Obituaries

John Rivers, 61, of Whitewater, WI, passed away on Monday, April 21, 2025, at his home after a short battle with cancer, with his wife by his side. Born on March 10, 1964, in Milwaukee, WI, to Bernie and MaryAnne (Sommers) Rivers Jr., John lived a life defined by perseverance and purpose.

A 1982 graduate of East Troy High School, John spent more than 30 years as a dedicated truck driver. One of his proudest accomplishments came later in life when, at the age of 50, he returned to school and earned his bachelor’s degree while continuing to work full time — a testament to his determination and love for learning.

John was a born-again Christian and devoted his life to sharing the truth about Jesus Christ. His faith was central to everything he did, guiding him in his relationships, his recovery, and his mission to help others.

A recovered alcoholic of 25 years, John dedicated his life to helping others achieve sobriety. With dreams of opening a recovery house, he poured his heart into supporting those on their path to healing, driven by his own experience and deep empathy.

Family was the cornerstone of John’s life. Whether gathered around the table for a meal, playing a lively game of sheepshead, or simply sharing stories and laughter, John cherished every moment with those he loved, especially his kids, Karl and Ashleigh, and grandson, Wesley. His laugh was infectious, but it was his hugs — warm, genuine, and freely given — that will be most dearly missed.

John met the love of his life, Sara Febock, in August 2002. The two were married on July 5, 2003, and shared over two decades of partnership, love, and unwavering support.

John leaves behind a legacy of kindness, strength, and service. He will be profoundly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife Sara Rivers, Whitewater; children Karl (Tiffany) Rivers, Kenosha, WI, and Ashleigh (Jessy) Johnson, Burlington, WI; grandson Wesley Johnson; parents Bernie and MaryAnne Rivers, Stoughton, WI, formerly of East Troy, WI; sisters Therese (Greg) Hann, Stoughton, WI, and Chris (Pat) Russell, Destin, FL.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 2:00 pm at Nitardy Funeral Home, 550 N Newcomb St, Whitewater, WI 53190. Friends may call on Saturday from 12:00 pm until the time of the service. Fellowship to follow after the service will be provided at Jessica’s Family Restaurant, 140 W Main St, Whitewater, WI 53190

John J Liss, 54, of Whitewater passed away Wednesday, April 9th, 2025, at home surrounded by his family and special pets at his feet. 

John graduated from Whitewater High School. John married his best friend of 18 years on August 17, 2024. He worked factory jobs and decided to go back to school for HVAC in 2009. In 2010 John became disabled due to his health. 

John is survived by his wife Lacey Liss, daughter Mackenzie Liss, son Gabe (Hunter) Black, stepson William (Erika) Beaudin, bonus daughter Cassie, mother Judy Liss, brothers Joseph 3rd, Jesse, and Jason Liss, sister-in-law Cora Smith, and many nieces and nephews. 5 great nieces and nephews and his little frog Tillie. John is preceded in death by his baby sister Jenny, dad Joseph Jr Liss, Grandma and pawpaw Kenith and Louella Bailey grandparents Joseph sr and Mary Liss and mother-in-law Bonnie Drehmel. 

Nitardy Funeral Home is serving the family.  Online condolences may be made at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

Amy L Hookstead age 40 of Genoa City, WI died April 20, 2025.  She was born in Burlington, WI on September 6, 1984, the daughter of Raymond Ghislain and Tina Kjellander.  On May 24, 2015, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Slades Corners, WI she was united in marriage to Michael Hookstead.  She worked for Randall Township as the Treasurer.

Amy’s motto in life was family first and her life revolved around her kids and family and she would do anything to make them happy.   She was an avid Milwaukee Brewers and Green Bay Packers fan.   In her younger years she liked gymnastics and go-karting. 

Survived by her husband Michael.  Loving mother to Nolan and Emma.  Parents Raymond and Tina Ghislain.  Sister Wendy (Ty) Kelley.  Grandmother Patricia (the late John) Kjellander.  Grandfather Ray (the late Betty) Ghislain.  Uncle Mike (Cheri) Ghislain. Daughter-in-law to Pam and Gary Hookstead.  Further survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.  Preceded in death by Uncle Jim Klellander and Aunt Mari Beth Ghislain. 

