Life Events

PERRY DOUGLAS MOYER, 91 of Whitewater, Wisconsin passed away peacefully at Fort Memorial Hospital surrounded by family on April 8, 2024.

He was born to John and Myrtle (Brokmeier) Moyer in Whitewater on March 23, 1933.

Perry grew up farming most of his life. He graduated from Whitewater High School in the class of 1950. Perry married Dorothy Kramer on October 25, 1958 at St. Patrick Catholic Church by the late Father Berry. Perry served in the Army from March of 1958 where he served 16 months in Germany.

Perry’s Ayrshire cattle played a large part in his life, leading to a lot of friendships and memories. He was a lifetime member of the National Ayrshire Association. Perry loved to show his Ayrshire cattle almost as much as he loved to watch his children and grandchildren show them at many shows. Perry’s cattle won awards at the local, state and national level including World Dairy Expo, Royal Agriculture Winter Fair, and North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky. Perry had many All-American heifers and cows; he was a well-known Ayrshire breeder not only in WI but all over the U.S. and Canada. During the 1985 National Convention in Wisconsin, his family held a farm tour. In 1999 he received the A.C. “Whitie” Thompson Memorial Award which is presented to the herdsman/showman who exhibits exemplary leadership and sportsmanship throughout the current World Dairy Expo.

On September 8, 2001, the Moy-Ayr herd dispersal took place. Perry had an impressive sale average of $3524. At the time of the dispersal, he held the highest selling Ayrshire on public auction at $15,000. In 2004, Perry had the Grand Champion Ayrshire at World Dairy Expo, Moy-Ayr Bonaparte Licorice. In 2007, Perry and Dorothy were honored as the Master Breeders at the Illinois Convention. In 2012, Perry and Dorothy were co-chairs of the National Convention in WI where breeders came from all over the U.S. and Canada. Perry served six years on the Wisconsin Ayrshire Board of Directors. Two different years Perry’s cattle were selected for the Hoard’s Dairyman Judging contest. Perry and Dorothy also attended over 30 National Ayrshire Conventions all the way to Maine and down to Oklahoma.

Perry was a big fan of watching the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers and the Wisconsin Men’s Basketball team and he had a love for polka music.

Perry is survived by his wife of 65 years, Dorothy; children Mary (Tim) Gillette of Whitewater and Pauline (Steve) Schmidt of Delavan; grandchildren Rebecca and Emily Schmidt of Delavan and Katie Gillette of Whitewater. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews and other friends and relatives.

Perry is preceded in death by his son, Gary; mother and father John and Myrtle (Brockmeier) Moyer; sisters Jeannette Travis, Beaulah Brotz and Olive Martin; brothers Chester at age 2, Russ, Art, John and Phil Moyer; grandparents and his in-laws Les and Ruth Kramer.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Nitardy Funeral Home in Whitewater. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM until time of service.

Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery. A gathering at Cravath Lakefront in Whitewater will follow the burial.

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

WHITEWATER, WI—Tiiu (Rodima) Gray-Fow, age 82, died at home on April 6, 2024, from the late effects of a heart attack that she suffered several months earlier. She was born in Tartu, Estonia, and spent her childhood in the shadow of World War II. When Tiiu was three years old, her family fled Estonia between the retreating Nazi army and advancing Soviet forces which were to occupy Estonia for the next fifty years. Young as she was, she still recalled their wild flight from midland Estonia to the harbor at Tallin, and the red glow in the sky from Tartu burning in the distance. She grew up in various German refugee camps, most notably the Estonian camp in the Alpine village of Geislingen where she spent almost three years and developed an abiding love of the mountains. At age ten, she emigrated to America with her parents and settled in the Lakewood area of New Jersey where a community of Estonian exiles was forming. Both Tiiu and her father contracted tuberculosis in America. Her father responded to antibiotics, but Tiiu did not recover until she underwent a risky new lung operation in her late teens. Tiiu matriculated at Douglass College in 1960 where she majored in history and met her lifelong friend Linda Alfonso. Afterwards, she moved to Madison to pursue graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin. She taught European history at Carroll College, Marquette University, and then UW Whitewater where she met and married Raleigh Williams and started a family. Later, she returned to school for a masters in counseling and worked as a guidance counselor in Williams Bay and then the Palmyra Eagle school district. In 1983, she married Michael Gray-Fow with whom she shared a happy life for over forty years.

