Obituaries

Tania Ann Bowden, age 48, Delavan, Wi., passed away unexpectedly on August 1, 2024. Born September 16, 1975, to John Bowden and Irene Bowden (Proc) originally from Chicago, IL. Came to Wisconsin from Chicago in 1979. Tania attended Whitewater High School.

Tania is survived by her Mom, Irene and James Osgood, Delavan, WI., three daughters Casandra Harris (Casey), Fort Atkinson, WI., Samantha Dohms (Sammy), Cheyenne, Wyoming, Mariah Flynn, Slinger, WI., Laura, Sandy, Bonnie Bowden and many nieces and nephews, Fayetteville TN., and the list goes on.

Private visitation and the celebration of life will be held at her Mom’s residence.

Lee Spencer Murray, 92, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 18, 2024 at Fairhaven in Whitewater.

Lee was born on September 24, 1931 in Princeville, Illinois to Harlow and Grace (Larson) Murray.  He graduated from Princeville High School in 1949 and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana with his bachelor’s degree Agriculture-Agronomy in 1957.  Lee served in the United States Army from 1951-1953 and received a purple heart during his service in the Korean War.

He was a proud member of the Whitewater American Legion, Princeville Masonic Lodge, Whitewater Jaycees and Wisconsin Fertilizer Association.

Lee is survived by his wife, Betty Murray, of Whitewater; children, Carla Buchanan of Janesville, and Ken Murray of Madison.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Fairhaven Foundation or the Badger Honor Flight.

The family would like to give special thanks to the staffs of Fort Memorial Hospital, Fairhaven and Rainbow Hospice.

Funeral services will take place at 11am on Monday, August 26, 2024 at Nitardy Funeral Home in Whitewater. Visitation will begin at 9am until the time of service. A burial will follow services immediately at Hillside Cemetery in Whitewater.

Online condolences can be made at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com.

Updated 8/23/24 @ 4:40 p.m. to add information regarding the casket.

Leo Jorgen Hansen, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle, passed away in Janesville, Wisconsin, on August 18, 2024, at the age of 98. Leo was born in Chicago, Illinois, on October 15, 1925, and spoke Danish before he learned English. He entered the work force at the age of 12, assisting his father, a house painter. When he was 17 years old, the family moved to a 120-acre farm on the southeast edge of Whitewater, Wisconsin. The family initially worked the fields with two teams of workhorses and milked 15 cows by hand. Leo graduated from Whitewater High School in June 1943 and worked as a painter until he entered the United States Navy in June 1944. His construction battalion took part in the invasion and liberation of the Philippines. Leo was honorably discharged from the Navy in June 1946.

Encouraged by his high school agriculture teacher and enabled by the GI Bill, Leo entered the University of Wisconsin, Madison in Fall 1946. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture in 1949, Master of Science degree in Dairy and Food Industries in 1951 and Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1953. During the first 20 years of his career, Leo worked as a research food chemist and product developer for Chr. Hansen’s Laboratory, Oscar Meyer, and Armour Foods. He held six patents.

Leo married Muriel, a childhood friend, on October 16, 1954. By the mid-1960’s, Leo redirected his career from research to management. He attended the University of Chicago’s School of Business while working full-time and received a Master of Business Administration degree in March 1969. One year later, Muriel died from breast cancer, leaving Leo as a single parent of children 10 and 13 years old.

To avoid relocation by Armour to Phoenix, Arizona, Leo quit his job in Summer 1973. Two months later, he was hired by the Nestle Company to be the quality control manager for a large chocolate factory in Fulton, New York. In addition to managing a staff of 50, Nestle trained him to be a professional taste tester. Leo said it was the best job he held during his career.

Leo met Audrey, his future wife, in 1978 at church and they married on October 30, 1981. They relocated to Wisconsin after Leo retired from Nestle in 1991.

Leo was a dedicated runner and enjoyed competing in 5K races. He was a master woodworker and meticulously built, repaired, and refinished furniture. Leo was an active member of the Milton Historical Society and the Rock River Valley Carvers of Wisconsin. For many years, he was an exhibitor at the Rock River Thresheree, where he demonstrated woodworking techniques.

