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.

Sandra Louise Haley

Sandra Louise Haley

Jun 17, 2025

Sandra Louise Haley “Sandy”, age 79, passed away on June 17, 2025. Sandy was born June 4, 1946 in Chicago, Illinois to Benjamin and Norma Haley. Sandy graduated from High School in 1964. She started her career as a Toxicologist in Illinois for many years. She specialized in tertology. She also spent time in toxicology research near Hayword, Wisconsin. Sandy...

Sandra "Sandy" Marie Larson

Sandra "Sandy" Marie Larson

Jun 17, 2025

Sandra “Sandy” Marie Larson (Evert), age 77, passed away at home surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday June 17, 2025. Sandy was born on March 30, 1948 to Wallace and Helen Evert. She grew up living in Lodi, WI and graduated from Lodi High School in 1966. On May 23, 1970 she married the love of her life, Tom....

Susan Ann Schmelzer

Susan Ann Schmelzer

Jun 17, 2025

Please click on this livestream link to view the service :

https://venue.streamspot.com/event/NTgwNjg3NQ==

Susan “Sue” Ann Schmelzer, 76, passed away on June 17, 2025, at UW Health/Carbone Cancer Center, with her family by her side. Sue’s life is marked by her infectious spirit and her devotion to family, friends, work and community.

 She was born in Madison, WI on May 10, 1949, to Thomas and Virginia...

Elizabeth Federer

Elizabeth Federer

Jun 17, 2025

Elizabeth Lousie “Betty” (Meinholz) Federer, 74, of Sun Prairie passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.

Betty was the only daughter of Hubert J and Elizabeth A (Weynand) Meinholz. Her six brother, Chris, Wil, Fred, Charlie, Vinney and Earl all loved and cherished her. She was raised on the family farm in Ashton where she learned her work ethic at...

June A. Chadwick

June A. Chadwick

Jun 17, 2025

June Ann (Legat) Chadwick, loving wife, mother and grandmother died peacefully on June 17, 2025 surrounded by her loved ones. June died of natural causes due to many complicated health issues. It was time for her body to be at peace and her beautiful sole to be free in Heaven.

June was born on December 14, 1946 in Aurora, Illinois to...

Eleanor Friedli

Eleanor Friedli

Jun 16, 2025

Eleanor (Ellie) R. Friedli, 97, passed away peacefully at home, on June 16, 2025, embraced in the love of her family.

Eleanor was born on May 25, 1928 to Harold and Loreen Byers. Eleanor spent her childhood on a farm in Crawford County with her nine siblings. She married Claire Sikir in 1951 until his passing in 1954. Eleanor married Charles...

Georgianna "Georgie" E. Stebnitz (McBurney)

Georgianna "Georgie" E. Stebnitz (McBurney)

Jun 16, 2025

Georgie passed away peacefully at home, leaving behind a legacy of love, joy, and a deep connection to the natural world. From a young age, Georgie developed a fascination with nature—especially birds—a passion she shared with her mother. She often marveled at how robins built their nests in her beloved ficus tree, which grew so tall it reached toward the...

Peggy Ann Backstrom

Peggy Ann Backstrom

Jun 15, 2025

Madison- Peggy Ann Backstrom, age 77, passed away on Sunday, June 15, 2025 at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg. She was born in Madison on June 6, 1948. 

Peggy was a graduate of UW-Madison with a degree in Art History. She became the Director of Law School Bookmart at UW-Madison and held that post for close to three decades. 

Peggy is survived by...

Leigh Mollenhoff

Leigh Mollenhoff

Jun 15, 2025

Leigh Helgesen Mollenhoff, 83, passed peacefully from this earth at her home on Sunday, June 15, 2025, after a three-year battle with a rare and aggressive lymphoma.

She was born on June 21, 1941, to Lester and Phyllis Helgesen of Janesville, Wis., and grew up there. Leigh graduated from Janesville High School in 1959 and then attended Drake University in Des...

Dolores "Dee" A Buchler MD

Dolores "Dee" A Buchler MD

Jun 15, 2025

Dolores A. Buchler MD, age 90, passed away on June 15, 2025. She was born in Casper, Wyoming and attended MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois. Dr. Buchler graduated from the Medical College of PA in 1961. This was followed by postgraduate education in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology and Radiation Oncology, subsequently becoming board certified in those specialties.

