Obituary Archive

Jim was born on March 11, 1960, in Fort Atkinson to Norman and Stephanie (Thompson) Godfrey.  He graduated from Fort Atkinson High School in 1978.  Jim thoroughly enjoyed his time in high school where he was known as the Gentle Giant. He was very involved with the FFA where he served as an officer and earned many awards and was able to compete at national events. Jim’s grandfather was an avid supporter of Jim’s FFA activities. He enjoyed working with his grandfather on his grandparent’s farm outside of Whitewater. Jim was an avid collector of John Deere collectibles, loved the Green Bay Packers, being outside and spending time cutting wood.  Jim enjoyed being  Santa Claus on Christmas Eve and would visit the elderly neighbors and shut-ins. Jim was a loving son, calling his mother daily at noon and after the Wheel of Fortune show when they would compare solving the puzzle.  Jim was very faithful in remembering birthdays, Christmas and special occasions with a card for his family.  He had a strong faith and was a regular supporter of the Marianist Mission.  Jim worked for Crummey’s Marina, Standard Process in Palmyra, and the lumber yard in Fort Atkinson.

He is survived by his sons William and Garrett Godfrey; two grandchildren; mother Stephanie A. Godfrey, Fort Atkinson; siblings Kathleen Godfrey-Cordio, Fort Atkinson, Stephen Godfrey, Lavalle, WI, Phillip Godfrey, Verona, WI, Susan (Gabriel) Hall, Baraboo, WI; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Norman A. Godfrey; grandparents, William E. and Stephanie Thompson, Janet Godfrey Inman, David Godfrey and nephew, Joshua Cordio.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, October 29, 2018, at 12:00 pm at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1660 Endl Blvd Fort Atkinson, WI 53538.  Burial will follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Palmyra.  A Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 28, 2018, from 2:00-5: 00 pm with the rosary being said at 5:00 pm at Nitardy Funeral Home, 1008 Madison Ave Fort Atkinson and on Monday at the church from 10:00 am until the time of Mass.

In Lieu of flowers, you may wish to consider memorials to the family to be designated to a charity of their choice.

The family would like to give special thanks to Lauderdale-La Grange EMT for their rapid response, and to Father Peter Auer.

www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

William (Bill or Willy) was born April 29, 1946 in Janesville, WI to William and Mattie Haines.

William is survived by his children and their families, Michelle Bunge, Michael (Octavia) Haines and William Haines, his step-children Jim Blank and David Blank, the mother of his children, Barbara Jaeckel, his brother James, and his cat Buddy who he adopted from Touched By A Paw.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

William grew up in Milton, WI.  He graduated from Milton High in 1964.  He loved to tell stories about all the fun he had with his buddies growing up.  They held a very special place in his heart.

William was an avid Brewer, Packer, and Badger fan.  He was a gentle kind soul with big blue eyes and a beautiful smile.  Above all, he was the best dad and he was extremely proud of his children.

Per his wishes, there will be no service.

The family requests that memorials in William’s name be made to:

Touched By A Paw

182 W. Main St

Whitewater, WI 53190

Thank you to the Whitewater EMS and Officer Weston.

Dad, we were the lucky ones, thank you for loving us. Rest in peace.

Nitardy Funeral Homes, 550 N Newcomb St. Whitewater, WI is assisting the family, www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

Ray was born on the 5^th of May 1923 in Newburgh, NY.

He graduated from New Paltz, NY High School in 1941. He entered Hope College in Holland Michigan in September of 1941. After taking three years off to serve in the Army Air Corps, he graduated with a BA in secondary education, with a major in chemistry, in February 1948. He then earned his MA in secondary administration from the University of Michigan in June 1954. His Master’s studies were also interrupted by military service during the Korean War.

During Ray’s freshman year in college, he got a job at the Dutch Mill Restaurant where a pretty high school senior named “Micky” worked as a waitress. They were engaged to be married in January of 1943 just before Ray shipped off to serve in the Army Air Corps. Ray and Mildred Lorraine Russell were married on the 7^th of July 1945 following his return from overseas duty.

