Obituaries

Leo E. Wurzer, 65, of Eagle, Wisconsin passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at his home.

Leo was born on April 15, 1961 in Kenosha, Wisconsin to Cyril and Shirley (McNeil) Wurzer. He grew up between Pleasant Prairie and Antigo, spending his childhood summers on his uncle’s farm where he discovered his love for all things tractors. Although he never had a farm of his own, he was able to partially fulfill his dream by working as a driver for Robin’s Trucking in Whitewater, WI in his last days and collecting miniature Tonka toys.

He began his career as a motorcycle mechanic, learning under Dave Petit at Dave’s Cycle Repair. It was around this time that he met his future wife, Christine Giorno at her father’s shop, Ace Cycle where they shared many laughs and adventures. On September 23, 1989, Leo was united in marriage with Christine at St. Therese Catholic Church in Kenosha. The two would go on to enjoy 36 years of marriage together and have two children of their own.

In his past time, Leo enjoyed collecting things that seemed to have no use to some, working outside in the yard and on the house, and pretty much anything to do with motors. If it was broke or wouldn’t start, he was the go-to guy, saying “I can fix that” with his goofy smile.

While Leo could be described as rough around the edges, he had a kind heart and cared deeply about his family. He took pride in working hard to provide for them in any way he could. He was a man who just had no quit, leading his family on multiple adventures all over Wisconsin – most memorably in the Northwoods.

In the end, Leo devoted his life to Jesus Christ, spending time studying the Bible, growing closer to God. He would spend time praying peacefully, spreading the word, and truly took comfort in his beliefs.

He is survived by his loving wife, Christine Wurzer of Eagle; his two children, Amanda Wurzer of Sullivan, and Johnathan (Nancy) Wurzer of Oshkosh; and his siblings, Barb (the late Kevin) Pierce of Kenosha, Ron (Kathy) Wurzer of Whitefish Bay, and Charlene (Mark) Pearson of Sun Prairie. He is further survived by a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Leo is preceded in death by his parents, his older brother, Kenneth, and childhood best friend Jeffrey Lucas.

A Funeral Service will be held for Leo at 2:00 PM on Saturday May 16, 2026 at the Gibson Family Funeral Home in Eagle (499 Elkhorn Road, Eagle, WI 53119). Visitation will take place from 12:00 Noon until the time of service at the funeral home. Leo will be laid to rest in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Eagle immediately following the service.

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

Lois Cummings, 99, of Fond du Lac, WI (formerly of Janesville, WI, Fort Atkinson, WI, Fountain Hills, AZ, and Green Valley, AZ) passed away peacefully on May 5, 2026 at the Meadows Senior Residence in Fond du Lac surrounded by family.

Lois was born on February 17, 1927 in Fort Atkinson to Edward and Clarice (Roseth) Stevens. The middle child of 9 children, she attended Fort Atkinson schools and graduated in 1944. On September 11, 1948 Lois married Grant Cummings at Saint Andrew Catholic Church in Delavan, WI. Together they had 3 children, Gary, Colleen (Tom) Sabel, and Patty (Paul) Beran.

After marriage, Lois and Grant moved to Pasadena for Grant to attend the art institute (full scholarship) and returned to Janesville, WI in 1950 to raise their family near friends and relatives. In 1964 they built their dream home on Cummings Lane in Fort Atkinson, WI.

After the children were grown, Lois enjoyed a long career at the Fireside gift shops beginning at the original Tulimuld gift shop where she developed lifelong friendships with coworkers. She was a big fan of the Fireside fish fry and always accepted an invitation to see the plays at the theater.

Upon retirement they wasted no time packing up to move to Arizona. They enjoyed a few years in Fountain Hills where Lois continued her needlework crafts, golfing, and serving lunch at the high school. After 9 years they moved to Quail Creek in Green Valley, where they enjoyed many years of golf, canasta, water aerobics, and just enjoying retirement.

