Obituary Archive

Peter was born December 26th, 1931 in Chatham, New Brunswick, Canada and lived in Fort Kent, Maine until he attended Saint Anselm’s College (AB history), Boston College (MA history), and UW Madison (PhD history). Peter’s first teaching position was at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee. While working at Cardinal Stritch, he was finalizing his dissertation at UW Madison entitled “The New Hampshire Merchant Interest, 1609-1725”. Peter was a professor of history at UW Whitewater teaching courses such as American Revolution and Confederation, American Military History and Strategy, and the US at War in Vietnam. He served as chairman of the salary committee at UW Whitewater, too. Simultaneous to his teaching career, Peter was an officer in the U.S. Army and later the Army Reserve retiring at the rank of Colonel. Peter attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Army War College, and was a diplomat of the National Defense University. He served as adjunct faculty at the Command and General Staff College, was a West Point interim faculty member, and was Deputy Commander of the Center of Military History reporting to the U.S. Army Chief of Staff. In Walworth County, Wisconsin Peter served as a Walworth County Board member for several terms and chaired the computer and audit committees and the tri-county training and employment consortium.

Peter was the beloved father of Elizabeth (Beth) (Richard) Ruderman and loving grandfather of Aaron and Barry Ruderman of Lincolnwood, Illinois. Peter was a dear son of the late Henrietta Losier Barry and the late Alfred Thomas Barry of Fort Kent, Maine. He was predeceased by his older twin brothers Thomas Marc Barry and Joseph Paul Barry and his younger brother Arthur Alfred (Caroline Cyr) Barry.

Private internment will be at St Louis Cemetery in Fort Kent, Maine. May his memory be for a blessing.

Florence was born on January 25, 1929 in Brown Deer, WI to Walter and Lena (Schuyler) Kiehnau. She married John Kopas on November 18, 1950 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Fort Atkinson, WI. He preceded her in death on March 21, 2004. Florence was employed as an administrative secretary for the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater for 34 years. UW-Whitewater honored her by naming a room after her in Winther Hall. There is also a scholarship in her name in the special education field. She enjoyed crocheting, needlework and singing in the St. Paul’s choir. Florence was a mentor to many, loved people and large gatherings. She loved classical music and watching ladies figure skating.

She is survived by her children John (Nancy) Kopas Jr., Watertown, David Kopas, Idaho, Tom Kopas, Fort Atkinson; grandchildren Rachel (John Averkamp) Kopas, Sarah Kopas, Anton Kopas; step-grandchildren Wade, Ethan, Emily and Joe; great- grandson Deven Kopas; sister-in-law Margaret Baumann, Waukesha and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters Betty Rozell and Eve MacCrone; brother, Alfred Baumann; daughter-in-law Mary Kopas; grandson Amos Kopas; nephew, Philip Rozell.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, April 5, 2019 at 11:30am at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 301 S. High St. Fort Atkinson, WI 53538. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Atkinson. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 10:00am until the time of the service. The family would like to thank Rainbow Hospice, Rose Otis, Becky Wintermueth and friends and neighbors for the love and care they showed to Florence and the family.

Charlotte was born on January 26, 1928 in Park Ridge, NJ to Henry and Mae (Terhune) Diefenthaler. She graduated from Park Ridge High School, New Jersey. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education and her Master’s Degree in Special Education. Charlotte taught for many years at Lakeland School in Elkhorn. She married David Goodman on January 1, 1948. He preceded her in death on January 11, 2009. Charlotte was an active member at First English Lutheran Church, singing in the choir. She was a prolific knitter, enjoyed adult coloring and singing at Fairhaven. Charlotte was always looking at how she could help others.

She is survived by her children Maryellen (Bruce) Bucholtz, Whitewater, William Goodman, Pewaukee, WI, Kenneth (Donna) Goodman, Pinellas Park, FL, Susan Williams, Sheboygan, WI; grandchildren Jennifer (Jon) Evans, Ray (Sharlene Konkel) Bucholtz, Michelle Bucholtz, Mike (Jessica) Goodman, Brian (Ashley) Goodman, Joel Robers, Erin (Richard) Blair, Kayla (Josh) Wiese, Kristi (Nick) Dade, Amber Karpinsky; great-grandchildren Kaitlyn, Abby and Selby Evans, Ty and Trevor Bucholtz, Tanner Musgrove, Ella Ruth and Teddy Goodman, Annabelle Goodman, Ethan, Liam, Grant and Mackenzie Robers, Ava Blair, Kaleb, Jaxon and Noah Wiese, Elijah Dade, Caale Karpinsky. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Margaret Lee; brothers, Henry and Peter Diefenthaler.