Following college graduation, Ray took a position as a chemistry teacher in Coopersville, MI to close out the school year. Then in September 1948, he began his new position as the chemistry teacher and high school principal at Dexter, MI. In January 1960 he accepted a job as a textbook salesman with Houghton-Mifflin Publishing (now Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt) and moved to East Aurora, NY. In June 1986 he retired and moved back to Michigan where he and Micky had built a retirement home on the shore of Hubbard Lake. Their next change of address was to Whitewater, WI in 2001 where they moved into an apartment on the campus of Fairhaven Retirement Community. In 2012, Ray and Micky moved to Jamestown, NY to live with their son, Roy (Valerie).

Ray was sworn into the Army Air Corps on Thanksgiving Day 1942. He reported for duty in January of 1943 and was sent by train to Miami Beach for basic training. Next stops were Clemson, SC, and Montgomery, AL, followed by Albany, GA for various levels of flight training. He was trained in the C-47, B-29, and B-50. Cadet graduation and commissioning as a 2^nd Lieutenant took place on 23 May 1944. Ray then put in his 750 hours of combat flight time, flying a C-47 and serving as an Assistant Operations Officer while stationed in Kunming, China. His release from active duty into the Army Reserve (which, in 1948, became the U. S. Airforce Reserve) took place on 25 Nov. 1945.  He was awarded the WWII Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and WWII Distinguished Flying Cross. 1^st Lieutenant Miller was called to active duty again in April of 1951 after the Korean War broke out. This time was spent based at Roswell, NM and in England for three months where he flew B-29s and B-50s as part of the Strategic Airforce Command. He was back to civilian life by Christmas 1952.

During retirement years, Ray and Micky spent the warm months at their northern homes and the cold months were spent living from their “5^th-wheel” camping trailer at multiple locations in Arizona and through the Gulf states. One summer they fulfilled a dream with a multi-week visit to Alaska. Overseas, they visited Israel. They also traveled to Indonesia and Argentina to visit former exchange students who had become forever family; Poedyo “Tomo” Wignijohoesodo and Gregorie “Goyo” Corbalan.  And, of course, hours were spent at his favorite past-times; fishing, gardening, being “Mr. Fixit” at the homes of his children and volunteering with “Nomads”  on work projects – and the occasional game of golf.

Wherever he lived or visited; Ray was always a faithful participant in the life of the Church. Through the years he held several different offices within the church as a lay servant who always wanted to give his all and do his best for his God.

Ray is survived by his daughter Linda Kent of West Des Moines, IA; son Roy (Valerie) Miller of Jamestown, NY; daughter Janet (Roger) Wright of Omaha, NE; son Gerald (Amy) Miller of Grundy Center, IA – grandchildren Daniel (Trena) McCraine, Andrea McCraine, Laura (Brad) Sadler, Raymond (Vanessa) Miller, Rachael (Christopher) Coan, Andrew Miller, Melissa (Brian) Martensen, Eric Wright, Justin (Lora) Wright, Meghan (Jeff) Kohles, Ashley Wright, Jessica Miller and Matthew (Andrea) Miller; and seventeen great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents Ethel Atha LeFevre Miller and Raymond D. Miller, and by his wife Mildred who died in December of 2013 after 68 years of marriage.

Calling hours will be from 10:00-11:00 am on Friday the 26^th of October in the chapel at the First United Methodist Church, 145 S. Prairie St., in Whitewater, WI. The Funeral will be held at immediately after the visitation at 11:00 a.m. with Ray’s sons, Gerald and Roy Miller, officiating. Burial will be at the West Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Racine, WI.

Lind Funeral Home is assisting the family in Jamestown, NY and the Olsen-Gibson Funeral Home is assisting the family in Whitewater.

Memorial gifts may be made to

“The Better Place, Inc.”

P.O. Box 532

Jamestown, NY 14702.

She was born on June 27, 1998, in Woodruff, Wis. to Petrina Sloniker and Josh and Angie Polich. As a junior at UW-Whitewater, Savannah was majoring in Early Education with a Special Education Certification and was a member of the UW-Whitewater chapter of The National Society of Leadership and Success, Sigma Alpha Pi.  She was passionate about student teaching and looked forward to interacting with children of all ages.  Savannah aspired to be a DoDEA teacher after obtaining her masters.

