Obituaries

Scott E. Willson, 71, of Palmyra, WI, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at Sunset Ridge Memory Care, Jefferson, WI.

Scott was born on October 15, 1952 at the Fort Atkinson Memorial Hospital, son of Neil and Marjorie (Frank) Willson. He grew up on his family’s dairy farm and graduated from Palmyra High School. After high school, Scott continued his education at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. Scott worked as a sales rep for the majority of his working career for the Bendix Corporation. His outgoing and friendly demeanor helped him to go on to have a successful career until his retirement in the late 1990’s. Scott enjoyed his work and the interactions with his customers and the traveling that came with his position. He could always tell you the good places to eat and visit in a number of different cities across the country. After retiring, Scott helped take care of his mother during her final year and made sure that her needs were met. His giving and considerate nature also extended to his siblings, nieces and nephews. He always remembered to send cards or find unique gifts for birthdays, Christmas, and graduations. Scott put others before himself. This trait was exemplified when honored with a plaque for his heroism after saving a herd of cattle from a barn fire. While on his way home from a work trip in the middle of the night, he saw fire and smoke rising from a barn and took action to wake the sleeping farmer and release the cattle from the barn filled with smoke. Scott never hesitated to help a friend, family member or stranger in need. He will be sincerely missed by those he leaves behind.

He is survived by: his siblings, Robert (Cheryl) Willson of Elkhorn, and Bonnie Willson of Palmyra; his nieces and nephews, Lance Willson of Appleton, Daniel Willson of Palmyra, Valerie Willson of Whitewater, Stephanie (Craig) Pagenkopf of Sullivan, and John (Teresa) Willson of Las Vegas, NV. Scott is also survived by many other relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, and his brothers, David and Michael.

A Memorial Service to honor Scott’s life will be held at 3:00 PM on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Palmyra, WI. Visitation will take place at the church from 1:00 PM until the time of service. A reception will be held at the church after the service. Scott will be laid to rest in Hillside Cemetery of Palmyra, WI 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

Cheryl E. Watson

November 26, 1957 — April 19, 2024

Cheryl E. Watson, age 66, of Larwill, IN, passed away at 11:13 p.m. on Friday, April 19, 2024, at Parkview Whitley Hospital, Columbia City.  Born on November 26, 1957, in Fort Atkinson, WI, she was the daughter of Dewey and Laura (Darlington) Lilly.

Cheryl attended Whitewater High School in Whitewater, WI, and graduated with the Class of 1976.  On June 11, 1983, she married Daniel Watson in Fort Atkinson, WI.  They moved to Indiana in 1986 and settled in their current home of Larwill in 1988.

Cheryl worked as a customer service representative at Lake City Bank for 17 years before her retirement in 2018.  She enjoyed cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Survivors include her husband Dan Watson of Larwill; daughters DeAnna (Mitchell) Watson-Fireoved of Fort Wayne and Darcy (Aaron) Gaff of Columbia City; five grandchildren; sisters Lyn (Daniel) Beighley of Boise, ID and Terrina (Gary) Folk of Green Bay, WI.

She was preceded in death by her parents Dewey and Laura Lilly, infant sister Dreama Lilly, son Jason Watson, and sisters Jewel O’Hanlon and Dawn Zittlow.

A memorial gathering for Cheryl’s family and friends will be held on Thursday, May 2, 2024, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at DeMoney Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City.

A celebration of life service in memory of Cheryl will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions in memory of Cheryl may be made to Indiana Donor Network.

Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences or to sign the online guest register.

Edith I. McElroy (nee Rye) passed away on Friday, April 26, 2024, at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg, WI. She was born on October 23, 1932, on her parents’ farm in Johnstown Township, Rock County, WI, the daughter of Ralph and Clara (Duoss) Rye.