A private service will be held later this summer at Heart Prairie Lutheran Church. Memorials may be made in Charlotte’s name to the Fairhaven Foundation 435 W. Starin Road, Whitewater, WI 53190

The Nitardy Funeral Home, Whitewater, Wisconsin is assisting the family.

www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

Bob was born on November 23, 1945 in McHenry, IL to Leroy and Mae (Smith) Wagner.  He grew up in Volo, IL and graduated from Wauconda High School.  Bob served his country in the United States Air Force and later graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in Agronomy.  He moved to Whitewater in 1977 and established the Wagner Family farm east of Whitewater.  Bob was a progressive hog and grain farmer and was always looking for improved farming practices.  “If you’re not making it better, you’re making it worse.”  Bob married Susan Gaulke on February 15, 2014. He enjoyed taking long family trips, riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle and cutting wood. He was proud of his motorcycle trip to Alaska. Bob was a humble person who looked to help others.  His charities were very important to him and volunteered with many organizations. 

He is survived by his wife Susan, Whitewater; children Kelly (Ben) Ludeman, Milton, WI, Nick Wagner, Waukesha,WI, Rebecca (Kory) Boughton, Reedsburg, WI, Chris (Ashley) Stewart, Plainfield, IL; grandchildren Brock and Sophia Ludeman, Cooper and Harper Boughton, Jenna, Jessica and Mason Stewart; siblings Janice (Fred) Guptill, Topsham, ME, Phyllis (Wally) Marciniak, Ringwood, IL, Gary (Kim) Wagner, Johnsburg, IL, Brian (Jodi) Wagner, Wauconda, IL, Alan (Jackie) Wagner, Lake Villa, IL  many nieces and nephews and his dog Zeke.  He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral Services with military rites will be held on Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 4:00pm at Nitardy Funeral Home 550 N. Newcomb St. Whitewater, WI 53190.  A visitation will be held on Sunday from 1:00pm until the time of the service.  Private Burial will take place at a later date.

As an expression of sympathy you may wish to consider memorials to the Milwaukee Rescue Mission.

www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

Jerry was born to Francis W. and Grace King Laurent on January 8, 1940, in Knoxville, TN, where Francis worked as counsel for the Tennessee Valley Authority.  With war imminent, his father rejoined the Navy as special assistant to the Judge Advocate General, and the family moved to Washington, D.C.  Jerry was baptized at Christ’s Episcopal Church in Alexandria, VA, attended primary school in Georgetown, and experienced wartime in the capital.

The Laurents moved to postwar occupied Germany, where Francis helped the U.S. government reorganize German industry.  In Minden and Berlin, Jerry attended British and American schools.  Never-ending rubble, survivors’ hunger, and children in need of shoes left their mark.  When the 1948 Berlin Airlift began, the family left the city, traveled more of Europe, and returned to the United States.

Jerry’s first Wisconsin address was a small stone house on a farm near Thorp in Clark County.   He attended a one-room school, then one of the State’s few remaining.   His days taught him work ethic, animal husbandry, and land and water conservation.  Jerry led many 4-H Club activities, and took part in Kids Campus School summer sessions at UW-Eau Claire for five years.

The family moved to Stanley in 1952, Jerry’s eighth-grade year.  During his sophomore year at Stanley High School, he was bedridden with rheumatic fever for eight months, having to learn to walk again.  Still, he graduated as Valedictorian in 1957. 

Jerry enrolled at University Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where his academic and civic involvement grew.  He graduated with honors in 1961 with a B.A. degree in Economics and History.

He felt teaching and researching economics was something he could do, and he did not look back.  He attended graduate school at Indiana University-Bloomington, held a teaching assistantship, and earned his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Economics.

Jerry met his wife Virginia on the campus of Indiana University where she earned a Master’s Degree in teaching.  They married in August, 1966 and began life together in Whitewater.  He was appointed an Assistant Professor of Economics at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1965.  They had two children, Katherine born in 1973 and Thomas in 1976.