More than anything, Tiiu loved camping in the mountains and spent many summer vacations in the national parks, most notably in the Rocky Mountains. She was a passionate defender of trees and was responsible for planting and protecting many terrace trees in Whitewater. She was instrumental in forming the Whitewater Tree Commission and served as its chair for ten years. The City honored her service with a day named in her honor and a tree planting ceremony at Cravath Lakefront Park where a plaque now bears her name. She was active in local politics through the League of Women Voters and the Democratic Party of Walworth County. Democracy, she often said, is not a spectator sport. She loved to travel and returned to visit Estonia several times after it finally became independent in 1991, once with her cousin Maret Henrikson and twice with Michael. She was very serious about home maintenance and spent a lot of time fixing, painting and repairing the rambling old farmhouse that she shared with Michael and their many dogs. She loved her dogs, always and deeply: Muri the cherished dog of her youth, then Buster, Chester, Kalju, Rufus, and finally Puck and Sophie. She was a fierce spirit, a fighter, and a lover of natural beauty.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Eino Rodima and Aino (Keder) Rodima and all of her maternal first cousins including Juhan Urm. She is survived by her husband Michael Gray-Fow; daughter Susan Maaja Williams (partner Bryan James); step-daughter Emily Gray-Fow; cousin Juhan’s wife Carol Urm and their sons Erik and Matthew (Robbi) Urm; and Matthew’s children, Rebecca, Nicholas and Nathan Urm.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 on Saturday, April 20 at St Peter’s Episcopal Church in Fort Atkinson. Lunch to follow at the church. Flowers are welcome, or donations may be made to the Walworth County Humane Society. Online condolences may be made at www.firstwisconsincremation.com.

Jayce Xavier Rocha, our beloved son, brother, grandson, cousin, nephew, and friend, passed away unexpectedly in a boating accident on March 9th, 2024 at the age of 21.

Jayce was born on March 4, 2003, to Benny and Casey Rocha in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Jayce attended Milton schools throughout his youth where he participated in many activities and built lifelong friendships. Jayce was a three-sport athlete excelling in hockey, lacrosse, and football. He continued his education at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, where he played football. Stevens Point is also where he met the love of his life, Mara. After his time at Stevens Point, he spent the summer and fall working for K&W Greenery doing landscape work before deciding to follow his dreams and move to Florida. Jayce was enrolled in Northwest Lineman College in Edgewater, FL, studying to become an electrical lineman and obtain his CDL. He was leading his class and excelling in the program, scheduled to graduate in May of 2024.

Jayce had a deep love for the outdoors. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. If he wasn’t sitting in a duck blind, shooting his gun, launching his fishing boat, or casting a line, you could find him scouting a pond, practicing his bird calls, or getting his gear set up for the next day. The outdoors is where he was happiest.

Jayce also had a love for sports. He played on various youth and club teams all the way through high school and into college. Whether on the ice or on the field, Jayce’s competitive spirit and love for the game shone brightly. Through sports, Jayce created countless memories with lifelong friends.

Jayce was known for his infectious laughter, vivacious personality, and zest for life. His presence was undeniable, lighting up every room he walked into. Nobody could make friends faster than Jayce. Everyone who interacted with Jayce felt his ability to make you feel like the most important person in the world. Every one of Jayce’s days were filled with doing the things he loved most: being with friends or family, spending time with Mara, hunting, fishing, playing sports, listening to music, or making people laugh. He left an indelible mark on those who knew him.

