JANESVILLE—Renee C. Wolters, age 68, of Janesville, passed away on March 16, 2021, at Mercy Hospital & Trauma Center, Janesville. She was born in Milwaukee on June 7, 1952, the daughter of Fred and Joan (Gauger) Liermann. Renee was a 1970 graduate of Oak Creek High School. She received her Bachelor’s Degree and Masters Degree from UW Whitewater. Renee started her 33 year Physical Education teaching career in 1974 at Franklin Junior High School but her last 20 years were spent at Parker High School. She was a gifted multi-sport athlete at UW Whitewater and was inducted into the UW Whitewater Athletic Hall of Fame in October of 1989. She had a passion for teaching and coaching. She enjoyed traveling and following her retirement from teaching in 2007, she worked for VanGalder Tours, where she was a tour planner and director. She also enjoyed gardening and landscaping. She was a member of Luther Valley Church.
Renee is survived by her 2 children; son, Matt Wolters and daughter, Jennifer Wolters; grandson, Jordan Wolters; mother, Joan Liermann of Muskego; brother, Eric (Donna) Liermann of Oak Creek; sister, Kim Liermann of Menomonee Falls; and other extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her father.
A Public Celebration of Renee’s Life will be held on Thursday, March 25, 2021 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the APFEL WOLFE FUNERAL HOME, 21 S. Austin Rd, Janesville. A Private Memorial Service will be held earlier in the day with Rev. Jim Johnson officiating. Memorials can be made in Renee’s name to either Luther Valley Church or the Rock County Cancer Coalition. For online sharing of memories and registry: www.apfelwolfe.com
Phyllis (Taylor) Hamby age 85, passed away peacefully on Saturday March 20, 2021 at Reena Sr. Living, Fort Atkinson, WI. Phyllis was born on February 9, 1936 to Ralph and Margaret (Strain) Taylor in Janesville, Wisconsin.
She graduated from Whitewater High School. She married Frank Hamby on October 22, 1955 in Whitewater. She worked as a secretary/office manager in insurance for 42 years, retiring from Day Insurance, Fort Atkinson, in 2008.
Phyllis enjoyed being a part of the Whitewater Snowmobile Club, and a member of the Christian Science Church, Fort Atkinson. She also enjoyed camping, dancing, traveling and was an avid seamstress.
Phyllis is survived by her husband Frank, her children LeeAnn (Alan) Pomplun; David Hamby (Denise Bell); granddaughter Simone (Erik) Culver; great-grandson Bentley Culver; sister Patricia (Harry) Nordentoft; sister-in-law Helen (Larry) Delaney; and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, and a brother Ronald Taylor.
Per her wishes, Phyllis did not want any services. The family would like to extend their thanks to the helpful staff of Reena Senior Living, Fort Atkinson, as well as Agrace HospiceCare of Fitchburg. The Albrecht Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Milton is assisting the family with arrangements.
Ann C. Rein, 79, of Fort Atkinson passed away on Friday, March 19, 2021 at St. Mary’s Hospital.
Ann was born on April 3, 1941 in Milwaukee. She graduated an associate degree nursing program at Moraine Park Technical Institute in Fond du Lac and became a licensed practical nurse and worked at Fairhaven for 27 years. In April 24, 1970 Ann met the love of her life, Ron, and they married six months later. Together, Ann and Ron would raise two children in Palmyra.
She enjoyed gardening, farm life, animals, country living, cooking, camping, and especially spending time with her family.
Ann is survived by her husband, Ron Rein; children, Brian Rein, Tammy (Michael) Boyd; grandchildren, Lilly Boyd, Brooke Boyd; sister, Kathy (Chuck) Cook; nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She is preceded in death by parents, John and Helen Witkins; brothers, Larry Van Veghel, Jon Witkins; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ellsworth and Vernetta Rein.
A visitation will take place on Wednesday, March 24, 2021 from 10AM until 11AM at the Nitardy Funeral Home, 550 N. Newcomb St., Whitewater, WI 53190. A graveside will take place after the visitation at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Palmyra.