After Grant’s passing in 2011, Lois remained in Arizona until her 90th year when she moved back (kicking and screaming) to frigid, snow-covered Wisconsin. Lois lived at the Meadows in Fond du Lac where she made some special friendships (known as the “Sassy Seven”), enjoying lots of activities, laughter, and general mischief together.

Lois, a proud two-time survivor of cancer, is survived by her children, Gary Cummings, Colleen (Tom) Sabel, and Patty (Paul) Beran; five grandchildren, Christopher (Emily) Cummings, Lauren (Andres) Villegas, Kelly Grulkowski, Gina (Ryan) Nehmer, and Jeff Beran; five great-grandchildren; Tyson, Jeter, Stella, Luciana, and Eleanor; two sisters-in-law, Sally Cummings and Katie Cummings. Lois was preceded in death by her loving husband, Grant; her parents; a daughter-in-law, Madeline Cummings; and all eight siblings.

Lois will be laid to rest adjacent to Grant at a private family service at Lakeview Cemetery in Fort Atkinson, WI.

A special thank you to the staff at the Meadows, and Moments Hospice for all the care shown to Lois throughout her time at Meadows.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the charity of your choice in Lois’ name.

Services are in the care of Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 North Park Avenue, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. Additional information and guestbook can be found at ueckerwitt.com

Come celebrate William Kincaid’s Celebration of Life on Saturday, May 30th at 1 pm at Trippe Lake Park Pavillion in Whitewater. He truly enjoyed gatherings where his favorite foods and music could be enjoyed with some of his closest friends and family. We will honor him by carrying on one of his favorite traditions. Please bring your own beverages and chairs. There is limited seating. See you all there!

WHITEWATER – Nan Rowley died on April 15, 2026, at the age of 90. She was born on September 4, 1935, in a little house on the prairie in the Town of Johnstown, Wisconsin, the daughter of Wayne L. Wilbur and Florence (McQuillen) Wilbur. Nan attended primary schools in the towns of Johnstown and Richmond and in the City of Whitewater. Nan graduated with honors from Whitewater City High School.

On June 19, 1954, Nancy and Ken Rowley were united in marriage in Whitewater and went to live on the Rowley family farm in Richmond. Over the years, Nan served her family as wife, mother, and wage earner. She was a very capable, take-charge person and served her church and community as well. Nan was a Sunday School teacher at the Methodist Church, as well as a Trustee and Lay Speaker. She worked for her community as a Red Cross Volunteer, Civil Defense Survey Taker, Town Clerk, and Town Treasurer. Nan was a voracious reader and credited the Irish in her ancestry for her wry sense of humor.

The light of Nan’s path through life was faith and her staff was laughter. Now she has followed the path home to God her Father.

Nancy is survived by her two sons, Kenneth (Debbie Parenteau) Rowley of W. Suffield, CT and Curtis (Sally Aldrich) Rowley of Whitewater, five grandchildren, Christopher Parenteau, Joseph (Whitney Beussink) Rowley, Lynn Parenteau, Sean Parenteau and Nathan (Loren Stevens) Rowley and 8 great-grandchildren.  

She was predeceased by her husband, Kenneth H. Rowley, her parents, two sons, Russell and Richard, three sisters, Florence (Morris) Hansen, Helen (Vernon) McQuillen, Doris (Robert) Kroening, and sister-in-law Laurene (Bill) Keech.

Services celebrating her life will be held at Nitardy Funeral Home, 550 N. Newcomb St., Whitewater on Monday, April 27, 2026. Visitation will be from 10 am to 11 am, Service at 11 am with interment at the Richmond Cemetery assisted by the Nitardy Funeral Home.

Marion H. Gorniak (nee Pfeiffer), 74, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

She was born on October 24, 1951, to the late Harvey and Loraine (nee Drifke) Pfeiffer in Fort Atkinson, WI. On June 2, 1969, she was united in marriage to Alan Gorniak. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, and cooking, especially her rhubarb pies. She especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends and will be missed by all who knew her.