Edith graduated from Whitewater High School (class of 1950), The National Louis University – College of Education (class of 1954), in Evanston, IL, and pursued graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. In her undergraduate program, her clinical & student-teaching experiences were at Jane Addam’s Hull House Settlement School, Chicago, IL. All totaled, her elementary teaching career in the primary grades spanned across five decades at East Troy, Pardeeville, and Portage Schools.
Edith married B. Wayne McElroy on September 7, 1957, at Rock Prairie Presbyterian Church, Janesville, WI. They made their home on Wayne’s farm in Marcellon Township, Pardeeville, WI. Sadly after only twelve years of marriage, Wayne passed away on October 6, 1969, leaving Edith to raise their two young girls.

Edith is survived by daughters Lois (Terry) Lindell, Donna Nadosy, granddaughter Laura Nadosy (Alex Spurley), the newest love of her life – her great-grandson Gus, sister-in-law Linda Rye, niece Jennifer (Jason) Zenda, and great-nephew Ian. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brother, and a sister, in infancy.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, June 8 at 11:00 a.m. at the Portage Presbyterian Church with Pastor Dave Hankins officiating. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at church. Following the service there will be a time for fellowship and a light luncheon. Burial of the cremains will take place at the Marcellon Cemetery, rural Pardeeville (Hwy 44, three miles east of Pardeeville).

Memorials may be made to the Portage Presbyterian Church or Agrace Hospice Foundation, Madison, WI.

Kratz Funeral Home, Portage, Wisconsin is assisting the family.

Anna Marie Jacobs of Waukesha was born to Eternal Life on Sunday, May 5, 2024 surrounded by her loving family at the age of 70. She was born in Fort Atkinson, WI on April 18, 1954 the daughter of Joseph and Ida (nee Poulsen) Fitzgerald and grew up in Whitewater. On August 11, 1973 she married her devoted husband, Glenn at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Whitewater. Anna worked for many years as the Juvenile Court Clerk for the City of Waukesha Police Department. She loved cooking, baking, a delicious Friday Fish Fry, and a good Old Fashioned. Her number one priority and greatest joy in life was being a mother and she was the best. She cherished every moment with her family and delighted in spending time with her grandchildren. Each Christmas season Anna gifted special ornaments to her family, a treasure that will forever be a remembrance of her unwavering love and kindness for all future Christmases.

She is loved and will be forever missed by her husband of 50 years, Glenn and their three children, Jennifer Hagelee of Woodbury, MN, Jeffrey Jacobs of Minneapolis, and Jeremy (Alyssa) Jacobs of College Station, TX; her grandchildren, Christian and Kellen Hagelee and Beau Anna and Fitzgerald Jacobs and Baby Jacobs due very soon. She is further survived by her brother, Leo (Mary) Fitzgerald, sister-in-law Cel Fitzgerald, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother Joseph Fitzgerald and sister Susan (Edward) Weinburger.

Visitation for Anna will be held on Sunday, May 12, 2024 from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, 1110 S. Grand Ave., Waukesha. Visitation will continue at St. Mary Catholic Church, 225 S. Hartwell Avenue in Waukesha on Monday, May 13^th from 10:00 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. funeral Mass. Private family burial will be at Hillside Cemetery in Whitewater. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Anna’s name are appreciated to the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin (https://www.dsaw.org/donate2) or to the Special Olympics, (https://www.specialolympics.org/donate).

Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, Crematory and Preplanning Services is honored to serve the family. For further information, please call the funeral home at 262-547-4035 or visit our website at www.randledable.com for directions or to leave the family an online tribute message.

Suzanne L. Preuschl, age 67, of Beloit, died Saturday April 27, 2024, at Beloit Memorial Hospital. She was born April 27, 1957, to Richard and Carrie “Bette” (White) LaBonne in Madison, WI. Suzanne graduated from Whitewater High School in 1975. She married Mark E. Preuschl on August 22, 1981, in Whitewater. Suzanne touched many lives, while working in her many roles at a variety of local credit unions, until her retirement in 2021. She was funny, mischievous, generous with her time, a great judge of character and always willing to help others. Suzanne loved music, singing & dancing. She also loved movies, books & reading. Most of all, Suzie loved her family and was truly proud of their professional accomplishments. Suzanne will be remembered for donating her stem cells, saving the life of her sister, Barb.

