Obituaries

Albert Frank Danz Sr. 93, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 29, 2023.

Albert was born on November 6, 1929, to Alma and Edward Danz. He married Joan Ellingsen on January 21, 1964. She preceded him in death on July 31, 2021.  Albert served his country in the United States Marines and was stationed in Korea shortly after the war. Albert enjoyed the great outdoors and his family.

He is survived by Children Albert Danz Jr. (Escanaba, MI), Charles Danz (Whitewater, WI), Grandchildren Tanner, Logan, Gabrielle (Steve) Tietz; Great-Grandchildren Ava, Everly, and Jaxon.

Funeral Services will be held on Sunday, November 5, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. at Nitardy Funeral Home, 550 N. Newcomb St., Whitewater, WI. Visitation will be held from 1:30 p.m. until the time of the service.

A special Thank You to the staff at Alden Estates in Jefferson and Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg for their amazing care towards dad. Online condolences may be made at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

Barbara L. “Barb” Reutell, 73, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at her home after a long courageous battle with cancer.

Barb was born on September 10, 1950 in Wisconsin Rapids to Leonard and Laura (Prayne) Schladweiler.

Barb was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church.

She was an amazing woman that helped everyone she could. Barbara was a loving devoted wife, and a loving caring mother. She also loved her country and supported the veterans anyway she could.

Barbara is survived by her loving husband, Richard Reutell; children, James (Rhonda) Kempinski, Michael (Dani) Kempinski, Carrie (fiancé, Dan M) Baldwin; step-son, Eric Reutell; grandchildren, Johnathan (Sara) Baldwin, Brady Kempinksi, Arianna Kempinksi, CJ Kempinksi, Dayton Kempinksi, Haven Kempinksi, Harleigh Kempinksi; great-grandchildren, Ryleigh and Easton; siblings, Karen, Jeanette (Jim), and Dorothy.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and Laura Schladweiler; six sisters; and two brothers.

A memorial service will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at Nitardy Funeral Home, 550 N. Newcomb St., Whitewater, WI 53190.

Online condolences can be made at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

Thank you and God Bless. Barbara is an angel watching over you! Memorials and flowers to family.

Daniel P. Laursen, age 56, of Beloit, died Friday, October 27, 2023, at Beloit Memorial Hospital. He was born April 12, 1967, to Paul and Carol (Copeland) Laursen in Park Ridge, IL. Dan attended Whitewater High School and graduated from UW Platteville, with a degree in Education. He married Mia A. Zamecnik on September 14, 1991. Dan was a 4th grade teacher at Townview for 22 years. As an avid outdoorsman, Dan enjoyed biking, camping, hiking, and water skiing on Whitewater Lake. He also enjoyed traveling to Las Vegas and regional casinos. Dan will be remembered for his Lego set building abilities and being a Parrot head.

He is survived by his wife Mia; his three children, Timothy (Michelle) Laursen, Katrina (Dylan) Carlyle & Brianna Laursen; his parents, Paul (Carol) Laursen; his five grandchildren, Casey, Calvin, Colton, Kalani & Brynn; his sister, Ann (Mike) Pascavis; his brother, Brian (Carrie) Laursen; and many other family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Roy Zamecnik.

Dan’s Funeral Service will be at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, in the BRIAN MARK Funeral Home, 1000 Inman Parkway, Beloit, WI with Chaplain Mark Maxted officiating. Friends will be received on Tuesday in the Funeral Home from 3:00 p.m. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial is being established. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared on our website.

BRIAN MARK FUNERAL & CREMATION CARE
1000 Inman Parkway, Beloit WI 362-2000
www.brianmarkfh.com

On October 12, 2023, Donna J. Henry peacefully decided to go home to Jesus.

Donna was born on May 16, 1933. The only child of Mildred (McQuillen) and Harley Baker, she was born in a small house on Cravath St. in Whitewater, Wisconsin. She lived on the “East Side” and is still friends with many of her childhood friends. Her father owned his own business, as had his father, and her mother’s family was large and mainly farmers. Those family and business values flavored her attitudes and beliefs all of her life. Especially, in how she worked for the people of Whitewater. She was a child of the depression, reflected in her inability to throw anything away, and her generosity to those in need.

