Life Events

Joseph Jess Campbell, of Whitewater, WI, passed away on November 27, 2023, at the age of 95. Joe was born to J. Jess and Laura E. (Hitch) Campbell on April 11, 1928, in Harvey, Illinois.

Joe graduated from Whitewater High School in 1946. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952 during the Korean War and was stationed at bases in CA, where he had the opportunity to work with Bob Newhart. He would later advance to Sergeant and was honorably discharged on August 8, 1954. It was just prior to this time of service, on June 18, 1952, that Joe and Karin’s little brothers, Bill and Ole, introduced them to each other and it was love at first sight. On their 3^rd date in late June, they got engaged. While on holiday leave, Joe and Karin were married at the Congregational Church in Williams Bay, WI on December 31, 1952. After his time in the Army, Joe primarily worked in sales, marketing, and management at companies such as Campbell’s Clothing Store, Montgomery Ward, Top Value and K-Promotions. After numerous transfers, Joe and his family would eventually settle in Pewaukee Lake, WI in 1966. On his 50^th birthday in 1978, he established his own business, Campbell Incentive Company, in partnership with Karin. On Labor Day weekend, 1989, Joe and Karin moved to Stoughton, WI. Joe then retired in 1991. In 2018, Joe and Karin moved to Fairhaven Senior Services in Whitewater, WI.

Family meant everything to Joe. He loved telling stories about genealogy and family history, particularly that of the Hitch family. His work ethic, honesty, and integrity were stellar. He loved the work he did, meeting the needs of his customers and working to solve their problems. He passed on his work ethic to his children and grandchildren. Joe was very active in the Lutheran Church, especially in Stoughton. He also loved to play cards and was an avid reader, enjoying books on history and historical novels. As a boy, he loved being in the water, particularly with his cousins at Lauderdale Lake, WI. Later, he became a swimming champion in Columbus, OH in 1943. He taught numerous children to swim, even swimming across Pewaukee Lake with his sons, and teaching his daughter how to paddle a canoe. He loved to swim in refreshing cold water including swimming in the Baltic Sea in March with his mother-in-law! He loved to canoe, sail, swim, and even go tubing with his grandchildren. Joe loved to watch both his children and grandchildren in a wide variety of activities, such as football games, track & field, sailboat races, band concerts, piano recitals, and swimming at the beach. Often these excursions kept him driving great distances, which they enjoyed together. Joe also enjoyed winter sports, such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. These activities kept him in great physical condition, as did his long walks with Karin and various dogs including two wiener dogs named Tina! Joe was a 33^rd degree Mason.

Joe is survived by his loving wife of nearly 71 years, Karin E. (Stromgren) Campbell, his children and their spouses, Ingrid (Dan) Cassidy, Jim (Karly) Campbell, John (Nancy) Campbell, and Dave (Kathy) Campbell. He was the proud grandfather to Sarah Gervasini, Danielle Cassidy, Erin Campbell-Wagner, Katie Campbell, Laura Campbell, Peter Campbell, and 5 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Bill (Helen) Campbell and sister-in-law, Jan Campbell.

In addition to his parents, Joe was predeceased by his stillborn daughter, Nina, and brother Richard Campbell.

A memorial service and celebration of Joe’s life will be held on Friday, December 22, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. at Fairhaven, 435 West Starin Road, Whitewater, WI. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Fairhaven Senior Services or Shriner’s Children’s Hospital at donate.lovetorescue.org. The Campbell Family would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the staff at Fairhaven for the friendship, kindness and compassion given to Joe and Karin over the past 5 years.

Online condolences may be made at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

Tami Corinne Schultz, 62, Whitewater, passed away on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at her home surrounded by her family.

Tami was born on April 20, 1961, in Fort Atkinson to Jerry and Sandra (Bittner) Footit.  She graduated from Whitewater High School in 1981.  Tami married Ronald Schultz on July 18, 1992.  She worked for over 20 years at UW-Whitewater.  Tami enjoyed gardening, decorating, and painting.  Tami loved to help her daughter and she always looked forward to being with her grandchildren.  