In 1969, she...

Justen Robert Waldburger

Justen Robert Waldburger

Jun 15, 2025

Justen Robert Waldburger, age 22, lost his long, hard fought battle with depression and addiction on Sunday, June 15, 2025.

Justen was born to Joseph C. Waldburger and Shasta N. Hoffhein on June 23, 2002, in Madison, WI. Justen was the star of our lives. Even as a baby he helped guide our path. There aren’t words to describe how much...

Raymond Leslie Gehrke

Raymond Leslie Gehrke

Jun 14, 2025

McFarland – Raymond Leslie Gehrke, age 93, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, June 14, 2025. He was born on May 10, 1932 in Grant County Wisconsin, son of Reno and Pauline Gehrke. He married Mildred June Swanson on July 11, 1953 in Madison Wisconsin. Together they raised four children Debbie, Sharon, David, and Michael.

Raymond grew up on a...

Dwipen Dranath (Baba-Jaan) Chatterjee

Dwipen Dranath (Baba-Jaan) Chatterjee

Jun 14, 2025

Dwipen Dranath Chatterjee (Baba-Jaan), passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family. 

Services will begin at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at the Cress Center, 6021 University Avenue, Madison. 

Karen E. Cornell

Karen E. Cornell

Jun 14, 2025

Karen Ellen Cornell, age 83, of Stoughton entered eternal life on June 14, 2025. She was born on December 19, 1941, in Milwaukee to Dewey Plaumann and Catherine (Heimann) Schwamb. Karen was brought into God’s family through Holy Baptism at Grace Ev Church on February 22, 1942. On March 25, 1956, she confessed her faith in the triune God and...

Patrick James Knick

Patrick James Knick

Jun 13, 2025

Patrick James Knick, age 65, passed away on Friday, June 13, 2025. He was born on February 11, 1960, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, to Donald J. and A. Kathryn (Cleary) Knick.

Patrick graduated from the special education program at Memorial High School in 1981. Soon after, he moved out of his family home into the community with his...

Jeff Murphy

Jeff Murphy

Jun 11, 2025

Jeff was born in Madison, WI. on February 11,1951 to Edward J Murphy and Shirley (Reis) Speth. He passed away on June 11, 2025. He attended St. John's and Waunakee H.S. He graduated from Stout State College in 1973, with a degree in Industrial Arts. He married Molly (Mary McIlwee) on February 23, 1974. They moved to IL. where he...

Lorette P. Wambach

Lorette P. Wambach

Jun 11, 2025

Lorette Pauline (LaLonde) Wambach, age 98, died June 11, 2025, lovingly surrounded by her children in her final days. She was born on July 28, 1926, in Milwaukee, WI, to Henrietta (Verbeten) LaLonde and Paul LaLonde. She married Bill Wambach on August 14, 1948, and they were happily married for 71 years before his passing in 2019.

Lorette attended the St...

Dave Bavlnka

Dave Bavlnka

Jun 9, 2025

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our husband and dad - David Bavlnka, 77, of Sun Prairie on June 9, 2025 after a short battle with cancer.

Dave was born on December 17, 1947 in Mosinee, Wisconsin to Rudy and Loretta Bavlnka. He was the oldest of seven children and the big brother to one brother...

Allen "A.D" Cummings Sr.

Allen "A.D" Cummings Sr.

Jun 9, 2025

Allen D. Cummings Sr.

(All Damn Country Man)

August 6, 1942 – June 9, 2025

It is with a very heavy heart to announce the passing of Allen, better known to many as A.D., after his body grew tired following a heart valve replacement.

A.D. served for 23 years in the United States Navy, upon multiple Destroyers, AirCraft Carriers, and his favorite ship being...

David L. Gumz

David L. Gumz

Jun 9, 2025

David L. "Chewy" Gumz, age 58, of Marshall, WI, passed away peacefully at home on June 9, 2025. Born to Merlin and Janice Gumz on September 22, 1966, in Dodgeville, WI. David was known for his unmatched dedication to family, profound work ethic, and heartfelt generosity.

He married the love of his life, Tammy Jacob in 1995, and together they raised...

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