Those Marion leaves behind to cherish her memory include her husband, Alan Gorniak; stepson, Alan Bauer; sister, Sue Ann Schultz, other relatives and friends.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brother, Tom Pfeiffer.

A private service of remembrance will be held.

Nitardy Funeral Home has been entrusted with Marion’s arrangements. 

Ruth Irene (Phelps) Justis, 88, of Appleton City, Missouri, passed away Friday morning, April 10, 2026, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg, MO, with her family by her side.

Ruth was born June 3, 1937 in Janesville, Wisconsin, to Charles and Ada Mae (Maly) Phelps. She joined the Marine Corps in 1956. During her time there, she met and married her husband, Forest Wayne “Wayne” Justis in 1957. They shared 62 years of marriage and to this union, 2 children, Charles and Dorene, were born.

Ruth grew up in Whitewater, WI., the oldest of three children. Ruth graduated from Whitewater High School in 1955. While in the Marines, Ruth played on a championship winning Marine basketball team. After Ruth was discharged, she loved and supported her husband during his career in the Marines. She obtained her ham radio license to help Wayne run phone patches from Vietnam to the US for soldiers that were away from their families.

After Wayne retired in 1976, they bought a small farm and spent the rest of their days together there. Ruth always had an amazing garden and prosperous fruit trees. She canned all summer long to provide for her family. Ruth loved animals of any kind. Most of the animals she cared for were so spoiled, they didn’t know they were animals. She nursed many baby and injured animals back to health. Ruth also loved to hunt deer, turkey, squirrel and rabbit.

She loved her grandchildren and always had baked goods ready to share with them. You could never have just one cookie – you had two hands, so you needed a cookie for each hand! No one could ever duplicate her gingerbread cookies, even using her recipe. She did make the grandkids mind and respect her, even if it meant threatening them with a wooden spoon. She also shared advice with them: “when you are driving and the traffic light turns yellow – it means hurry up It’s going to turn red!” She was full of love and laughter.

Ruth is survived by a son, Charles Justis, of Long Beach, Mississippi; a daughter, Dorene Boehler (Gary), of Montrose, Mo.; 5 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; and a brother, Terry Phelps (Sandy), state of Wisconsin. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne; parents, Charles and Ada Mae Phelps; a sister, Jean Jenkins; and a grandson, Dustin Boehler.

Ruth always had a smile and a hug for you. She was a blessing to all who knew her and will be greatly missed by all.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 17, 2026 at the Missouri Veterans Home-Warrensburg, 1300 Veterans Road, Warrensburg, MO. The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., just prior to the funeral service. Mrs. Justis will lie in state Thursday from noon to 7:00 p.m. at the Bradley & Hadley Funeral Home, Clinton. Burial will be in Englewood Cemetery, Clinton. Military services will be at the gravesite under the direction of the Marine Honors Team and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1894, Clinton. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Missouri Veterans Home-Warrensburg.

Dorothy C. Kau, age 101, of Eagle, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Fort Memorial Hospital.

Dorothy was born on March 18, 1925 in Eagle on the family farm, the daughter of John and Katherine (Faestel) VonRueden. Dorothy was a 1942 graduate of Palmyra High School. On May 21, 1949, Dorothy was united in marriage to Alvin E. Kau at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Eagle and the Lord blessed their union with 8 children. Alvin and Dorothy enjoyed 50 years of marriage together until Alvin’s death in the year 2000. Dorothy enjoyed being a farm wife.  She was a true business partner to her husband and later their sons that joined them in the business.  She made sure to keep everyone fed three times a day on home cooked meals with ingredients she had preserved from her garden. She will be remembered as an avid and accomplished crocheter, cook and baker especially her donuts and decorated birthday cakes.   She also waded into modern technology on her iPad to watch the news, EWTN and Rosary.  She stayed on the family farm until she was 100.  She was able to stay and enjoy her home farm through the love and devotion of her children and several caregivers, Sarah, Betty, Birgit, Vicki, Sherry and her weekly massage with Wendy.  She moved to Fairhaven last April and enjoyed the many social activities and the dear friends she became reacquainted with and new friends and staff that were so incredibly friendly and kind. Hospitality and gatherings with extended family and friends were her enjoyment.  Above all else in Dorothy’s life, was her love for God, followed by her family and her friends. She was devoted to her faith. She lived a wonderful life and it’s the end of a family era.  She will be deeply missed but forever remembered by those she leaves behind.