She is survived by her loving parents and the siblings she adored, Pvt. Brandon Sloniker, Katie Sloniker-Tribolet, Robert Tribolet and James Polich; grandparents, Jane and Sky King, Glen Polich and Lisa Brickson, Dennis Sloniker and Lynn Engman and James and Patricia Neises; and a multitude of aunts, uncles and cousins, Katy Polich (Juno), Danielle and Barry Richardson (Riley and Remi), Molly Neises and Kimberley and Brian Mingus (Charlotte and Hope). Savannah was preceded in death by a sister, Patricia Miracle (Tribolet) Sloniker; and grandmother Patricia (Reichenbach) Sloniker.

A celebration of life will take place on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, at PINEWOOD SUPPER CLUB, 1208 Half Moon Lake Dr., Mosinee, Wis., from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., with a time of remembrance beginning at 11:30 a.m.  In lieu of flowers, her loved ones ask that donations be made to OAR: Organization for Autism Research (https://bit.ly/2Agb1Xb)  – a cause near and dear to Savannah. She touched the heart of everyone she met…  Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Stoughton

Funeral & Cremation Care

1358 Hwy. 51 N at Jackson St.

(608) 873-4590

Joan was born on January 1, 1932, in Chicago, IL to Andrew and Mary (Houlihan) Grotz.  She married Ralph Saelinger on June 30, 1951.  Joan enjoyed reading and watching old movies, especially John Wayne movies.  Joan and Ralph loved to dance and she enjoyed gardening.  She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and the Whitewater Lions Club.

She is survived by her sons, Michael (Cindy) Saelinger, Addison, IL,  Edward (Josefina Saelinger, Melrose Park, IL; grandchildren Lee, Anna, and Bianca; siblings Eleanor OBoyle, Kathleen Toman, Lucy Feldmann, Andrew Grotz, Theresa Barlow, and Thomas Grotz. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son: Tom Saelinger, and a sister; Mary Emrich.

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, October 17, 2018, at 1:00 pm at Nitardy Funeral Home, 550 N. Newcomb St. Whitewater, WI 53190.  Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 11:00 am until the time of the service.  Burial will follow at Richmond Cemetery.

www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

He was born December 26, 1928, in Whitewater WI, and is the son of Benjamin and Luella (Schoechert) Parker. Doug was raised in Whitewater, WI, where he graduated from Whitewater High School in 1947. Immediately after high school, Doug became a member of the Home Guard, which then was changed to the Wisconsin National Guard. Member Headquarter Company, 3rd Battalion, 127th Infantry. Promoted to Sergeant T/5. He was honorably discharged in 1951. During this time, he attended the Milwaukee School of Engineering, graduating in December 1950 with a Technical Degree in Thermodynamics. His first job was with Lipman Refrigeration, Beloit WI, as a repairman, disassembling ammonia compressors for recycling, and eventually promoted to foreman then assistant to the chief engineer. He also worked with Fairbanks-Morse and Company, as a parts technical writer then service manual writer for diesel engines. The family then moved to Galesburg, IL, where he worked as a service manual writer and assistant department manager. Later, the family moved to Kenosha County, where he worked with Modine Manufacturing Company in Advertising and Sales Promotion. He was later transferred to an assembly line as a foreman, then to Wonder Lake, IL as an Assistant Factory Manager.

In 1969, Doug started a career with State Farm Insurance. During his time with State Farm, Doug earned Legion of Honor, Agent of the Year and Traveling Millionaire. After more than 23 years of service, he retired from State Farm in December 1992. He thoroughly enjoyed his career as a State Farm Agent, especially in his efforts to help clients and associates and the friends he made along the way. After “retirement,” Doug and Winnie moved to Sun City West, AZ, where he started a new career as a real estate agent with Ken Meade Realty. He enjoyed hobbies such as photography, history, genealogy, and computer club. He also loved trains, travel, and visits from family and friends. After 21 years in Arizona, they moved back to Whitewater, where he spent time working on a couple of novels started when he was in Arizona. He and Winnie married in 1950 and celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary this year. He was very proud of his family and loved them dearly.

He is survived by his wife, Winifred (Stacey) Parker; and eight children: Michael, Stephen (Jill), Bruce (Theresa), David, Roger (Marie), James (Dorothy), Kristine Presley (Michael), Cynthia Dupuis (Henry); fifteen grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin and Luella (Schoechert) Parker; brother, Lawrence; two sisters, Jeannette (Bradley) Eames, Audrey (Richard) Cushman; and son, Jeffrey William Parker.