She is survived by her husband Ronald of Whitewater; daughter Desirae (Clayton Peterson) Schultz, Milton; stepson Ryan Schultz, Madison; grandchildren Casey, Willow, Emmett, and Sullivan Peterson; parents Jerry and Sandy Footit, Whitewater; brother Timothy Footit, Whitewater; sisters Kimberly (Gary) Ramsden, Fort Atkinson and Wendi (Heinrich) Gobel, Cambridge; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Nitardy Funeral Home, 550 N. Newcomb St., Whitewater, WI 53190.  Burial will follow in the Richmond Cemetery.  Family and friends may attend the visitation at the Funeral Home on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service.  

The family is indebted to Rainbow Hospice for her end of life care and comfort they have provided. 

As an expression of sympathy you may wish to consider memorials to OCRA-Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance Website-Make a gift. Online condolences may be made at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

On October 28, 2023, James Ronald Rubietta of Jefferson, WI passed away at the age of 86. The co-owner of Whispering Wings Game Farm, he grew up in Illinois. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Marie (Huff); two sons Richard and Thomas, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; sister Diane (Rubietta) Ruppert and her two adult children, six grandchildren, and a great-grandchild; and sister Beth (Selonke) Waters, her son Scott, and two grandchildren. 

Jim was preceded in death by his father Elmer Rubietta, his mother Bernice (Duerr Rubietta) Selonke, his stepfather Ed Selonke, and three nephews: Matthew John Ruppert, Greg Ruppert, and Donny Waters.

Jim and Marie met in high school English class, and Marie became his biggest fan on and off the football field. The former president of the Lincoln Park (IL) Gun Club and State Championship Skeet Shooter, Jim was mechanically gifted, and owned a successful business in the Chicago area. When he sold the business, they moved to Jefferson, WI and quickly joined the agricultural and sporting communities around the state. 

Their Whispering Wings Game Farm in Jefferson became a favorite landing spot for wildlife. Jim and Marie brought with them their love for German Shorthair dogs. Their love of the land expanded to include acres of diverse plantings and wetland preservation.

​A valiant man, Jim refused to allow impossibles to stop him. Ingenuity and productivity marked his life. Whether fixing an engine, writing a computer program, riding the range on a golf cart, or devising a way to pull a tractor from a pond single-handedly, Jim could make things work. A master of managing many tasks even past retirement, he not only ran the game farm operations but also balanced responsibilities of a second position with Upcon Property Services.

​His family will remember this unforgettable man, waving from the tractor grinning, or troubleshooting a vehicle’s problem. He answered an impromptu helpline with family for clear-headed wisdom and mechanical advice. Through his glasses, he watched the world with interest; always his heart shone through when he gazed at his family. The world around him will remember his generosity and love for others; and his love of land, animals and sportsmanship.

​The memorial service will be held on December 10 at 11 a.m. at Nitardy Funeral Home at 550 N. Newcomb St, in Whitewater, WI, with visitation from 9-11 a.m. A tribute reception will follow at First United Methodist Church, 320 S Main Street, Fort Atkinson, WI, from 12:30-2:00 p.m. The Nitardy Funeral Home is assisting the family. Condolences can be made at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

Raymond T. Garlock, 75, of Whitewater, WI passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. 

Ray was born on December 11, 1947 in Fort Atkinson, WI, the son of Donald and Inez (Barnes) Garlock. He grew up in the Palmyra area and after his schooling worked as a Laborer for the majority of his working career. Ray was good with his hands and enjoyed fixing things. He worked at Pal Steel for a number of years and enjoyed his time there. He also worked as a cement truck driver for over 10 years, and was most recently employed by the City of Whitewater at the compost site.  On May 10, 1986, Ray was united in marriage to Vicki Meisner and the two would go on to share 37 years of marriage together. Ray had quite a few interests and liked to be busy doing something. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed both hunting and fishing. He also liked to tinker, fixing engines, vehicles, lawnmowers, and pretty much anything else that needed fixing. His appearance could come off as tough, but beneath his rough exterior was a caring and kind person. Ray was sociable and enjoyed talking and joking with others and would help a friend or neighbor in need. He also had a special connection with animals, especially his dogs and he leaves behind his heartbroken Springer Spaniel, Lucy, and Zeker. Ray will certainly be missed. 

