Life Events

Ralph Ronald Johnson, 91, Whitewater, passed away on Friday, February 12, 2021 at his home. 

Ralph was born on November 21, 1929 in Waukegan, IL to Fredrick and Elsie (Olson) Johnson.  He graduated from Waukegan High School and attended Lake Forest College.  Ralph served his country in the United States Air Force from 1950-1954 and received the Korean Service Medal.  On May 23, 1973 he married Elinor Schufletowski in Fond Du Lac, WI.  Ralph worked for AC Delco and for General Electric as an engineer.  He enjoyed riding his bike, golfing and flying out of Crites Field in Waukesha.  He was a member of Bethany Ev. Lutheran Church, Fort Atkinson. 

He is survived by his wife, Elinor of Whitewater; children Cynthia (Roger) Ball, Huntersville, NC, Connie (Jeff) Lamm, Ormond Beach, FL, Thomas (Nikki Ferguson) Johnson, Avondale, AZ, Rebecca (Tom) Krause, Waukesha, WI, Kristen (Tom) McCulloch, Milton, WI; 10 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents. 

A private service will be held at Bethany Ev. Lutheran Church.  As an expression of sympathy, you may wish to consider memorials to Rainbow Hospice.  Online condolences may be made by visiting nitardyfuneralhome.com.   

Nitardy Funeral Home, Whitewater is assisting the family. 

Pamela Ann Kane, of Madison, Wis., passed away after living with metastatic breast cancer at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, at the age of 67. Pam was born in Fort Atkinson, Wis., on Sept. 22, 1953, the daughter of Doris (nee Roloff) and John F. Kane, who met while both were serving in the U.S. Army. Two months after birth, Pam took her first Trans-Atlantic trip with her mother and older sister to meet up with her father who served with the U.S. Army in Austria. Thus began Pam’s life of travels that would take her throughout the United States and to Taiwan, Germany, China and Italy. Coming from an Army family, Pam proudly wore the badge of “Army brat.”

After graduating from Whitewater High School in 1971, Pam studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1975. She attained the rank of sergeant and served as an MP with the 42nd Military Police Brigade in Italy. After discharge Pam worked as the editor of the San Antonio Citizen News in Texas. She then relocated to the greater D.C. area where Pam worked as the editor for the National Guard Association Magazine. Pam was a company commander in the D.C. National Guard and attained the rank of Captain. In 1991, Pam was called to serve in Desert Storm with the 372nd MP Battalion, 14th MP Brigade. After Desert Storm, she completed her B.A. in Journalism and Political Science at the University of Maryland – College Park. Later in life, Pam relocated back to Wisconsin to be closer to family.

As an Army brat, Pam learned to make friends wherever she was stationed. At the end, she was surrounded by the friends she made throughout her life, especially those from her high school and college days whose lasting friendships meant so much to her. Pam’s cats were especially dear to her. Her friend Girlie kept her good company over the last few months. A staunch Democrat, Pam was thrilled that Joe Biden won the election.

Pam and her family would like to thank the many medical professionals associated with the Veterans Health Administration and University of Wisconsin Health Services who helped her, especially the staff at the Infusion Center and Drs. Albertini, Eskola, Hester, Mushtaq, O’Regan, and Stella. Her family especially wants to thank the dedicated professionals at the VA Hospital Hospice Unit for their kind and caring treatment. Pam was diagnosed with cancer four times and beat it three times. She lived well beyond the average survival time from date of diagnosis for MBC with a great quality of life.

Pam is survived by her sisters, Sharon Kane (David Hutton), Rebecca Perez (Raul Perez) and Kelly Kane (Thomas Mackey); her favorite brother, John C. Kane (Anika Noni); her niece, Alejandra Perez (Kyle Kohl); and her nephew, Luis Perez (Tessa Echeverria). In addition, she is survived by aunts, uncles, and cousins of the Roloff family far too numerous to list but whose love and friendship she enjoyed over the last few years.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no service will be held. A graveside interment will be held in the spring at Hillside Cemetery in Whitewater. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation in her name to Planned Parenthood or another organization that she would support. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Cary Douglas Mickelson, 77, Fort Atkinson, passed away on Sunday, February 7, 2021 at the Rainbow Hospice Inpatient Center in Johnson Creek, WI.