Donna graduated from the Whitewater City High School in 1951. She went on to get her bachelor’s degree in journalism from UW Madison. Summers she worked at the Whitewater Register. During her schooling, she realized that the role of a female reporter was to report on fashion and social events. That was not at all to her liking. She changed her specialty to advertising. She graduated in the spring of 1955. Upon graduation she worked at WTMJ in Madison.

In November of 1955, she married J. Philip Henry, whom she met her senior year in college. They lived in Madison, a block off of Randall Stadium, until Phil got a job with American Bitumals. They had a daughter, Jelaine, while in Madison. Phil’s was a job that required moving, and their next home was in Kirkwood, MO, where they had another daughter, Jane. Soon after they were moving to Libertyville, IL, and then on to Mundelein, IL. A son, Mark, was born during those years.

In 1962, life happened. Phil was diagnosed with narcolepsy. He no longer could be employed in a job that required so much travel. He went to Whitewater to learn the ins and outs of a motor vehicle business. With no business or technical training, it was quite an undertaking. Donna stayed in Mundelein with her 3 small children, until she would sell the house. Within a few months, she also was able to move in with her parents. It was a long period of adjustment to a total lifestyle change, medication and health issues, and the role changes inherent in being in a family business.

But, while Donna had left Whitewater for a short time, her love for Whitewater never left her. She threw herself into everything that interested her. While the children were young, she shared her interest in reading, antiques and furniture refinishing, and sewing with her mother. She also knitted, crocheted, and did needle work. She joined numerous organizations and participated in many civic services. She was a Girl Scout leader and on the board, taught Confirmation classes at First English Lutheran and was on the board there, joined the Lions Club with Phil, AAUW and was president for a time, Whitewater Historical Society, Federation of Women, Whitewater Food Pantry, CDA, Rental Association, Planning Commission, City Council, and helped with election days.

Once the kids were older, she also started working part time at Baker’s Garage, summers at the UWW Registrars Office, and for over 35 years at Home Lumber as Accountant/Office Manager. It was during that last job that she “adopted” a 3^rd daughter, Jackie Hale.

In everything she did she remembered her roots and to be a voice for citizens who might not always speak for themselves. She was a force for small business. She really lived for these things. As with many older adults, the isolation of the COVID years was hard on her, and the telephone was literally her lifeline. If anyone wanted to perk her up, they just needed to talk about Whitewater. She was a wealth of knowledge that will be missed by many.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Mildred (McQuillen)and Harley Baker, in 1980 and 1981, and by her husband J. Philip Henry in 2015.

She is survived by her daughters Jelaine (Jim) Goehl, and Jane Henry (Johnny Soubrand), and her son Mark (Debra) Henry. Also by 9 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held on Wednesday November 15, 2023 at 2 PM at First English Lutheran Church in Whitewater. A visitation will be held from 1 PM until the time of the service at the church. Graveside services will be private. A Celebration of Life will follow the service at The Real MacCoys from 3 -6 PM in Cold Springs, WI.

Be prepared to share your stories and remembrances of Donna’s long life. In lieu of flowers or monetary gifts, donations would be appreciated to: Whitewater Food Pantry, Rainbow Hospice or the local Animal Shelter or Humane Society. The family would like to give special thanks to the staff at Rainbow Hospice for their exceptional care for Donna.  The family would also like to give special thanks to all the good friends that came to see Donna. 

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

Susan Jean Stanley, 78, died of cancer at home in Prairie Village, Whitewater, Wisconsin, October 23, 2023.

Sue was born July 20, 1945, in Gladwin, MI, the first child of Stuart R. “Bud” Kirvan and Annalee Partridge Kirvan. Bud Kirvan was a newspaper man and later a well-known public relations executive and newspaper columnist, and her mother a registered nurse.

In her early years she followed her dad to numerous local high school games which gave her a lifelong love of sports. She attended several schools as her family moved around the state and graduated from
the University of Michigan High School in Ann Arbor in 1963 and Michigan State University in 1967. Her major was math and her minor geography. She was a member of the Alpha Delta Phi Sorority.