A memorial can be made in Ann’s name to the Jefferson County Humane Society.
Connie L. Miller passed away Monday March 8, 2021 at Mercy Hospital in Janesville.
She was born on August 3, 1961 in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin to Clifford and Eileen (Stelse) Miller. Connie loved to cook, and her secret ingredient was love. She shared this talent with family and friends and those she served throughout her career most notably at The Glen Assisted Living. She was a natural caregiver which translated into her daily life. She was compassionate and caring, she loved her co-workers and the residents she cared for. Connie enjoyed a good makeover and home renovation project and was often inspired by the home-makeover shows she watched. Connie enjoyed being outdoors and nature. She would often find pleasure and relaxation by “taking a ride” to enjoy the beauty of the Wisconsin seasons. Her deepest love and greatest passion were her children and grandchildren; she was a devoted mother and grandmother. She loved unconditionally, listened and supported them as they navigated their way through young adulthood and becoming parents themselves. In her later years, Connie was reunited with her young love, Duane Smith. There is comfort in knowing that they are once again together and able to fully enjoy each other.
She will be deeply missed by her family, children Brooke Miller of Sun Prairie, Jonathon Jacobs of Whitewater. Stepdaughter Ashley Bush of Virginia. Mother Eileen Miller of Whitewater. Grandchildren, Aaliyah Crawford, Carter Jacobs, Juliet Jacobs, Cantley Busch, Amelia Busch, Lincoln Busch. Sisters Diane Brunette of Janesville, Donna (Wayne) Tyler of Fort Atkinson, Cindy (Rob) Channing of Whitewater, Denise Higgins of Whitewater. She is preceded in death by her Father, her fiancé, Duane Smith, Brother-in-laws Rex Higgins and Tom Brunette.
The family will plan a celebration of Connie’s life at a later date.
Nitardy Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be made at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com.
Martha E. Bendig, 79, of Whitewater, passed away on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at Mercyhealth Hospital in Janesville.
Martha was born on November 14, 1941 in Madison, daughter of the late William and Norma (Shober) Dempsey. She married William C. Bendig on September 7, 1963 in Fort Atkinson.
Martha was a dedicated wife and mother. She was a devoted Christian who was passionate about her faith and the Bible.
Martha is survived by her husband, William of Whitewater; children, Christine (fiancé, Jeff Smrecek) Schroeder, Connie (Charles) Nelson and James (fiancé, Dana George) Bendig all of Milton; grandchildren, Samantha (Jason) Cliffgard, Carli Schroeder and Christopher and Brady Nelson; great grandchildren, Jackson and Peyton Cliffgard and Owen Box; and brothers, James (Eileen) Dempsey and Harry Dempsey.
A visitation will be held on Monday, March 15, 2021 at the Dunlap Memorial Home in Fort Atkinson from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. A private family service and burial will be held.
Roger G. Millard Jr., 56, of Whitewater, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at Mercyhealth Hospital in Janesville.
Roger was born on May 11, 1964 in Fort Atkinson, son of Roger G. Millard Sr. and Georgia (Carmichael) Millard.
After graduating from high school, Roger joined the US Navy, enlisting in 1982 and was honorably discharged in 1992. During that time, he was stationed in San Diego and was deployed on the USS Enterprise. He was also aboard the USS Enterprise during the filming of Top Gun. In 1994 he joined the Army National Guard of Wisconsin and was honorably discharged in 2002.
Roger was a hard worker as a Correctional Officer with the Walworth County Sheriff’s Dept., enjoyed talking politics and taking road trips on his Harley Davidson, but most of all he loved his family, including his dogs, and the special times flying with his father.
Roger is survived by his wife, Lynn Millard of Whitewater; children, Arron G. (Fiancé, Danielle Ripley) Millard of Janesville and Rachel Millard of Whitewater; grandchildren, Keira Mae Millard and Ashlynn Marie Ripley; parents, Roger G. (Sue) Millard Sr. of Whitewater and Georgia (Bob) Achilli of Fort Atkinson; brothers, Mike (fiancé, Lane Hoffer) Moreland and Ben (Tracy) Millard; sister, Elizabeth (Eric Rambicure) Millard and many other relatives and friends.