She is survived by her husband Mark Preuschl of Beloit; her son, Adric (Diana) Preuschl; her two sisters, Barbara LaBonne & Nancy (Steve) Borst; and many friends and neighbors.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Dan LaBonne.

She was the glue that bound us.

She was the rock that kept us grounded.

She was the wisdom that made us whole.

The void she leaves will forever fill our hearts with memories.

Suzanne’s Funeral Service will be at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday May 8, 2024, in the BRIAN MARK FUNERAL HOME, 1000 Inman Parkway, Beloit. Family & friends will be received on Wednesday in the funeral home from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers a memorial is being established in her name. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared on our website.

BRIAN MARK FUNERAL & CREMATION CARE

1000 Inman Park Avenue, Beloit, WI 608-362-2000

www.brianmarkfh.com

Florence H. Pape, age 105, of Whitewater and longtime resident of Little Prairie, WI passed away on Thursday, April 25, 2024 at Hearthstone Memory Care in Whitewater.

Florence was born on October 5, 1918 in the Town of Eagle, WI the youngest child of Frederick and Harriet (Watson) Kuhl. She grew up in the village of Little Prairie and attended high school in Milwaukee while living with her sister, Edith. After completing her schooling, Florence was united in marriage to Arthur E. Pape and the two were blessed with a son, Robert. The family moved around for Arthur’s work, mostly in the Midwest. The family eventually moved to Little Prairie, WI where Florence grew up. Florence remained in the Little Prairie area for the vast majority of her years. She enjoyed nature and the rural country where she lived. She liked to go for walks in the woods, bird-watch, and hunt for mushrooms. The most important thing in Florence’s life was her family. She was a loving wife and mother and she will be sincerely missed by those she leaves behind.

She is survived by her son Robert (Esty) Pape of Tucson, AZ and a number of nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her dear husband, Arthur E. Pape and her 5 siblings, Edith, Floyd, Howard, Glenn, and Earl.

Per Florence’s wishes, no formal services will be held.

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

Update 5/1/24 @ 4:50 p.m.: The location for the luncheon has been corrected.

Keith Leonard Thayer found peace on April 27, 2024, at home after a courageous three-year battle with Stage 4 prostate cancer that metastasized into his bones; he later developed stage 1 lung cancer.

He was born to Leonard and Marion Thayer on November 25^th, 1957. Keith grew up in Lima Center and was from the wrong side of the track. Marcie, his future wife, walked down daily after they met.

Keith and Marcie Mulrooney were married on June 21^st, 1980, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Milton, WI. They had celebrated their 43^rd wedding anniversary.

Although he did not graduate from high school, he was gifted with common sense. He earned his GED at age 45. In his younger days, Keith played Men’s and Coed softball. He coached Marcie’s Women’s Softball Team (1 year was enough). Keith enjoyed woodworking and made rocking chairs for nieces and nephews. He remodeled his home. Keith and Marcie enjoyed playing euchre and belonged to a card club. Keith was a Good Samaritan, changing your flat tire or pushing you out of the ditch. Keith loved his family and revered his parents. He enjoyed the elderly and assisted them when he could. He liked to read and watch westerns. He was a great cook and made the best gravy in the world. Keith never passed a dog without scritching it. He water skied and snow skied until his health declined. He never complained about his pain; he just bulled on. He was an avid pheasant hunter and trained his dogs to be excellent hunters. He loved to travel and had fond memories of a trip to Plentywood, MT pheasant hunting with his father, brother, brothers-in-law, other family and friends and his dog Logan.

Keith worked various construction and printing jobs. At his last job, he operated a C&C machine for Wood Products.