Memorial Service will be held on Saturday April 26, 2025, at 12:00 PM at the Haase-Lockwood & Associates Funeral Home, 620 Legion Dr., Twin Lakes, WI.  The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until the time of services at the funeral home.   The Haase-Lockwood & Associates Funeral Home and Crematory of Twin Lakes, WI is honored to serve the Hookstead family. 

Waverly Ann Miles passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 at the age of 90.

She was born in Whitewater, WI on June 17, 1934, to Kenneth and Edna (Krahn) Sutherland and graduated in 1951 from Whitewater College High School.

She married Raymond Miles on June 18, 1955, in Whitewater, WI. Waverly worked for the First Citizens State Bank from the time she was in High School until her retirement. She enjoyed watching the Packers, Badgers, reading and most of all spending time with her family.

She is survived by sons Eddie of Madison, WI and Todd (Barbara) Miles of Sarasota, FL, grandchildren Alexandra and Morgan Miles, Madison, a very special cousin Myrna (Vic) Schiro, brother and sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Raymond, daughter-in-law Rae Miles and her sister Marilyn Miles.

Funeral Services will be held at the Nitardy Funeral Home in Whitewater, on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 1 p.m. Friends may call at the funeral home on Saturday from noon until the time of the service.

Waverly’s family would like to express an extra special thanks to the Our House Senior Living-Whitewater staff for their excellent care for Waverly.

Memorials can be made to the Whitewater Community Food Pantry, P. O. Box 63, Whitewater, WI 53190.

Thomas L. Marsh, 78, of Genesee Depot, WI passed away on Monday, April 14, 2025 at Waukesha Memorial Hospital.

Tom was born on July 5, 1946 in Waukesha the son of Lucian and Helen (Kramer) Marsh. He grew up in the Palmyra area and graduated from Palmyra High School with the class of 1964. After high school, Tom continued his schooling at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. On October 12, 1968, Tom was united in marriage to Nancy Parsons at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Palmyra and the two would go on to enjoy over 56 years of marriage together. God blessed Tom and Nancy with three sons, Mark, Spencer, and Kyle. Tom worked for the Golden Guernsey Dairy Company for the majority of his working career and retired in the late 2000’s. He took pride in his work and providing for his family. For leisure, Tom loved to be outside working in his yard, sitting outside enjoying the beauty, or reading the sports section of the local paper. He was an avid Wisconsin sports fan and enjoyed supporting the Brewers, Bucks, and Badgers, but his true favorite was the Packers. He also had a special connection to wildlife and loved to watch and feed animals in his yard. Tom will be remembered for his outgoing, and sometimes opinionated, personality. He will also be remembered for his love for his family. He was a great husband, father and grandfather and he will be dearly missed by those he leaves behind.

Tom is survived by: his loving wife, Nancy Marsh of Genesee Depot; his children, Mark (Kimberly) Marsh of East Troy, Spencer (Melissa) Marsh of Reno, NV, and Kyle (Kellie) Marsh of Horicon; his dear grandchildren, Olivia, Sophia (Fiancé Maxwell Isenberg), Elijah, Samuel, Lindey, and Ella; and his brother, Philip (Carmen) Marsh of Whitewater. He is also survived by a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Dale Marsh, and Dale’s spouse Patricia Marsh.

Memorials in Tom’s honor may be made to HAWS of Waukesha County.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, April 21, 2025 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Genesee Depot, WI. Fr. Alex Rodriguez will officiate the Mass. Visitation will take place from 9:00 AM until the time of service at the church. Tom will be laid to rest after the service in Melendy’s Prairie Cemetery in Eagle, WI.

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

Robert Andrae Mischka

October 31, 1934 – April 13, 2025

Whitewater WI – Robert of Whitewater died at home April 13, 2025. He was born in Milwaukee on October 31, 1934 to Zaner and Helen (Burrill) Mischka. He attended Burlington High School and graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison in 1956 with a BBA degree in accounting.