There will be a Celebration of Life in his honor Saturday, October 20, 2018, at the 841 Brewhouse in Whitewater, WI between 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Marilyn was born on May 19, 1925, in Menno, South Dakota to Frederick and Mabel (Christopherson) Rittershaus.  In 1947, she graduated from Lakeland College with a B.A. in Music and German, after which she received voice training at the New York Metropolitan Opera.  She was recruited by the renowned Westminster Choir at Princeton, New Jersey, and then spent much of her life as a featured soloist at churches and other concerts.

On June 15, 1948, she married the love of her life, Carroll Olm.  This past June, they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with their family.

One of the kindest, most selfless people you could ever meet, Marilyn infused her love into everyone she met and everything she did.  Her life was devoted to her family, friends, church, and the Fairhaven ministry.

She is survived by her husband, Carroll; her children, Mark (Germaine) Olm, Elizabeth (Steven) Eberhardt, and James Olm; grandchildren Daniel Eberhardt, Leah Olm, Erin Hageman, Christopher Olm, Rachel Olm, Chelsea Olm, and Jameson Olm; and great-grandchildren Gabriel and Harmony Hageman.

A Memorial Service will be held at Fairhaven on Saturday, October 13, 2018, at 2:00 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Fairhaven or Lakeland College.

The Nitardy Funeral Home, Whitewater, WI assisted the family, www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

Earl was born to Earl and Jane (Monahan) Findlay on November 22, 1932.  Earl was a dairy farmer in Cold Spring.  He was called home to the farm at the age of 15, upon the death of his father, Earl Sr.  Earl farmed full-time from 1947 until 1997.  His farm was very special to him.  The Findlay Farm is a homestead farm, established in 1840, by Thomas Findlay, Earl’s great grandfather.

Earl married Mary Ellen Merrill of Darien on October 10, 1964.  Earl and Mary Ellen worked side-by-side for their entire time on the farm.  They were blessed with a daughter, Karen and son, James.  Upon retirement in 1997, Earl and Mary Ellen continued to live on the farm until 2008 when they moved to Fort Atkinson.  From 2008 and until his passing, he was well known to drive to the farm, always wanting to keep an eye on things!

Earl’s greatest joy was his family and his farm.  He was always pleased to know that the farm would continue through his daughter, Karen, her husband and their five children.

Earl was a long-time member of the First United Methodist Church of Fort Atkinson, Fort Rural Life Association, various farm organizations and was active in the Watertown Roller Skating Club.

Earl enjoyed anything farming, travel, and outings with his wife, reading, polka dancing and music, roller skating and his daughter and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen; daughter, Karen and husband, Tim; their children, Thomas, Sarah, Michael, Mark and Kathleen; sister, Doris Findlay of Whitewater and sister, Joan (Jerry) Olson, of Osakis, MN and their children, Julie, Jane, Jon and their families.

Earl was preceded in death by his son, James; father, Earl Sr.; mother, Jane; brother, James; sister, Betty and in-laws, James and Lovida Merrill.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, October 13, at The First United Methodist Church, 320 South Main Street, Fort Atkinson, WI.  Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 13, from 9 a.m. until time of service.

Dunlap Memorial Home in Fort Atkinson is assisting the family. | www.DunlapMemorialHome.com

We all lost a great man on Sunday with the passing of my husband, Ted

Seventy-one years ago, Ted was born to Ted and Sophie with a new sister, Genevieve.  Educated Catholic, he went to college at St. Mary’s in Winona, Minnesota to become a secondary educator of English, continued to teach special education for thirty-six glorious years.  He had one son, Ted, who he adored and loved.  Married Nancy in 1984 and together they shared 35 years of love.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy of Whitewater; his son, Ted and wife Ninette of Oak Forest, Illinois; our four beautiful grandchildren, Melanie, Nadia, Henry and Rigby; Ted’s sister, Gene (Paul) Garber of Tavares, Florida; our immediate family of nieces and nephews, Cindy Vinci, Paul (Susan) Garber of Orland, Illinois, Betsy  Garber, Paul Jr. Garber , Cheryl (Joe) Simmons , Will Simmons of Rock Hill, South Carolina; and Ted’s goddaughter, Carrie (Joey) Abig of Pineville, North Carolina.

The Nitardy Funeral Home, Whitewater, WI assisted the family, www.nitardyfuneralhome.com