He is survived by: his loving wife, Vicki Garlock of Whitewater; his sons, Matthew Beck of Seattle, WA, and Tom (Dana) Garlock of Whitewater; his granddaughter, Taylor Stachula; his sisters, Donna Skibbe of East Troy, Barb Krueger of Palmyra, and Joan “Pinkie” Garlock of Palmyra; and his brothers, Richard of Fort Atkinson, Harry “Red” (Darlene) of Palmyra, Robert (Chris) of Fort Atkinson, Jerry (Lori) of Palmyra, and Donald (Liz) of Whitewater. He is also survived by a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, his two daughters, Jody and Candie, and his brother, Daryl.

An Open House Celebration of Ray’s life will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 2, 2023 at the Cravath Lakefront Community Center in Whitewater, WI (341 S Fremont St, Whitewater, WI 53190).

The family wishes to thank all the nurses and doctors at Froedert Hospital and Horizon Hospice for their wonderful care of Ray.

Gibson Family Funeral Homes of Palmyra and Eagle, WI is serving the family. To place an online condolence please visit gibsonfuneral.com

Daniel L. “Dan” Schroedl, 82, of Whitewater passed away on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at his home.

Dan was born on November 1, 1941 in Whitewater to Anthony and Dorothy (Kyle) Schroedl, where he has lived and worked his entire life.

Dan retired from Hawthorn Mellody Dairy in 1992 after 18 years of service, after which he could pursue horses and hunting full time.

Dan was the recipient of numerous awards and trophies from his passions of rodeo, horsemanship, archery and hunting. Dan loved his time outdoors with Kathy, friends, family and pets Levi, Henry the Longhorn, Pepper, and Remington. Dan and Kathy especially enjoyed horseback riding trips with friends. When not on horses they enjoyed motorcycle rides with the local group. They were also known to get in the mud occasionally with the UTV.

Dan is survived by his son, Heath (Denise) Schroedl; four step-grandchildren, Aaron Pointon, Andy Pointon, Nicole Gilbert and Brad (Ruby) Gilbert; twelve step-great-grandchildren; three great-great-step-grandchildren; niece, Leanne (Michael) Storck; fiancé, Kathy Pusateri; stepchildren, Christina (Matthew) Legris, Carrie Steffen; and step-grandchildren, Trent Steffen, Aurora Legris, and Avery Legris.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony Schroedl and Dorothy (Kyle) Schroedl and uncle Dean C (Harriet) Hollinger.

Funeral services will take place at 12 p.m. on Friday, November 24, 2023 at Nitardy Funeral Home, 550 North Newcomb St., Whitewater, WI 53190. Visitation will take place from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will immediately follow at Hillside cemetery.

Dan was a perfect representative of his favorite flower, the Thistle. Representing resilience, strength, determination, protection, and pride.

All donations to go to Rainbow Hospice.

Nitardy Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.  Online condolences can be made at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

Debra “Deb” A. Heiber, of Roscoe Township, IL, passed away on October 2, 2023, at the age of 70 years, at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics following complications from surgeries. She was with family members and comfortable at the time of her passing.

Deb was born on October 16, 1952, in Gary, Indiana; the daughter of Curtis H. and Alice M. Yule. She married Gary L. Heiber on May 27, 1972 in Elm Grove, Wisconsin. She graduated from Brookfield Central High School in Brookfield, WI. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1974 from Creighton University, including 3 years studying at Marquette University. Deb majored in English, minored in Spanish and received her secondary education teaching certification. She completed her Masters Degree in English and English Composition in 1978 at Marquette University. She continued taking many classes in Educational Administration, and had been in the educational field from 1974 until February 2016, 41 ½ years. Deb’s major positions were with the UW Center System/Rock County from 1982 to 1990. Then UW-Whitewater from 1990 until 2016. She was involved with developing many advising programs at Whitewater; first in the Registrar’s Office and then as Director of Advising in the College of Letters and Sciences.

Deb received 4 Academic Staff Excellence Awards at Whitewater. She was a founding member of WACADA (Wisconsin Academic Advising Association). They were a State Association of NACADA (National Academic Advising Association) founded in 1979. Deb was President-Elect of WACADA in 1997/98 and was President in 1998/99. She has received the 2002 WACADA Leadership Award. From NACADA, Deb received a Certificate of Merit in 1989, and in 1998 an Outstanding Advising Program Award, and in 2003, the Outstanding Advising Administrator Award.