To know Jayce was to love Jayce. Though Jayce may no longer walk among us, he is with us in our hearts and the memories we have with him. When you’re hunting in a field, fishing on a pond, or spending time with friends and family, think of Jayce and smile. May his memory be the source of many smiles, laughter, and fun for generations to come.

Jayce is preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Richard and Margaret Bailey, Alvin and Jane Becker, and Adelaida Vasquez; his second cousins Shelby Long and Andrew Rocha, and his uncle, Max.

Jayce is survived by his parents, Benny and Casey Rocha and sister, Emelia Rocha. His grandparents, Dan and Jane Becker, Grandfather Ramon Rocha, and Grandmother Susy Hernandez. Aunts and Uncles, Cody (Kari) Becker, Chad (Teegan) Becker, Ramon Rocha Jr, Felipe (Britnei) Cervantes, Stacey Rocha, Mari Rocha and Ashley Gonzalez as well as many other family and friends.

A celebration of life will take place at Rock River Heritage County Park on Saturday, May 18th, 2024 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm.

Rock River Heritage County Park

5801 N River Rd.

Janesville, WI 53545

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Delta Waterfowl in Jayce’s honor.

MARY LEE MAZURKIEWICZ 08.18.1942 – 04.06.2024

Mary Lee (Floo) Mazurkiewicz, 81, of Whitewater, Wisconsin, peacefully passed away on April 6th at Rainbow Hospice in Johnson Creek, surrounded by her family. Mary was born on August 18th, 1942, in Milwaukee to Leona and Clarence Floo. She grew up with 3 sisters: Patricia, Sharon (Earl) Beranek, and Eileen (Robert) Shaffer. Mary attended Riley-Hayes Elementary School. She met her future husband, Richard Mazurkiewicz, at Pulaski High School and they married on June 13th, 1964. Before dedicating herself to the most important job of all, being a mother of 5, Mary worked for Brills Brothers and Hack’s Furniture Company in Milwaukee. Later, she worked for Sunny Day Dry Cleaners and Laundry in Mukwonago.

Mary was a kind and loving mother to 5 children: Patricia (Henry, deceased) Orton, Richard (Martha) Mazurkiewicz, Daniel (Lisa) Mazurkiewicz, Cathleen (Timothy) Swartz, and Timothy (Amanda) Mazurkiewicz. She was also a cherished grandmother to 12: Cassandra (Logan) Markko, Josephine (Jadon) Long, Haley (Zack) Starner, Isabelle Mazurkiewicz, Emily Orton, Alexandra Mazurkiewicz, Victoria Mazurkiewicz, Andrew Swartz, Matilda Mazurkiewicz, Eleanor Mazurkiewicz, Jolene Mazurkiewicz, and Lucille Mazurkiewicz. She also cherished her time with her 4 great-grandchildren: Ryleigh Starner, Theodore Long, Finn Markko, and Gemma Long. Known for her kindness, generosity, and love for her family, Mary enjoyed a good novel, movies, and many beloved television series. She enjoyed traveling to visit her family across the country, and vacationing in Las Vegas. Mary loved dancing with her forever partner, Richard, to the music of Elvis, Neil Diamond, and Conway Twitty.

Mary is survived by her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and a wide circle of friends who will dearly miss her.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her three sisters.

She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic parish in Whitewater.

Please join us in remembering and celebrating the life of Mary Lee. A memorial mass will take place at 1 PM on Friday, April 19, 2024 at St. Patrick Catholic Church. A memorial visitation will take place from 11 AM until the time of mass. “With love, we remember and honor Mary’s life, finding solace in the beautiful memories she leaves behind.”

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

Robert “Bob” T. Bigelow, 56, of Whitewater, WI passed away on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at his home.

