53705. A Celebration of Life will follow at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at the Cress Center and a...

Arlette Morse

Arlette Morse

Jun 12, 2015

MADISON - Arlette A. Morse, age 102, passed away on Friday June 12, 2015 at Oakwood Village University Woods. She was the daughter of Otto and Alvina Kleinert, born on July 4, 1912 in Morrisonville. She was a long time resident of Madison, having moved here in 1930 after high school graduation. After finishing college she worked with...

Phyllis Gessler

Phyllis Gessler

Jun 12, 2015

Stoughton- Phyliss P. Gessler, age 89, of Stoughton passed away on Friday, June 12, 2015 at Heritage Center-Skaalen. She was born on January 10, 1926 in Eau Claire, the daughter of Glenn and Geraldine (Higley) Heimstead. She married Bernard Rosenfeldt on September 14, 1947 in Eau Claire and Berton Gessler on July 14, 1962 in Madison and consecrated...

Deborah Blanchar

Deborah Blanchar

Jun 10, 2015

McFarland - Deborah Sue Blanchar, age 64, passed away on June 10 at Skaalen Home in Stoughton. Debbie, the oldest of 6 children, was born in Madison, WI on December 28, 1950. She was the daughter of Robert (Bob) Blanchar and the late Betty (Geishirt) Blanchar. Debbie brought much love and laughter to her home with 5 siblings....

Jeffrey Ellingson

Jeffrey Ellingson

Jun 9, 2015

MIDDLETON-Jeffrey Alan Ellingson, age 57, passed away unexpectedly at his home on June 9, 2015. Born February 17, 1958, the son of Henry and Erma (Lawrence) Ellingson, Jeff's greatest passions in life included his family, his music and his sense of humor. Jeff's passion for entertaining began at home in the basement with his three older brothers where...

Herbert Kliebard

Herbert Kliebard

Jun 8, 2015

Madison / Evanston, IL - Herbert Martin Kliebard, loving husband, father, grandfather, friend and ground-breaking scholar in curriculum planning, the history of education, and on the educational reformer John Dewey, died peacefully at his home in Evanston, Illinois on Monday, June 8, 2015. He was 84. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Bernice (Bleiweiss) Kliebard,...

Deborah Wagner

Deborah Wagner

Jun 7, 2015

MADISON/POYNETTE Deborah I. "Debbie" Wagner, age 61 passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 7, 2015. Debbie was born in Madison on April 8, 1954 to Frederick and Lola (Hull) Lang. She was a graduate of Memorial High School, Class of '72. She married John Swadley that same year on September 2nd. She later married Richard Wagner. He preceded...

John Polzin

John Polzin

Jun 7, 2015

DEERFIELD - John Polzin, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and teacher, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Sunday night, June 7, 2015. He was 62. Born on Feb. 1, 1953, John Edward Polzin was raised in Oshkosh, where his roots ran deep. The first of Junnie and Elaine (Danback) Polzin's three children, John was baptized at...

Mildred Deneen

Mildred Deneen

Jun 7, 2015

Madison - Mildred P. Deneen, age 93, passed away Sunday, June 7, 2015 at St. Mary's Care Center. Mildred was born on March 6, 1922 on the family farm in rural Black Earth to the late Michael and Mary (nee Cronin) Deneen. She attended a 1 room rural school house, where her oldest sister Catherine was her teacher,...

Johanna Johnson

Johanna Johnson

Jun 7, 2015

Madison - Johanna M. Johnson (Callaghan), age 73, passed away on Sunday, June 7, 2015 at home from Pancreatic Cancer. Johanna was born to the late Michael and Winifred (Joy) Callaghan on May 20, 1942 in Stratford-upon-Avon and grew up in Coventry, England. After emigrating to the USA in December 1963, Johanna met the late Jim Johnson in...

Helen Richter

Helen Richter

Jun 7, 2015

MADISON - Helen Marie (Blazek) Richter, age 98, passed peacefully from the arms of family and friends to her Lord on June 7, 2015, at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg. She was born September 17, 1916 in McGregor, Iowa to Joe and Bertha (Sawell) Blazek and was soon moved to Madison where she lived her whole life. Helen's youth...

Joseph Courter

Joseph Courter

Jun 6, 2015

Sun Prairie - Joseph Arthur Courter, loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and forever soldier, passed away June 6, 2015 at William Middleton V.A. Hospital. Joe was born on May 1, 1927 in Kansas City, Missouri the son of Merle and Dollie (Jordan) Courter. He retired from the U.S. Army after serving in Korea, Vietnam, and Europe. He...

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