Keith is survived by his wife, Marcie, his brother Gary (Susan), sisters Kay (Mike Coleman), Jan (Ralph Wussow), and Chris (Bob Ide). His in-laws include Tess Mulrooney (Paul Eastwood), Pam (Jim Kennedy), Dave (Holly) Mulrooney. He had many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great greats. His four goddaughters: Shella Thompson, Cassandra Anderson, Shannon Kennedy, and Alicia Markham. Keith is further survived by his dogs Willie and Waylon.

He was predeceased by his parents, Leonard and Marion, in-laws, Ed and Joy Mulrooney, sister Joyce and brother-in-law Frank Los. He was further predeceased by his dogs Whitefoot, Ginger, MacGregor, Logan, Sullivan, and Kolby.

Special thanks to Dr. Jeffrey McGuire; Dr. James Runo; Dr. Michael Eastman, Dana and the staff at Johnson Creek UW Cancer Center; and the UW Health care team. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the UW Health Pulmonary Unit, the American Lung Association, the American Cancer Society, Agrace Hospice, or the Humane Society of Jefferson County.

Visitation is taking place at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1225 W. Main Street in Whitewater on Friday, May 10 from 10 to 12, with the service immediately following. A luncheon will be served at the Community Room at Blackhawk Manor, 1155 W. Blackhawk Dr., Whitewater, providing more time for gathering after the service.

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

Editor’s note: A Royal Purple article, “Impactful newspaper adviser passes,” regarding Mr. Martino may be found here.

Samuel Clifford Martino

February 5, 1939 — April 20, 2024

DeForest- Sam Martino, 85, passed away on April 20, 2024 from a heart attack while mowing the lawn of his home in DeForest, WI. He was born in Clarksburg, W.Va., the son of Frank and Flora Ann Spino Martino.

Sam was a passionate, award-winning journalist with a love of story-telling that started standing on a street corner in Dearborn, MI hawking newspapers and ended with tweeting. He began his reporting career in high school with the Dearborn Guide and Detroit Times. He received a scholarship to attend Michigan State University where he studied journalism and was state editor for the Lansing State Journal. Following completion of his journalism degree in 1962, he continued the work he began in college with the Associated Press and United Press International (UPI) spanning ten years as a contributing writer to the Washington Post, New York Times, Christian Science Monitor and Capital Times.

Sam’s focus was state, local and regional government, which he covered for several large, regional news organizations. His early reporting included the aborted presidential campaign of Michigan Governor George Romney. While working for the Minneapolis Tribune, he covered the tumultuous Vietnam War protests in Madison, Wisconsin, a takeover of the Wisconsin state assembly and black-student rebellion at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was selected for an American Political Science Congressional Fellowship working as press secretary for former Vice President and Senator Hubert H. Humphrey in Washington DC. While working for the Milwaukee Journal, in 1974, he was named Journalist of the Year by the Society of Professional Journalists. In 1975, he was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and received UPI’s top news writing award for lengthy coverage of the Menominee Indian occupation of the Alexian Brothers novitiate near Gresham, WI. Sam retired from the Milwaukee Journal in 2000, after 27 years of investigative reporting. He then joined the teaching staff at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater where, for twelve years, he inspired future journalists and acted as advisor to the student newspaper. He was recognized with a distinguished advisor award and a student award for an instructor “who made a difference ” in students’ lives. Most recently, he continued to rely on his “shoe leather” reporting skills as a regular contributor to the Edgerton Reporter.

Sam served our country as a public information specialist in the Army National Guard including federal duty during the Detroit riots in 1967.

Sam loved the outdoors. He was an active runner completing over 25 marathons, skied the American Birkebeiner multiple times and enjoyed camping and hiking. He is survived by his loving partner, Judy Taritas; his former wife, Mary Lou Payeur Martino; his three children, Anne (Tom), Joseph and Patrick Martino and two beloved grandchildren Sam and Sophie Martino. Sam was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Anthony Martino.

Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 26 followed by a service at 11 a.m. at St. Ann Catholic Church, 323 N. Van Buren St., Stoughton, WI. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Martino Journalism Scholarship at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater www.uww.edu/give  or by check payable to UW-Whitewater Foundation, noting the Martino Journalism Scholarship. Checks can be sent to UW-Whitewater Foundation, Inc., 800 W Main St, Whitewater, WI 53190.

In journalism, the number “30” at the end of a news story means the story is finished. Please share your memories of Sam by posting to his guest book at www.cressfuneralservice.com. “30”

Cress Funeral Service, 206 W. Prospect Street, PO Box 231, Stoughton, WI 53589 – (608) 873-9244

BENJAMIN D. RHODES

(November 7, 1936 – April 22, 2024)

Benjamin “Ben” Dagwell Rhodes, 87, of Grosse Pointe, MI, and longtime resident of Whitewater, WI, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and brother was born in St. Louis, MO. Having spent most of his childhood there and his teen years in Denver, CO, he was an avid lifelong Cardinals fan as well as expert outdoorsman, skier, and mountaineer. 

He climbed all 58 peaks in Colorado above 14,000 feet of elevation, many multiple times. In addition, he climbed Mt Rainier in WA, Mt. Whitney in CA, and the Tetons in Wyoming. He also climbed internationally in Mexico, Peru, Malaysia, The Canadian Rockies, and in Tanzania.

A distinguished scholar, writer, and professor, Mr. Rhodes received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in addition to his Ph.D. all at the University of Colorado Boulder. An author of several highly referenced history books, he was Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, having begun his college teaching career at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, MI in the mid-1960s. He was also published widely in such journals as Diplomatic History, The Journal of American History, and the Wisconsin Magazine of History.

During his 37-year tenure at UW-W, Rhodes was the recipient of three Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Awards, to teach at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland; Northeast Normal University in Changchun, China; and The National University of Malaysia. In recent years he lectured on cruise ships that took him all over the world.

Classical music was an important part of Ben Rhodes’ life. An audiophile and an accomplished French horn player, he performed as a member of various Denver-based ensembles, including Central City Opera and the City Park Band. He loved attending concerts of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He also loved opera and attended many performances at Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden, and Seattle Opera. In particular, he was a fan of Wagner and he attended multiple Ring Cycles at Seattle Opera, in Bayreuth, Germany, and in Adelaide, Australia.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Florence (Arbuthnot) Rhodes of Grosse Pointe, MI; a sister, Susan (Rhodes) Brown of Williamstown, MA; two sons: John Rhodes of Seattle, WA and Philip Rhodes of Grosse Pointe, MI; a daughter, Elizabeth “Betsy” (Rhodes) (spouse Robert) DeMaine of Los Angeles, CA; and his grandchildren, Paul and Annette “Annie” DeMaine, both of Los Angeles.

As Ben wished, there will be no memorial service at this time. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Colorado Mountain Club or any of the arts organizations mentioned above.

Patricia Juene Duckworth, 70, of Fort Atkinson passed away on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at Fort Memorial Hospital.

Patricia was born on June 7, 1953 in Modesto, California to Benjamin and Marilyn (Cooper) Morris. On November 26, 1983 Patricia married Ronald Duckworth and together they raised a son. For many years, Patricia worked as an administrative assistant at Fort Memorial Hospital.

She enjoyed arts and crafts, pottery, and gardening.

Patricia is survived by her husband, Ronald; son, Benjamin; and siblings, Michael Morris, and Melinda Nead.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin and Marilyn Morris.

The family would like to give special thanks to Bobbie Moultan for being such a great friend and supporter of Patricia.

A memorial service will take place at 4 PM on Friday, May 3, 2024 at Fort Christian Assembly Church. A memorial visitation will take place from 3 PM until the time of 4 PM.

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