A deeply committed Christian, Leo served in many church leadership roles, including Sunday school superintendent, Sunday school teacher, deacon, and elder. In recent years, he attended Faith Community Church (Janesville) and Church on the Rock. His faith in God sustained him through hardship and life’s uncertainties. Leo was humble, kind, and will be greatly missed.

Leo was preceded in death by his parents, Knud Vilhelm Hansen and Magda Agnete Dorothea Andersen Hansen, his brothers Kenneth, Norman, and Lloyd, his sister Ellen Brushaber, and his first wife, Muriel (Fischer) Hansen.  He is survived by his wife, Audrey (Lucas) Hansen, son Clifford Hansen, daughter Elise (Steve) Tripp, stepson David Lucas, grandchildren Nathan Tripp and Hannah (Thomas) DeBoer, great-granddaughter Etta DeBoer, as well as his brother Vernon (Donalee) Hansen, sister Esther (Robert) Johnson, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will take place at 11 AM on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at Nitardy Funeral Home, 550 N. Newcomb St., Whitewater, WI 53190.  Visitation will take place from 10 AM until the time of service.  A burial immediately following services will take place at Hillside Cemetery in Whitewater. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a Christian charity of your choice.

The family would like to give special thanks to Rock Haven and Agrace Hospice staff for the compassionate care Leo received.

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” Phil. 4: 8

Online condolences can be made at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” Phil. 4: 8

A note about the casket: Leo’s casket was made by the monks of New Mellary Abbey, a Trappist monastery located outside Dubuque, Iowa. Faithful to the Rule of St. Benedict, the monks support themselves through casket making. Trees from the monks’ own forest provide some of the lumber for the caskets.

William Walton “Bill” Weiss
March 23, 1944 – August 19, 2024
MADISON – Bill Weiss went Walking with The King on Aug. 19, 2024.

William Walton “Bill” was born on March 23, 1944, to Myrtle (Walton) and William Weiss in Philadelphia, Pa. Bill’s father was serving in World War II when Bill was born. He was 17 months old before he met his father for the first time. Until then, Bill and his mother lived with her parents.

His mother and brother died in childbirth when Bill was 2 1/2 years old, and Bill returned to live with his maternal grandparents. Papa Walton had a profound effect on raising Bill, helping him become the gentle man we all knew. Bill’s father remarried when he was 7 and he subsequently had three half-brothers.

Bill and Dotti (Dorothea Zahn) were married on June 6, 1964, in Teaneck, N.J. on the day Bill graduated from Bible School. They moved to Siloam Springs, Ark., so Bill could complete an undergrad degree in Radio and TV Broadcast Production. He was a sign-on personality at the campus radio station, WFAW, and pastored the Community Church in Lowell, Ark., while taking classes fulltime.

They next moved to Chicago, Ill., where Bill was an on-air personality at WMBI (Moody Bible Institute), and then a producer at the station, also teaching a summer school course in broadcasting. Their two daughters were born during this time. He left Moody to become the producer at a recording studio, working with a great variety of clients including Amway Products and Bill and Gloria Gaither.

But teaching had become Bill’s dream, so with two kids in tow, they moved to Bloomington, Ind., to begin a master’s program. Bill completed his master’s from UW-Stout in 1978 while teaching full time at Northwestern College in Roseville, Minn., and part time at Bethel College.

He taught for one year at UW-River Falls while managing their student radio station and then took a position with UW-Whitewater in 1980, teaching full time in their Communications Department. He also began work on his PhD at UW-Madison, completing it in 1988.

Still teaching full-time at Whitewater and serving as Assistant Chair of his department, Bill became the pastor of the Richmond United Methodist Church, and then the pastor of the Emerald Grove Congregational Church. He developed the Advising Program for the Communications Department, winning several awards across the state. He retired from teaching in 2006 as Professor Emerit devoting his time to pastoring, geo caching, camping with Dotti across all of the 49 continental states, and enjoying his family which now included three grandchildren.