Robert married his high school sweetheart, Mary Margaret Wanasek of Burlington in 1954. Together they had 7 sons, two of which died as infants. After college they moved to Pittsburgh, Pa. where Robert spent 7 years working as an accountant for the U S Steel Corp. They returned to Wisconsin in 1966 and settled in rural Whitewater where Robert lived until he died. Soon after he returned to Wisconsin he became the Treasurer of Norwood Mills, a synthetic fabric manufacturer in Janesville. Eight years later Norwood was sold and re-located. He was always interested in photography so he started a new career taking photos at high school sports games and at midwestern horse shows which he continued until his death. 

Mary died suddenly in 1997 while they were taking pictures at a horse show in Vermont. Their fifth son, Justin Phillip, died in 2003. Robert is survived by 4 sons: David Paul (Yvonne) in Sun Prairie, Peter Louis of Whitewater, Thomas Robert (Laura) of Appleton and Joseph Edward (Susan) of Cedar Rapids — and by 6 grandchildren, Jennifer, Jacob, Joseph, Jacqueline, Justine and Margaret. 

Robert’s ashes will rest alongside those of Mary in the St. Charles cemetery in Burlington. At Robert’s request there will be no services. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2025, from 1:00-4:00 pm at Cravath Lakefront Park Community Center, 341 S. Fremont St., Whitewater, WI 53190.

Memorial donations in Robert’s memory may be sent to Dairyland Driving Club Treasurer, 106 E Park St, Westfield, WI 53964.

Online condolences may be made at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

Roger Arthur Luebke, 74, of Whitewater, passed away on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at his home. Roger was born on October 30, 1950, in Fort Atkinson to Bud and Helen (Erickson) Luebke. He graduated from Whitewater High School in 1969, and worked at Schopens, Moore’s Seafood, and Husco.

He enjoyed working in the shop, racing, drinking Miller High Life with his friends, and crossword puzzles.

Roger is survived by his two children, Shelli Barrett and Buddy (Brandi) Luebke; sisters, Sandy (Bill) Lentz, Kathy (Paul) McCann, and Patty Luebke; and his grandchildren, Levi, Aaron, Justin, Megan, Brandon, Cody, and Lindsey. He is also survived by several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bud and Helen Luebke.

A visitation for Roger will be held Thursday, April 17, 2025, from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM at Nitardy Funeral Home- Whitewater, 550 N. Newcomb St., Whitewater, WI 53190.

A private family burial will take place at a later date.

Donalee Schlogel-Hansen went to be with her Lord on 26 March, 2025, at Fieldstone Care Center, in Tumwater, WA, the result of a hard fall suffered on March 5th, 2025. She was born on November 5, 1937 in Chicago, Ilinois, and was the daughter of Joseph and Helen Schlogel. In 1942 she moved to Helenville, WI. where her father had purchased a small farm. During her primary school days, Donalee attended a one room school just a few miles from her home. During summer and winter, she rode her beloved horse “Flash” to and from school and housed him in a neighbor’s barn during school hours. In the frigid Wisconsin winters, she would ride bareback to help stay warm. Donalee claims to have acted as the mail man, delivering the neighbors’ mail down long snow-covered driveways on horseback where no cars or farm trucks could travel.

In her freshman year of high school, the Schlogel family moved to Ft. Atkinson, Wisconsin, where Donalee enrolled in Ft. Atkinson High School. She played in the high school marching band and sang in the choir. She was blessed with a beautiful singing voice and earned a Starred First in the statewide high school music competition. Donalee graduated from Ft. Atkinson High School in 1955. During her sophomore year in high school, she met Vernon Hansen at a roller-skating rink in Fort, where he was the floor manager. He was a senior at Whitewater City High, a town 10 miles from Fort. Donalee was a beginning skater, so when she fell, Vernon (whom she nick-named “Whitey,” because of his light blond hair and because she didn’t like the name (“Vernon”) quickly skated over to her side and helped her back on her feet. And the rest is history!!