Aside from advising students, Deb and Gary were longtime Marquette University Men’s Basketball fans, holding season tickets from 1970 to present, with the exception of three years when they lived in Nebraska. Deb spent many years following her son Mike’s activities in sports and music. After he was off to school, Deb became a part-time jewelry maker and sold jewelry in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois, until her health interfered in 2021. She also enjoyed her time with her yoga group from North Pointe and was always an avid reader.

Deb is survived by her husband, Gary Heiber; her son, Michael “Mike” (Alyssa) Heiber of Cedar Park, TX; granddaughters, Mia J. and Clara V. Heiber of Cedar Park, TX; her sister, Christina (Phillip) Lear of Dade City, FL; and many extended family members and friends.

She is preceded in death by her father, Curtis H. Yule; and her mother, Alice M. (Yule) McGrew, who recently passed in 2021; two premature twins, Douglas and Emily, (who lived only a few days in 1981); her mother and father in-law, Carolyn and Donald Heiber;  and her stepfather, James McGrew.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at SCHNEIDER FUNERAL HOME, 1800 E. Racine St., Janesville, WI, 53545; with a meal being served immediately following the service in the LIFE CELEBRATION CENTER at Schneider Funeral Home. For online condolences and guestbook, please visit: www.schneiderfuneraldirectors.com

Deb’s family would like to give a special thank you to the Palliative Care Floor at the University of Wisconsin Hospital. Additionally, an extra thank you to Kate and Tom Heiber-Cobb for their support in her last days and in helping organize her memorial service.

Ronald R. “Ron” Bergsten died at home in Prairie Village, Whitewater, Wisconsin, on November 8, 2023.

Ron was born in DeKalb, Illinois, on January 29, 1939, the youngest of three sons born to Soender and Ruth Bergsten.

For the first eight years of his education, Ron attended the training school at Northern Illinois University, then called Northern Illinois State Teachers College. After attending four years at DeKalb Public High School, he returned to NIU, where he obtained Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Physics. He met and married his wife Nelda while at NIU. The couple celebrated 61 years of marriage last June.

He taught briefly at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. However, he was not comfortable with the climate in that area and sought employment in the Midwest. He was an Associate Professor of Physics at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for thirty years, serving as Department Chair for the last three years of his tenure in the Physics Department. He was a much respected and beloved professor by his students, as he was always willing to go “above and beyond,” especially in working with students in independent study.

Ron’s dearest love, after his family, was bowhunting, and he was quite successful at it, getting his first deer in northern Michigan when he was just fourteen years old. He hunted every year until he was well into his 60s, and got over 40 deer during that time. He also enjoyed fishing, and he and his wife, Nelda, spent two weeks every year at Red Lake, in northwestern Ontario, pursuing that sport.

Ron was also a gifted woodworker and handyman. He completed several remodeling and improvement projects on the home near Palmyra that he and Nelda purchased in 1965. He also built a large garage, which included a three-season sun room overlooking the pond created by a flowing well on the property, a two-car garage, and a large shop facility in which he could pursue his love of woodworking. He singlehandedly did all of the work on that building, including electrical and heating aspects, except that the cement foundation and driveway were poured professionally. He also built fine furniture, including two hutches which have graced their home for the past forty-plus years.

Ron was also an avid hiker and dog-lover, hiking/walking 25-30 miles every week, which included three miles or more every day walking the dog, and a weekly outing with a hiking group.

Ron loved all aspects of wildlife and especially appreciated birding. He built the duck houses that grace the ponds in Prairie Village. He also built a shelter for a memorial bench near the garden in Prairie Village.

After Nelda’s retirement, the couple spent a full summer touring Alaska in a small camping trailer and accompanied by their dog Cody. That same year the couple enjoyed their first of eight years as “winter Texans,” camping at Texas state parks in a fifth-wheel camping trailer and accompanied initially by their dogs Cody, and later Aki.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Neil Warren Bergsten and Lenn Alan Bergsten. He is survived by his wife, Nelda, of Whitewater; daughter Carmen and son-in-law Bevo LaRue of Panama City, Panama; daughter Vicki and son-in-law Howard Brantmeyer of Reedsburg, Wisconsin; granddaughter Jasmine Brantmeyer and Elijah Torres, and grandson Nicholas and Emily Brantmeyer; and great-grandchildren Cameron, Eli, Autumn and Aurora Brantmeyer, all of Stoughton, Wisconsin.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Ron’s honor to the Humane Society of Jefferson County, or the Lakeland Animal Shelter.