A difficult cataract surgery in 2007 resulted in Mild Cognitive Impairment and forced him to retire from the ministry in 2012. By 2016 Bill’s MCI had advanced to a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. Having taught communication, losing his words as the disease progressed was very painful. But Bill remained the gentle, loving man he had learned to be from his grandfather so many years ago.

Bill closed almost every sermon with “Walk with The King and be a blessing” and he did his best to live that out in his life. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 60 years, Dotti; two daughters, Deb Weiss and Becki Fiegel (John); three grandchildren, Ethan Fiegel, Colin Fiegel and Veronica Fiegel; and countless friends, former parishioners, students and fellow teachers. He will be sorely missed, but remembered with joy.

The family would like to thank the staff at Brookdale Memory Care for their faithful care these past 2 ½ years and for the many staff at Agrace HospiceCare who helped both Bill and Dotti through these past four plus years as Alzheimer’s slowly took its toll.

The Family will be celebrating Bill’s life in a private ceremony. Memorial gifts are not expected, but if you wish to give something in Bill’s memory, Agrace HospiceCare and the Salvation Army would be his choices. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420

Christine Marie “Chris” Gasperetti, 58, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 surrounded by her loving family at Fort Memorial Hospital.

Chris was born on June 9, 1966 in Milwaukee to Joseph and Elaine (Sadowski) Socha. She was raised in Whitewater in her childhood home on Whitewater Lake. Chris graduated from Whitewater High School in 1984. Chris met her husband, Tim, while working at Wenninger in Milwaukee in 1988, and the two later married on September 30, 1989. Tim and Chris were married for exactly 34 years and ten months, and together they raised their daughter, Anna.

They were fortunate to have enjoyed a loving, faithful, and happy marriage. A huge void is now in the hearts of her family, and she will be sorrowfully missed. She loved entertaining at the lake and making people happy with all of her many wonderful dishes she expertly prepared. Chris loved Wisconsin sports, especially the Green Bay Packers, and she attended several games per year. She traveled extensively including many cruises and land excursions through Europe. Her fondest memory was the 2022 Mediterranean cruise of Italy, Sicily, Greece, and Turkey with Tim, Anna, and Greg. Those who knew Chris would describe her as caring, loving, dedicated, and most of all brave, as was evident fighting this awful disease the last six and a half months. She never once complained and was always the nurses’ favorite patient.

Chris is survived by her devoted husband, Tim; loving daughter, Anna (Greg) Albert; many family members and dear friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Elaine Socha.

A mass of Christian burial will take place at 12 P.M. on Thursday, August 8, 2024 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Whitewater. Visitation will take place from 10 A.M. until the time of service. A graveside service will take place at Skoponong Cemetery immediately following mass.

The family would like to give special thanks to UW-Health Carbone Cancer Center, particularly Dr. Malinda West and Dr. Peyton Reves, for their kind and compassionate care. Also, special thanks to the exceptional comfort care provided by Fort Memorial Hospital staff.

Gifts in Chris’ memory may be made payable to the ‘UW Foundation’ with a note to direct as a tribute to the “UW Carbone Cancer Center Greatest Need Fund # 112909110.”

Donations can be mailed to UW Foundation, US Bank Lockbox Box 78807 Milwaukee, WI 53278-0807. Gifts can also be made online at give.wiscmedicine.org/cancer

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

Janet Irene Heckert, age 87, passed away peacefully on July 25, 2024 in Delavan, Wisconsin. Born on November 1, 1936, in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, she was the daughter of Gladys and Henry Jansen. Janet was preceded in death by her loving husband Kenneth Heckert and her brothers Sonny and Paul and sister Darlene.

Janet was a graduate of Elkhorn High School in 1955. On October 24, 1957, she married the love of her life, Kenneth Heckert, at Elkhorn Baptist Church in their hometown of Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Janet worked for many years as a seamstress, but her true passion was as a wife, mother and homemaker. She was also a dedicated member of the United Church of Christ along with her husband where she served many salad and funeral luncheons.