Cary was born on November 23, 1943 in Stoughton, WI to Iver and Audrey (Grass) Mickelson. He attended high school in Port Washington, WI. Cary married Lucille Kramer on June 22, 1985 in Whitewater, WI. He was employed by McLay Auto Parts, Stritzel Heating and Cooling and for the last 12 years at Winchester True Value Hardware Store. Cary loved to tinker and work on old cars, hunt and fish and pitch horseshoes.

He is survived by his wife Lucy, Fort Atkinson; daughters Shelly (William) Jones, Greenville, TN, Laura (Todd) Roller, Mukwonago, WI; step-children Randy (Jasmine) Morkved, Arkansas, Valerie (Mike) Merriner, Palmyra, WI, Andrew Morkved, Neenah, WI, Matthew (Amanda) Morkved, Whitewater, WI, Jonathan Morkved, DeForest, WI; sisters Barb (Dave) Jensen, Random Lake, WI, Sherry (Jim) Schuh, Saukville, WI, Elaine Pierre, Adell; brother-in-law Rodney Ardisana, Sheboygan Falls, WI. He was preceded in death by his parents; step-daughters Roxanne Hall and Sonja Isaacson; sister, Patricia Ardisana.

A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, February 15, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. at the Nitardy Funeral Home 1008 Madison Ave, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

East Troy – Maud Lou (nee Colby) Key, 93, of East Troy, WI was called home to be with her Lord on Saturday, February 6, 2021.  She passed peacefully at East Troy Manor.  She was born in Whitewater, Wisconsin on November 13, 1927 to Roy and Ruth (nee Billings) Colby.

Maud joined Rainbow in Whitewater and was the treasurer for Madison.  She received a Rainbow locket for not missing a meeting.

After graduating high school and completing two years of college at UW Whitewater, she worked in Milwaukee at AO Smith as a typist for 10 years.

Maud Joined Eastern Star in 1947 and has been a loyal, faithful member ever since.

Maud married Joseph Key in 1957 in Whitewater, WI.  The couple lived life together on the Key Family Farm in East Troy for the next 58 years.  Maud loved raising her chickens and gathering the eggs, you could sometimes even find her talking to the chickens.

Maud was an active member of Saint James United Methodist Church in East Troy for 64 years.  She was a member of the Woman group and served on the finance committee and participated in many other groups and committees over her 64 years.  She often talked about Come-Double Group and how much fun they always had.

Maud will be greatly missed by the countless people she met throughout her life.  Her goal every day was to make at least one person smile.  She loved to meet people and talk, play bingo, especially when she won a prize. She also loved a good party and enjoyed seeing so many friends and catching up at the parties.  When you would ask Maud how she was doing, her answer always was “Kicking.”

Left to cherish her memory: daughter Ruth (Bob) Miller; granddaughter Tera (Nick) Theroux; grandsons David Key, Kevin Key; great grandchildren Natalie and Blake Theroux; sister-in-law Marion Henry; niece Carol (Pat) Dier; nephews Bill (Chris) Henry, Paul (Barb) Henry and many, many friends.

Maud was preceded in death by husband Joseph and son Ray.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 20^th at St. James United Methodist Church (2945 Main St. East Troy) from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the Funeral Service at 12 NOON.  Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in the Town of Troy.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. James United Methodist Church or East Troy Manor.

SCHMIDT & BARTELT Funeral and Cremation Services, Mukwonago – 262-363-7126
www.schmidtandbartelt.com

George Vandling, age 70, of Winneconne, formerly of Whitewater, died February 2, 2021 at his home.

George was born in Michigan on December 6, 1950 to Earl George and Carolyn Jean Vandling. The family lived in Villa Park, Illinois, and then moved to Whitewater where George graduated from high school in 1969.