After teaching mathematics in Flushing and Southfield, MI for several years and earning a master’s degree from MSU in 1971, she signed on to teach math with the Department of Defense Dependents Schools in Seoul, Korea. In her second year she transferred to Okinawa where she met and married Tom Stanley, a high school history teacher from Wisconsin, “a lucky break,” Tom said. Together they taught in the Philippines, Japan, Korea and Germany before returning to the United States in 1989. Their son, Howard, was born in 1978 in Japan. In their two decades overseas, they traveled widely in Asia and also in Europe when completing round the world flights back to the States for summer vacation. Sue always said that next to marrying Tom, the best thing she ever did was to work overseas. They had many authentic overseas adventures.

Back on U.S. soil, Sue and Tom taught at Canterbury School, a small private institution in Fort Wayne, IN for the last decade of their teaching careers where Howard graduated in 1996.

In 1981 and every year afterwards, they summered in or around Bay View, MI near Petoskey where they moved full time in their first phase of retirement and where she embarked on a short but fruitful career as a teller and bookkeeper at First Community Bank in Harbor Springs. They moved to Whitewater in 2009.

Sue was extremely well organized and had an iron-clad sense of what should be done and how to do it. Tom once caught her signing a hotel register as “Mr. and Mrs. Susan Stanley,” a joke but illustrative of their relationship. In more recent years she has used her executive powers to keep her two much-loved grandchildren shaped up. All said, she was tolerant and reasonable and a valued friend to many. Never a jokester, in her final days she surprised everyone with a sardonic wit that she kept hidden for years.

In her teaching days she often had taken the lead in organizing school projects such as graduation ceremonies and educators’ days, all very well done as you can imagine. Always a popular and effective teacher, in retirement in Whitewater she found new ways to shine, active in local women’s clubs, taking her turn in leading the never-ending effort to preserve one of Whitewater’s distinguished old homes and in keeping track of and delivering “Meals on Wheels,” and served as an enthusiastic volunteer at the Fort Atkinson Hospital. In addition, she was a veritable “Queen of the Bridge Table” and was a sympathetic and caring neighbor in Prairie Village and the Whitewater community. She was once named Fairhaven’s “Resident of the Month” and was called the “Energizer Bunny.” As a sports fan, she converted to the Packers long ago and the Brewers more recently from her Michigan teams. But she always held on to the MSU Spartans through thick and thin.

Sue was preceded in death by her parents, Stuart and Annalee Kirvan and is survived by her husband, Tom of Whitewater, son Howard, daughter-in-law Karrie and grandchildren Ryan and Kate of Chicago, siblings Anya (David) Jones of Boulder, CO, Nancy Kirvan of Petoskey, MI and Tom Kirvan of Birmingham, MI, nephews Andrew Harris and wife, Amy, of Longmont, CO, Jesse Kirvan of Park City, UT and Aaron (Mary) Peters and their daughters Leanna and Kennedy of Pinehurst, NC.

The family thanks the people of Whitewater and Prairie Village and other places they lived for being wonderful neighbors through her illness, and Rainbow Hospice, especially Nurse Kendra, and Nitardy Funeral Services, Whitewater. Special heartfelt thanks to Sue’s sister, Nan Kirvan, who stayed with us during the three weeks of hospice care.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her honor can be made to Rainbow Hospice Care. (https://rainbowhospicecare.org) or Project Mercy, a Christian, non- profit school located in Yetebon, Ethiopia. (https://www.projectmercy.org/)

Respecting her wishes, there will be no public services. There will be a family scattering of the ashes at the Greenwood Cemetery in Petoskey in the summer of 2024. Online condolences may be made at
www.nitardyfuneralhome.com

Daniel J. Hegeman, 64, of Whitewater, passed away on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at Alden Estates of Jefferson.

Dan was born on December 20, 1958 in Burlington, son of Glen and Katherine (Gal) Hegeman. On May 14, 1983 he married Deborah Weber.