During their on and off again 4-year courtship, Donalee accompanied Whitey and his two sisters, Ellen and Esther, to Chetek, WI to a Christian Summer Camp, where she accepted the Lord as her Lord and Savior. During intermission at the Prom at Whitewater High School on June 2nd, 1955, Whitey proposed to Donalee in the front seat of his Ford convertible, and surprisingly she said “yes”! Exactly one year later (no sooner according to her father) Whitey and Donalee were married in the English Lutheran Church in Whitewater, WI. at 7 PM on June 2, 1956!

In October 1961, the Wisconsin National Guard, 32nd Division, a unit in which Whitey was a 2nd Lieutenant, was deployed to Ft Lewis, Washington in response to the Berlin crisis. Over the Christmas holiday, Donalee and their 2 yr old twins joined Whitey at Ft. Lewis. Two years later the family rotated to Berlin, Germany, where they spent the next two years. Donalee worked as a dental assistant at the Military Dental Facility, and did volunteer Red Cross work at the Army Hospital. She was able to travel to other Western European Cities after driving the 110 miles through East Germany, an experience not many civilians are afforded. It allowed them to visit Whiteys Danish relatives and to learn much of their history.

Living in Izmir, Turkey for two years, because of Whiteys NATO assignment, gave Donalee the opportunity to visit many ancient ruins, to include the sites of all Seven Churches of the Revelation. A two week visit to the Holy Land was surely a highlight of the NATO assignment for her.

As a member of Grace Baptist Church in Rochester, Washington, upon retirement, Donalee shared her gift of music by singing many Sunday morning solos, as well as being part of a traveling Gospel quartet. She also organized a group of teenage military dependents to form a gospel singing ensemble and was a counselor for The Benning Hills Baptist Church youth group in Columbus, Georgia.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at 1 PM, at the Grace Baptist Church in Rochester, Washington 98530.

In Loving Memory of Margaret Elizabeth Gottschalk
July 15, 1943 – April 1, 2025

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Margaret, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, who passed away on April 1, 2025 at the age of 81.

Born on July 15, 1943, in Whitewater, Wisconsin, Margaret led a life rooted in service, compassion, and joyful connection. From 1963 to 1966, she proudly served in the United States Navy as a data processing technician, where she met the love of her life, Bill. Together, they built a life of adventure, purpose and love. That included walking across the floor of an active volcano and sneaking pineapples straight from the field in Hawaii. Traveling through Ireland in a horse drawn wagon, touring England and Wales on a canal boat. She might even have spotted the Loch Ness monster in Scotland. In retirement, Margaret and Bill enjoyed cross country motorcycle trips visiting all 48 states in the continental U.S.

Margaret’s sense of service continued throughout her life. She worked at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland and served as an ombudsman for the U.S. Naval facility in Brawdy, Wales. Deeply committed to her community, she volunteered with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, supported friends and neighbors after a devastating tornado, and was passionate in her support of the homeowner advocates in The Villages, Florida.

Margaret is known for her bright smile. She brought warmth and joy to others, finding happiness in reading, gardening, sewing, pickleball, and golf. She was even known to be a bit of a pool shark. Margaret cherished big family gatherings filled with mayhem, laughter and love. Her kindness, strength, and spirited humor will live on.

Margaret is survived by her devoted husband Bill, her loving children Bill and Christine, her grandchildren – who were the light of her life – and her siblings John, Mary Jean, and Rebecca McLean. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

She is preceded in death by her mother Jean Ford Carter, her father William Menzie McLean, and her brothers Bill Jay and Thomas McLean.

A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered.

Services will be held at Beyers Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 2:00-4:00pm. A Catholic Mass will be held at Saint Timothy’s at 8:30 am on April 9, 2025.

In honor of Margaret, donations may be made in lieu of flowers to Cornerstone Hospice or SonRise Respite Program through the Lake Deaton United Methodist Church (note that your donation is specifically for the “SonRise” program).