Janet is survived by her children, Bret (Kristine), Mark (Jeri Comyford) and Kevin (Sally) Heckert, her siblings, Don (Darlene) Jansen and Mary Rice, her cherished grandchildren, Justin (Melissa) Kreuziger, Logan (Whitney), Troy (Rachel), Emily, Allison (Zach Licht), Meredith, Clare and Liam Heckert, and her beloved great-grandchildren Kendyl and Kiersten Kreuziger, Maverick, Myles, Brooks and soon to be born, Kaden Heckert.

A memorial service will be held at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove, WI, on Friday, August 30th at 10 a.m. where Janet will be laid to rest with her dear husband Kenneth.

Janet Irene Heckert will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, wonderful grandmother, great-grandmother, a passionate cook and baker. Her grandchildren will always remember how she made her famous macaroni and cheese for them when they visited. She loved sewing, knitting, crocheting and tatting. She enjoyed gardening and putting up the vegetables. Her canned tomato sauce made for the best mostaccioli ever. If someone needed a zipper replaced in a tent or a pair of blue jeans, that was not a problem for her. Her famous slippers, baby booties and crocheted Christmas ornaments were passed out to many that she loved. She made the perfect “Wilma” to her “Fred Flintstone” in many area parades. Her smile, cute giggle and kindness will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Special thank you to Vintage on the Ponds for their many years of dedicated care to Ken and Janet. Also, thank you to Agrace Hospice Care for their care of Janet during her final days.

Obituary: Fred Chester Traxler, 78

Fred was born in Whitewater, Wisconsin on October 23, 1945, son of Chester and Elva (Klug) Traxler. He was born to eternal life at Ascension St. Francis Place in Milwaukee on June 1, 2024.

Fred was a 1964 graduate of Whitewater High School. In his younger days Fred enjoyed bowling and polka dancing–and was very good at both. He was very competitive, especially when pitching horseshoes with his Dad, brothers, and cousin Sid. He was always ready for a card game, and was also a big fan of the Packers and Brewers.

Fred is preceded in death by his wife of 38 years, Alice (Abrahamson) Traxler, parents Chester and Elva, and sisters Shirlene Meyer of Fort Atkinson and Marian Coates of Lake Mills.

He is survived by brothers Charles Traxler of Redondo Beach, California and Bruce (Joyce) Traxler of Whitewater. He is further survived by nephews, nieces, and other relatives and friends.

Fred was a U.S. Navy veteran and will be buried in a military funeral at Fort Snelling, Minnesota in a private service.

Jelacic Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Harry Oliver Dempsey passed away peacefully and among family in Elkhorn, WI on July 24, 2024 at the age of 80. Born on May 21, 1944 to William and Norma (Shober) Dempsey, Harry grew up on the family farm in Whitewater.

In his younger years, Harry enjoyed hunting and fishing, a passion that he later passed on to his own children. All his life he could often be found in his shop, building or fixing something – from a child’s toy to lawn mowers, cars, and tractors. His passion for self-sufficiency extended to his large garden whose abundance he happily shared with family and friends. He loved to sit and talk and always had a coffee mug nearby. Above all, he loved God and adored his nine grandchildren and the time he spent with them.

He is survived by his children and grandchildren: Roger Stearns; Bradley Stearns: Kristina and Katelyn; Timothy (Jennifer) Dempsey: Tucker, Alice, and Able; Michelle (Joshua) Bucholtz: Oliver, Theodore, Felicity, and Katarina. Also, his brother James (Eileen) Dempsey, brother-in-law Bill Bendig, and his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Martha Bendig.

Friends and family are welcome to attend a celebration of life for Harry from 2:00- 6:00 p.m. on July 31, 2024 at Elegant Acres W5300 Territorial Rd, Elkhorn, WI  53121.

Dunlap Memorial Home in Fort Atkinson is assisting the family.

www.DunlapMemorialHome.com