Dan enjoyed spending time with his family and grandkids, the evidence of this was the biggest smile with a twinkle in his eye and a chest so choked up with emotion every chance he was able to visit, that you could feel it across the room. He loved theater, especially Shakespeare’s Hamlet which he had memorized, giving his family impromptu performances of the famous soliloquy throughout the years. He passed on a love of theater while assisting with set design on several plays with his older kids.  He was a graduate of Milwaukee School of Engineering with an Associate of Applied Science, Electrical Communications Engineering Technology 1979 & Bachelor of Science Electrical Engineering Technology (With Honors) 1986. He was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson, teaching confirmation classes, being involved with the Knights of Columbus and assisting with timekeeping for pinewood derby races. He also enjoyed conversing about politics and engineering, old books, watching tractor pulls, and helping children at the Math Olympiads and with various 4-H activities. He enjoyed traveling when work called for it. Trips to Finland & Germany were some he liked to talk about. He would talk about meeting a relative on a flight to Germany at one point, which seemed to be a highlight, while also making it clear that he had never met a stranger, he would talk to anyone- as long as it wasn’t over a telephone! As someone who worked with technology most of his life, he had a love of history and old books. He could often be found in the garage with his records or basement room surrounded by dusty papers that remained, much to the chagrin of his wife. Growing up on a dairy farm, he never quite left that part of his life go, he was a hard worker & if you were ever in the car with him when driving by a field of escaping cattle, you knew you were going to be either sitting and watching him put them back in, or getting out to go help with putting them back in. Life is never easy, and he had his share of sorrow as well as mistakes, but he was dearly loved, and his loss will be felt deeply in many ways by his family and friends. 

Dan is survived by his wife of 40 years, Debbie Hegeman; children, Katherine (Ryan) Wermes, Lisa (Daniel) Williams, Andrew Hegeman, Peter (Kelsey) Hegeman, Simon (Lauren) Hegeman, Anna Hegeman, Christopher Hegeman, Mary Hegeman and David Hegeman; grandchildren, Emmaleigh and Owen Wermes, Perpetua, Matthias, Azalea and Damien Williams; Lillian and Paisley Hegeman, and Thomas, Elizabeth, Kylina and Giuseppe Hegeman; mother, Katherine Hegeman; siblings, Sue (Mike) Patrick, Bill (Becky) Hegeman, Sally (Kevin Kramer) Epping, Matt (Debbie) Hegeman, Peggy Sawasky and Sandra Hegeman and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his children, Matthias and Teresa Hegeman, father, Glen Hegeman and brother, Larry Hegeman.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. on Thursday at the church until the time of service. Burial will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Kansasville, WI on Friday, October 20, 2023 at 11 a.m.

Dunlap Memorial Home in Fort Atkinson is assisting the family.

www.dunlapmemorialhome.com

Irma P. Hernandez, 88, of Palmyra, WI passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 12, 2023, at Aurora Summit Medical Center in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

Irma was born on April 13, 1935, in Piedras Negras, Mexico the daughter of Gaspar Perez Perez and Agripina Montalvo De Perez. Irma was united in marriage to Miguel R. Herandez in the mid-1950s in Piedras Negras and the Lord blessed their union with six children, Miguel, Irma, Blanca, Alma, Eusebio, and Rita. Irma’s family was her pride and joy. Her best times were spent surrounded by her loving children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was a true mother and deeply cared for her family and took care of any need they had. Irma will be remembered for her laughter and joy and she will be sincerely missed by those she leaves behind.

She is survived by: her six children, Miguel (Norma H.) Hernandez of Eagle Pass, TX, Irma (Manuel) Garza of Palmyra, WI, Blanca (Hector) Villarreal of Palmyra, WI, Alma (Nicolas) Montalvo of Donna, TX, Eusebio (Norma A.) Hernandez of Palmyra, WI, and Rita (Armando) Marquez of Palmyra, WI; along with her 21 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. Irma is also survived by 3 sisters, a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, 2 sisters and her loving husband Miguel.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, October 16, 2023, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Fr. Antony Thomas will officiate the Mass. Visitation will take place from 9:00 AM until the time of Mass at the church. Irma will be laid to rest next to her husband at a later date.

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

WHITEWATER – Patti Rohrs (Moen), of Whitewater, passed away peacefully on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, at the age of 68, with family by her side. Patti was born on Oct. 17, 1954, in Madison, to Arnie and Ginny Moen.

A devoted mother, Patti’s greatest pride in life was her children and grandson. She was a kind and compassionate person who always put others before herself. Patti graduated from La Follette High School with the class of 1972.  Patti earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from UW-Whitewater and cherished her time as a teacher and school librarian for the Whitewater School District.