Respecting his wishes, there will be no public service. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Nitardy Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be made at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

David Harvey “Feedbag” Papcke

June 14, 1933~November 3, 2023

David H. Papcke “Feedbag,” 90, passed away Friday, November 3, 2023 at Vintage on the Ponds in Delavan, WI. He was born June 14, 1933 to Fred and Martha (Arndt) Papcke, in Whitewater, WI. the 4th of 11 children. Dave attended South Heart Prairie School, across the road from the family’s home farm where Dave would carry a bucket of water every day to school for 10 cents. The story is that his mother Martha spent more time in school than Dave did!

In the early 1950’s Dave would work for Earl Cook, owner of the Millard Feed Mill, Elkhorn. Dave’s neighbor Evelyn Schultz-Schultz would sit in her front porch and watch Dave go to work and come home. Dave acquired the nickname of “Feedbag” from Evelyn Schultz-Schultz as Dave’s job was hauling bags of feed to farmers in the area. In 1953 Dave was drafted in the United States Army Signal Corp. serving from 1953-1955, returning to the family farm. Dave would farm days and work nights at the Amphenol Borg Pile Fabric Division, Delavan, WI as a machine knitter. In 1972, the plant would close; Dave was asked to transfer to Georgia, and his reply was no! He would return to the family farm becoming a cash crop farmer, raising Black Angus Beef Cattle. Dave’s deer hunting career started at the age of 16 hunting with his oldest sister Marion. Dave enjoyed ice fishing, hunting turkeys, spending hours shooting gophers, cutting and splitting wood for the stove in his big red shed and his house and lots of “windshield farming.” “The code of the Prairie is you never go to town and come back home on the same road!” (Ask Craig, his partner in crime!)

Dave was one of the founding members of the Lauderdale-LaGrange Fire Department in 1959, was a member of the Millard Church, served on the board of the Millard Church, member of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, and a member of the NRA. On September 12, 2015, he enjoyed his Stars and Stripes Wisconsin Honor Flight with his nephew Jeff Papcke.

Dave is survived by his wife of 64 years, Barb of Elkhorn, WI. He is also survived by his daughter, Cindy of Elkhorn, WI; his grandchildren Angiejo (Chad) Fay of Ava, MO; Kristeen (Andrew) Jones of Janesville, WI; Alan (Danielle) Salzwedel of New Lisbon, WI; his great-grandsons Tavvin & Kore Dorsey of Ava, MO; step- granddaughter Leigh (Justin) Gulas of Lyndon Station, WI; great-great-grandsons, Castile & Axel Gulas of Lyndon Station, WI. He is also survived by his siblings Marjorie Roloff, Norman (Anita) Papcke, Doris (LeRoy) DeVries, Darvon (Betty) Papcke, Diane (Floyd Finney) Papcke; sister-in-law Janet Papcke; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Martha Papcke; his stepfather George Sherman; and his siblings Allen Papcke, Marion (Jerry) Harris, Arlene (Robert/Bud) Rowley, Carol (David/Dub) Agen, Jack Papcke; and brother-in-law Eric Roloff.

A Memorial Service will take place on Friday, November 17, 2023, at Millard Community Covenant Church, N6713 County Road O, Elkhorn, WI, at 11:00 a.m. with Pastors Chris and Sharon Nelson officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will take place at the South Heart Prairie Cemetery with Military Honors. A celebration of life luncheon will follow in the church Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Dave’s name to Agrace Hospice Care: 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711 or Stars and Stripes Honor Flight, P. O. Box 867, Menomonee Falls, WI 53052, or Millard Community Covenant Church, N6713 County Road O, Elkhorn, WI 53121. Arrangements are under the direction of Haase-Lockwood & Associates Funeral Homes and Crematory of Elkhorn, WI. An online guestbook can be found at www.haaselockwoodfhs.com.