Dorothy is survived by: her loving children, Susan (Randall Zirk) Kau of Madison, Kenneth (Leslie) Kau of Palmyra, Gerard (Jani) Kau of Palmyra, Patricia (William) Breitzman of Stillwater, MN, Jean Ann (Tim) Reith of Palmyra, and Daughter-In-Law Cheri Kau Miller of Florida; and her grandchildren, Mackenzie, Alyssa, Jennifer, Kendall, Jerrod, Henry, Matthew, Jessica, Peter, Meagan (Evan), Chelsea (Matt), Kaylea, Tyler (Micheala), Nicholas (Katherine), and Jonathan (Abigail). She is further survived by 15 great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her dear husband, Alvin E. Kau, 3 children, Kristine, Teresa, and James, her grandchild, Jamie, and two siblings, Elizabeth (the late George) Kau, and Joseph (the late Marie) VonRueden.

Visitation for Dorothy will take place from 4:00 PM until 6:30 PM on Friday, April 17, 2026 at the Gibson Family Funeral Home in Eagle (499 Elkhorn Road, Eagle, WI 53119). A Rosary Service will take place at 7:00 PM Friday evening at the funeral home with Fr. Garret Kau presiding.

A Second Visitation will take place at St. Theresa Catholic Church on Saturday, April 18, 2026 from 10:30 AM until 12:00 Noon. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 12:00 Noon at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Eagle (136 W. Waukesha Road, Eagle, WI 53119). Fr. Jordan Berghouse will officiate the mass. Dorothy will be laid to rest next to her husband in St. Theresa Catholic Cemetery immediately following the mass.

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

Dorothy E. McCracken, 95, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2025, in Sarasota, Florida.

Born on April 14, 1930, in Whitewater, Wisconsin, to Carl and Joyce Meyer, Dorothy grew up in Whitewater and graduated from Whitewater High School. She then worked for a photographer and hand painted his first colored portraits, until she got married.

She and her first husband, Bernard Wafle, owned and operated a 179-acre dairy farm in Helenville, Wisconsin, for 25 years before relocating to Ocala, Florida, in 1979.

Dorothy later married Earl McCracken, in Ocala, Fl. She also shared a special companionship later in life with John Simms.

A devoted member of the First United Methodist Church of Ocala, Dorothy found joy in faith, fellowship, and service. She will be remembered for her love of family, her strong work ethic, and her kind and gentle spirit.

She is survived by her children: Cynthia Yapp of Boise, Idaho; Steven Wafle of Phoenix, Arizona; and Jeannie Comparetto of Sarasota, Florida. She also leaves behind her grandchildren: Mike Miller, Rebecca Sheu, Rachel Unverzagt, Anthony Comparetto, and Amanda McNally; and her great-grandchildren: Adeline, Theo, and Emma.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husbands, Bernard Wafle and Earl McCracken; her daughter, Sheryl Miller; her mother, Joyce Meyer; her sister, Joyce Sokolowski; her brother, Stan Meyer; and her companion, John Simms.

Dorothy’s life was one of faith, family, and dedication. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Visitation will be held at First United Methodist Church, 145 S. Prairie Street, Whitewater, WI on Saturday, April 11 from 10-11 a.m. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Hillside Cemetery in Whitewater.