Patti enjoyed spending time with her family, her dog Marley, music by Paul McCartney and listening to the Milwaukee Brewers on her porch. A good book or crossword puzzle could always be found near her side. Her favorite summer days were spent at the St. Dennis festival in Madison, the Syttende Mai festival in Stoughton, the Wisconsin State Fair, and her brother Tom’s annual boat ride. Patti was also a strong supporter of voting rights and worked nearly every election at her local polling station.

Patti is survived by her children, Bobbi Rohrs-MacMillan (Kenneth MacMillan) and Kevin Rohrs, and their father, Rex Rohrs; her grandson, Evan MacMillan; her siblings, Tom Moen and Terri Moen (Estrella Schnering); nephews, Eric (Audrey) Moen and Kyle Moen; and many other family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Arnie and Ginny Moen.

Patti’s kind spirit will be deeply missed by all who knew her.  In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite library in Patti’s memory.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Mrs. Patricia Ann Mikkelsen, age 91, passed away peacefully on October 8, 2023, in Dyer, TN. She was born on February 17, 1932, to Melvin & Fern Pieper in Freeport, Illinois. Her family moved to Wisconsin where she involved herself in many activities and graduated from Whitewater High School.

Patricia was married to Lawrence Mikkelsen for 73 years. They moved their family to Dyer, TN in 1971, where she led a full, productive, selfless life, nurturing and loving on so many in her family. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Dyer and worked at Poly-M Contractors.

Patricia is survived by her husband, Lawrence ‘Larry’ Mikkelsen; her children, Mike Mikkelsen (Nancy Newman), Debby O’Brien (Tim), Tom Mikkelsen (Cindy), Kathy Spero, Chris Parker (Randy), Julie Boyd (Johnny); thirteen grandchildren; thirty great-grandchildren; siblings, Dale Pieper (Dorothy), Delmar Pieper (Mary), Ronette Steinke (Dave), Daryl Pieper (Darlene); Jim Pieper (Kathy); several nieces & nephews; and other extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin & Fern Pieper; brother, John Pieper; daughter, Shari Mikkelsen; son-in-law, Paul Spero; and sister-in-law, Judi Pieper.

Graveside services will be held at 2 PM, Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at Oakwood Cemetery with Rev. Brent Porterfield officiating. Pallbearers are Brandon Reese, Bradley Reese, James Wheeler, Cam Clark, Gage Mikkelsen, and Jeremy Mikkelsen.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the Dyer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center nursing staff for their compassionate care. She was loved by many and will be missed tremendously by everyone.

Karnes & Son Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mrs. Patricia Ann Mikkelsen.

Eric Lynn Sedmak, 52, Whitewater, passed away on Thursday, October 5, 2023, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, WI.

Eric was born on November 25, 1970, in La Crosse, WI to Kenneth L. and Sharon L. (Krolski) Sedmak.  He graduated from Howards Grove High School in 1989 and from Central Bible College in Springfield, MO with BA in Biblical Literature.  He was ordained in 1995 with the Assembly of God Church.  On June 19, 1993, he married Jacqueline S. Miller.  Eric worked bi-vocationally as a computer consultant for Hollister Inc., Libertyville, IL from 1998-2007 and at Cygnus Corp in Fort Atkinson from 2008-2012 while being a senior pastor at the Whitewater Assembly of God Church.  From 2012 to the present Eric was a systems analyst for SSP Innovations.  Eric loved spending time at the lake house Up North, cruising on his Bennington Pontoon Boat, and gaming online with friends. 

He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline of Whitewater; children Allison Lynn Sedmak, De Pere, WI, and Nicole Sue Sedmak, Milwaukee; parents Kenneth and Sharon Sedmak, Howards Grove, WI; siblings Brenda (Derek) Sedmak Powles, Madison, WI and Garret Preder and family, Plymouth, WI.  

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at the Whitewater Spanish Family Church, formerly Whitewater Family Church, 1540 W. Walworth Ave, Whitewater, WI 53190 at 5:30 p.m. with Pastor Mike Lema officiating.  Friends may call at the church on Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service. 

As an expression of sympathy, you may wish to consider memorials to the Whitewater High School Drama Club or to the WHS Robotics program https://www.ferradermis.org/?page_id=2341
 
Online condolences may be made at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com