Jerry loved teaching and won the W. P. Roseman Award for Outstanding Teaching at the UW-Whitewater in 1975.   One of his proudest moments was winning the prize for a research article submitted to Explorations in Economic History, a British journal.  He also received the UW-Whitewater Outstanding Service Award in 1993. In 2005 he received the President’s Award from the UW-Eau Claire Alumni Association.

Professional memberships include Omicron Delta Epsilon Honor Society in Economics; The Wisconsin Economics Association; The Association of Great Lakes Maritime History; and the Greater Chicagoland Friends of Economic History. He was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma by the UW-Whitewater in December, 1982.

Jerry was an active member of the former St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Whitewater for many years and was a charter member of Kiwanis Breakfast Club. He led in the development of the Lutheran/Episcopal Campus Ministry and served on the board for many years.

A scholarship in his name exists at the UW-Whitewater: the Laurent Economics Scholarship, given annually to a student to pursue graduate studies.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Francis W. Laurent and Grace King Laurent, brother-in-law Gordon Norlin and sister-in-law, Carol B. Huggins. He is survived by his wife Virginia and two children, Katherine Laurent of Chicago and Thomas Laurent of Chicago; his sister Joyce and two nephews, Jim (Monica) and Paul; and his sister-in-law Margaret Pernau.

A funeral service will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 22, 2019.  Visitations will be at two locations:  Nitardy Funeral Home, Whitewater  from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 21 and at 10:00 a.m. on Friday at St. Peter’s, 302 Merchants Ave., Fort Atkinson.  Burial will take place at Hillside Cemetery in Whitewater.

Memorials may be given to the Jerome K. Laurent Economic Scholarship fund of the UW-Whitewater Foundation, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Fort Atkinson, or the Stanley Area Historical Society. The Nitardy Funeral Home, Whitewater is assisting the family, www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

She was 91 years old. Lois will be remembered for her positive attitude, zest for life, love of adventure and her fantastic cooking. She regularly walked the Wonderland Lake trails in Boulder with her stylish sunglasses, a straw hat and a warm smile. Described as a fashion diva with a heart of gold, she was adored and loved by all who knew her. She will be missed terribly by everyone whose lives she touched.

Gracious and loving mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, Lois was born on January 25, 1928. Her parents were Fred and Viva Chamberlain.  She attended schools in Whitewater, Wisconsin where she lived for 80 years. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, in Home Economics Education. Lois married Robert “Bob” Ketterhagen in 1952. She was elected to the Walworth County Register of Deeds position in 1972 and served in that role until her retirement in 1998.  In 2008, Lois moved to Boulder, Colorado where she enjoyed daily walks, spending time with her family, traveling and creating a welcoming and beautiful community at her home.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bob, her sisters Goldie Rhodes and Virginia Dyke and her grandson Tommy Ketterhagen.  Lois is survived by her two sisters, Delores Fenlon (Wisconsin) and Dorothy Millar (Illinois) and seven children: Kathy (Jeff) Meyer, Alabama;  Thomas Ketterhagen (Luz), Texas; Mary Jo Ketterhagen (Bryan), California; Andrew Ketterhagen (Karla), Wisconsin; Theresa Ketterhagen, California; Rob Ketterhagen, Colorado; Chris Ketterhagen (Julie), Colorado. She is further survived by 16 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.   

Lois’s sweet and joyful spirit will carry on in the lives of her family and many friends. She embraced entertaining and found a reason to celebrate the smallest news about someone or a daily event and did so by throwing a party to show her support. To honor Lois, the family suggests cooking a fabulous meal and sharing it with loved ones. Donations in memory of Lois Ketterhagen can be made to the Whitewater Food Pantry, Whitewater Armory, 146 W. North Street, Whitewater WI 53190. (262) 473-5792.  The family will be holding a private memorial.

The Chancellor’s Office has received word that Stephen L. Solheim, age 66 of Whitewater, died on Monday, Feb. 18, 2019. Solheim came to UW-Whitewater in August of 1991 and served as a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences.

A celebration of life gathering is planned on campus from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 31, at the Young Auditorium Fern Young Terrace.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, P.O. Box 2317, Madison, WI, http://www.wisconservation.org/   

The campus flag will be lowered to half-staff on Earth Day, Monday, April 22, 2019 in his honor.