George graduated from Sam Houston State University, and spent most of his life working in sales. He married Helen in 1974 and they had two children, Jessica and Joshua. He later married Heidi Sandner and they were married for 20 years before her death in 2015.

He loved history, and he loved to read. He was smart and witty and would drive his kids crazy in his antics to avoid asking them for anything. He could laugh at himself, and tell a good story, though he was a man of few words. He loved to fish and we find solace that he was able to buy a house on the water in the past few years to spend time doing what he loved.

He is survived by his children, Jessica (Shawn) Shiveler and his son, Joshua (Suzanne) Vandling and his three grandchildren, who hung the moon in his eyes, Molly Jean, and Embry Taylor and Parker Mason. He’s also survived by his sister Debora and brother in law Larry Gnatzig, and his nieces Vanessa and Caroline and their families.

We will plan a time to be together to share stories later this year. We think dad would like that, even though he’d probably say not to bother. Please email vandlingkids@gmail.com if you would like to be invited, or to simply let us know that you knew and remember him.

To honor him, a donation to your local animal shelter or to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, two organizations that were important to Heidi, and therefore important to him, are welcome. You could also cheer on the Cubs or Bears in memory of him, he’d like that.

Robin Marie Stradinger, 59, of Whitewater passed away on February 3^rd, 2021 at home surrounded by her loving family.

Robin was born on June 6, 1961 to John and Jane Evers. She grew up in Columbus and graduated from Columbus High School. On October 1, 1983, Robin married her beloved husband Theodore “Ted” Stradinger and together they had two daughters.

She enjoyed gardening, line-dancing, crafting, camping, listening to country music, and most of all spending time with her grandchildren. She also worked for thirty years in personal banking at BMO Harris in Janesville and Madison.

Robin is survived by her parents, John and Jane Evers; husband, Ted Stradinger; daughters, Lindsay (Chad) Wicker, Cara (Joe Smith) Stradinger; grandchildren, Tristan Wicker, Brody Stradinger, Gracelynn Wicker, Owen Smith, Case Smith; brother, Rick (Dianne) Evers; two nephews, Austin Evers, Jake Evers; two nieces, Mallory Stidmen, Sierra Evers; and five great-nieces, Lizzie, Olivia, Hailey, Emma, and Ellie Stidmen.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents; and brother, Lee Evers.

At this time there are no services.

The family would like to give special thanks to SSM Hospice and Jody Ritsch for their exceptional care for Robin.

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

Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. Norman H. Wegner Jr. passed away Friday Sept. 18, 2020 at the age of 82. He was the son of Norman H. Wegner and Vivian A. Patrick Wegner formerly of Whitewater, WI. Sister Sigrid S Wegner Gimla of Davidson, NC. Daughter Jinny Wegner 45, Victoria Wegner 44. Three grandchildren, Noah 11, Demi 10, and Ivory 2, all of Florida.

Norman was born in Manitowoc, WI. In 1938 at the beginning of WWII, Norman Sr. was a welder who worked on the submarines that served in the war effort. The love of the sea would ultimately be a constant presence in both father and son.

The family moved to Milton, WI and shortly then moved to Whitewater. Norman attended Whitewater State Teachers College. After graduating in 1956 Norman joined the Navy. Thus began the lure of the open road and sea.

After 3 yrs. Norman returned to Whitewater to attend college. During this period he would take a semester off and travel the world, Europe, Scandinavia, middle east, Orient and beyond. He always returned home to finish school. At one point after graduation, Norman joined the Merchant Marines on the upper peninsulas of the Great Lakes.

Norman married in 1974 to Johanna Vacchonie whom he met in Paris, France. Johanna was from New York, N.Y. and so they were married there. Norman was a Marine Insurance adjuster for Dole Foods. They moved to Florida and remained there.

Norman’s adventurous spirit remained a constant throughout his life. He was forever remodeling, repairing and adding on to his home. Gardening was also a passion as growing up in Wisconsin he had that rich black soil as a fond memory. The open road, sky and sea remained a strong part of Norman’s life to the very end. He will be missed by many as he was loved by many.

His wish was to be cremated and ashes spread at sea. Service will be planned at a later date.