A visitation will take place on Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at the Dunlap Memorial Home in Fort Atkinson, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A graveside will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Atkinson with Military Honors.
Barbara A. Donahue, 84, of Whitewater, WI passed away surrounded by her family on Saturday, March 6, 2021 at Agrace Hospice Center in Janesville, WI.
Barbara was born on July 2, 1936 in Elgin, IL the daughter of Lester and Anna (Ewert) Gannon. She grew up in Elgin and attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School. Barbara’s Catholic faith was a major part of her life, therefore, she joined the Franciscan Sisters of Joliet, IL Convent. While at the convent, she began writing letters to a young man, Thomas Donahue, who was serving in the Korean War. Barbara and Thomas became very fond of each other and on April 12, 1958 the two were married at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Elgin. God blessed their union with four loving daughters: Anna, Margaret, Jeanne, and Rita. In 1962, Barbara and Thomas moved their family to Whitewater, WI to farm and the two would remain there to raise their family. Many great times were had with family and friends visiting the farm. There was always an open door policy. Barbara was a devoted mother and grandmother, attending as many events of her grandchildren as possible. One of her greatest joys in life was her grandchildren and great-granddaughter. Barbara was a gentle soul who loved to take care of people, so being a preschool teacher and nursing assistant was something she was very proud of. For Barbara, faith and family were the two most important things in her life. She was a fantastic wife and mother and a devoted member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She kept a large garden with vegetables and many types of flowers and enjoyed that very much. She also stayed involved in her daughters’ activities as a 4-H leader, as well as, helping groom her daughters’ horses for their various shows. She was an avid sports fan and enjoyed attending and cheering on her Packers, Badgers, Bucks, and Marquette Golden Eagles. Barbara had a heart for others and was always concerned with the needs of those around her. Even during her final days, she was checking in on her family to make sure they were taken care of. Barbara will be remembered fondly by all who she touched with her positive spirit, deep faith, and that unforgettable twinkle in her eye. Heaven has gained a beautiful and very special angel.
She is survived by: three loving daughters, Anna Donahue, Margaret Donahue, and Rita (Paul) Ristow; seven grandchildren, Matthew (Alyssa) Rasmussen, Stephanie (Anthony Mattice) Jenson, Megan (Nathan) Galston, Thomas (Katie Gerls) Jenson, Jonathan Ristow, Kelly Ristow, and Ryan Ristow; one great-granddaughter, Layla Rasmussen; and four siblings, Robert (Billie) Gannon, Eugene (Peg) Gannon, Michael (Teresa) Gannon, and Mary (Vern) Wilczyk. She is also survived by a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
She is preceded in death by: her parents, her loving husband of 49 years, Thomas Donahue; and her dear daughter and son-in-law, Jeanne and Shawn Spoo.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to her personal caregivers and the staff of Agrace Hospice for their loving care.
A Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 12, 2021 at the Gibson Family Funeral Home in Palmyra, WI (320 W. Main St. Palmyra, WI 53156). A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Palmyra, WI. Fr. Mariadas Bekala will officiate the mass. Visitation will be held on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of mass at the church. Barbara will be laid to rest in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Palmyra, WI immediately following the service.
Gibson Family Funeral Homes of Palmyra & Eagle, WI is serving the family. To place an online condolence please visit gibsonfuneral.com.
Russell Hodge ended his earthly adventure on February 24, 2021. Even at 95, it took a broken hip and Covid to finally slow him down. He lived his life looking for tomorrow and was never held back by the past.
He was born September 21, 1925 in Koshkonong, WI. Growing up on a farm, he learned to look for fun and exciting things to do. Like many of his peers, he enlisted at age 17 immediately after Pearl Harbor. After naval training at Great Lakes, he was shipped by aircraft carrier to Hawaii. One would think that his love of water crystallized there. He would never be far from the water again. Upon his discharge from the navy, he married Violet Smith in 1946. For 67 years, she joined him on many of his adventures and supported him in most others.