There are counselors available for those who would like to speak with someone.

• For students, please contact University Health and Counseling Services, located in the Ambrose Health Center. Appointments may be made by calling 262-472-1305.
• For faculty and staff, please call FEI, the Employee Assistance Program at 866-274-4723 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Additional access to FEI is available through their website, visit https://www.feieap.com

He was born on April 27, 1954 in Monroe, WI to William and Marilyn (Kvale) Smith. He lived and went to school in New Glarus, WI until he was eight. Then the Smith family moved to Whitewater, WI. He graduated from Whitewater High School in 1972. After graduation he attended UW-Whitewater graduating in 1977 with a BA in history. While at UW-Whitewater he met his future wife Gail Zastrow. They were married on November 1, 1975 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Watertown, WI. Rick was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church and lived with his wife Gail in Fort Atkinson.

Rick worked for the food service company at UW-Whitewater while attending college. Upon graduation, he worked as a janitor and was later promoted to a Building Maintenance Lead Worker at UW-Whitewater. After 30 years he took early retirement in May of 2009.

Rick was an avid ham radio operator gaining his novice license in 1969. He continued to advance to an Extra license holding many calls over the years: WN9EMO, WB9EMO, NU9U and finally W9RWS. He was a member of the Tri-County Amateur Radio Club. Rick enjoyed collecting amateur radios and equipment and vintage AM/FM radios. From an early age he enjoyed repairing electronic equipment. Rick also loved fishing and camping with his family. He was a voracious reader and knowledgeable on many subjects, especially World War II. He loved playing with all his grandchildren.

His father, William J. Smith, preceded Rick in death.

He is survived by his wife Gail, daughter Jessica (Nathan) Belz, Amery, WI, and son Evan (Rebecca Wallace), Lakeville, MN. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren: Grace Belz, Jeremy Belz, Lana Belz, Cora Smith, Rylan Smith, Micah Smith and Asher Smith. He is survived by his mother Marilyn (Kvale) Smith, sister Karla (Charles) Jacobson, sister Joan Smith Schenning, sister Nancy Smith and brother Brian Smith. Special friends Cary Maas, Larry Watson, Greg Schenning, Danny Hoffman, and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews and friends further survive him.

Nitardy Funeral Home is assisting the family. Visitation will be Friday, March 15 from 7 PM to 9 PM at the Nitardy Funeral Home, 1008 Madison Ave., Fort Atkinson, WI.

The service will be held at Bethany Lutheran Church, 404 Roosevelt Street in Fort Atkinson, WI at 11 AM on Saturday, March 16th with visitation from 10 AM to the time of service.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Crown of Life Christian Academy, Lakeside Lutheran High School, Bethany Lutheran Church or your favorite charity.

The family would like to thank the staffs and doctors of St. Mary’s Hospital and Fort Health Care for all of their care over the years.

www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

Bud was born on April 11, 1928, the second youngest of six children of Edward and Elsie (Hasse) Reinke of Richmond, Wisconsin.  He married the former Rita L. Barta of Madison, Wisconsin on April 7, 1956 and together they raised 5 children.  Bud held many varied jobs during his long life: farming in his youth alongside his father; a supply clerk in the Army; a delivery man for Chip Steaks in Whitewater; a printing press operator for the Good Morning Advertising Company of Whitewater, and a maintenance technician for the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater.  He retired from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater in 1989 after 27 years of employment.

Bud is survived by his wife Rita: children Jeffry and Lee Reinke, both of Whitewater; Steven (Ann Marie) Reinke of Cincinnati, Ohio; Lisa (Larry) Garland of Chicago, Illinois; Lori Reinke of New Berlin; 5 grandchildren and a sister, Dorothy McQuillen of Milton.  Bud was preceded in death by his parents, a son Miles Reinke and sisters: Florence Smith of Darien, Isabel Mawhinney of Johnstown, Viola Streib of Richmond and Gladys Nelson of Jefferson.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, March 8, 2019 at 11:00am at Nitardy Funeral Home, 550 N. Newcomb St. Whitewater, WI 53190.  Burial will follow at Richmond Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 10:00am until the time of the service.  Nitardy Funeral Home , Whitewater is assisting the family.

Nitardyfuneralhome.com