Bob was born on February 10, 1968 in Fort Atkinson, WI the son of Charles and Sherry (Reinke) Bigelow. He grew up in the Whitewater area and after his schooling, he worked on his dad’s farm at the beginning of his working career and would work in the farming industry for the majority of his career. Bob also worked in construction as a roofer and few other capacities. He was very skilled with his hands and was the type of person who could make or fix just about anything. Bob was a very helpful person and was willing to help a friend, neighbor or complete stranger in need. He truly would give the shirt off his back to anyone. Bob was known as “Bigzy” or “Uncle Bob” to his friends and family. For leisure, he loved being outside in God’s creation. He had a great appreciation for animals and their beauty and he loved hunting or anything else outside. He had a beloved pet Golden Retriever, Wally who went everywhere with him and the two were best of friends. Bob also enjoyed watching classic Westerns such as Bonanza or Gunsmoke. He was blessed with a son, Nicholas and he loved him very much. Bob was a good man and he will be deeply missed by his friends and family.

He is survived by: his son, Nicholas (Brittany) Osgood of Whitewater; his two grandsons, Duncan and Connor Osgood; his loving sister, Brenda Brown of Cambridge; and his niece and nephews, Danielle (Ryan) Larson of Menomonee Falls, Josh (Crystal) Brown of Fort Atkinson, Nathan (Brittany) Lathrop of Cambridge, Robert Lathrop of Whitewater, and Andrew Lathrop of Whitewater; he is also survived by his faithful canine companion, Wally.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

A Memorial Service will be held to honor Bob’s life at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at the Gibson Family Funeral Home in Palmyra, WI (320 W. Main Street, Palmyra, WI 53156). Visitation will take place from 5:00 p.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.

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

Ruriko Minagawa Faytus, age 96, passed away at her Richmond Township home of 54 years on Fri., Mar. 22, 2024. She was born on Sept. 18, 1927, in Nagahama, Shiga, Japan, the daughter of Takeo and Yoshiko (Kikuchi) Minagawa. Ruriko married Pete Faytus on Nov. 24, 1959, in Tokyo, Japan. She moved to St. Francis, Milwaukee, WI in 1960 and was naturalized in 1964. After a move to Oak Creek, she moved to Whitewater in Sept. 1966 and finally to Richmond Township in Jan. 1970. She was employed as a nurse and accountant in Japan. In the U.S., she operated a business making ponchos, cushions, and stuffed animals in the early 1970s. She served for many years in the Women’s Auxiliary of Carpenter’s Union Local 836 in Janesville. Ruriko was skilled in longbow archery, shamisen, and mathematics. She could trace her ancestry back to 346 B.C. and was a direct descendant of Nakatomi Fujiwara who overthrew Emperor Soga in 645. Her great-grandfathers were samurai of the Takada and Aizu clans that were killed fighting the Imperial troops of Emperor Meiji in 1868 during the Boshin Civil War.

She is survived by her husband, Pete; son, Len (Stacie) Faytus, all of Delavan; a daughter, Michiko Tsuruga, Japan. She is also survived by one grandson, Lewis Faytus; three granddaughters: Rie Ishikawa, Tomomi Tsuruga, and Christine Faytus; three great-grandaughters: Brynn, Kylie, and Amara; five great-grandsons: Bentley, Arthur, Shunta, Eisuka, and Akito. She is further survived by sister-in-law Roberta Mashlan, of Milwaukee; three brother-in-laws: Harold (Leslie) Blaize Jr., of Montana, Anthony (Frances) Blaize, and James Blaize, all of Oak Creek, and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister Reiko (Douglas) Anderson of Washington and three brothers: Katsuhiko (Sueko) Minagawa, Shizuo Minagawa, and Kuniaki Minagawa, all of Japan, and a grandson; John Faytus, of Whitewater.

Ruriko requested that no memorial or service be held as she did not like somber events. Inurnment will be at Milton Lawns Memorial Park, Janesville.

Nitardy Funeral Home, Whitewater is assisting the family.