He spent his summers in or on the water most of his life. From bluegills to muskie, he chased the fish wherever he could. Fishing stories were many and impressive. A mounted muskie, not his biggest, adorns the mantle.
His love of the water also led him to scuba diving. He had many exciting stories of sharks, barracuda, and Morey eels. When he had a cottage on Lauderdale Lakes, he used his diving to scout the lake bottom for spawning beds. He could tell you where and how many fish were on each bed. He also joined the Fire Department Rescue dive team.
Russ was also an avid hunter. Being a great shot, he brought home game to eat from every season. His wife Vi, a great cook, only asked that he clean it and have it ready for the pan. For bird hunting, he had hunting dogs that he trained. His Irish Setters were inseparable from him and loved the lake as much as he did. When they were in the yard, they knew the lot lines and never strayed beyond.
In addition to outdoor fun, he also enjoyed competing. He spent many years on bowling teams in Whitewater. The old pictures show some seriously spiffy team members with their ties. At some point, he picked up a love of tennis. That interest may have come from his nephew Dell “Junior” Olson who amazingly could have been mistaken as his twin brother as they aged. He played as often as he could until he felt a weak knee was too limiting. So at the age of 89, he switched to pickleball. Then at 92, after playing three hours, he said he felt a little more tired than usual. Doctors concluded he needed a heart valve. The friends he made in these sports were lifelong. They still met socially when they could.
Coming indoors, he turned to playing games, especially cards. He was extremely savvy at all games, but poker and euchre were the money games these past few years. He played aggressively and expected everyone at the table to know how the games were to be played.
He was a man that championed the phrase “work to live.” Russ and Vi found a way to bring their family anywhere they wanted to go – whether camping in The Keys, Yellowstone, Gulf Shores, at the lake, or up north. Many of these were in the company of Nancy and Jack Cummings or Harold and Mary Smith. They got there and had a good time with many stories to tell.
Having a daughter was never an issue for activities. Sandy went with him on most of his adventures. She joined him in hunting, fishing, scuba diving, playing tennis, and loving the outdoors.
A big fan of music, he would always listen to polkas and big band when he could. Lawrence Welk was still a visitor every Saturday night. He would travel to polka concerts when he could and always looked for a chance to find a dance partner.
I don’t know if he thought about being 95, but despite a heart valve, bad knee, and hearing loss, he refused to let anything slow him down. He went down a water slide for the first time at age 93. More than once. Even the hearing loss was blamed on diving in Lake Superior’s super cold water. I think his favorite time was working as a traveling collector after the factory closed. He got to drive all around the country seeing new places and talking to new people. Russ was an extraordinary person who will be greatly missed, but always fondly remembered.
He was preceded in death by his wife Violet, his sister Irene and many in-laws, and his parents Clarence and Hazel Hodge. He is survived by his brother-in-law Harold Smith and wife Mary Smith; his daughter Sandy Thies (Alan), his grandchildren Drew (Bridget Molloy), and Darren (Rimma), his great-grandchildren Leon and Felina, in-laws, and many special nephews and nieces.
There will be a family graveside service in August when the grandchildren will be able to be in attendance.
Marilyn Anita Miles, 84, Whitewater, passed away on Sunday, February 28, 2021 at Mulberry Glen Senior Living Community in Whitewater, WI.
Marilyn was born on October 3, 1936 in Whitewater, WI, the daughter of Kenneth and Edna (Krahn) Sutherland. She married Robert Miles on November 3, 1956 in Whitewater, WI. Marilyn is survived by her two sons: Gordon (Sandy) Miles and Brant (Ivy) Miles; grandchildren Alison (Brian) Ulrich, Kelcie (Crandel) Weissmiller, Nathan (Becky Marcussen) Miles, Alyssa (Trace) Teboda; great-grandchildren, Hayden Ulrich, Aspen and Willow Weissmiller; sisters, Waverly Miles and Myrna Schiro. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband Robert.
A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Nitardy Funeral Home 550 N. Newcomb St. Whitewater, WI 53190. Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Heart Association. Online condolences may be made at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com.
Nitardy Funeral Home, Whitewater is assisting the family.
