News & Events

Dr. Nomsa Gwalla Ogisi, retired UW-Whitewater Special Education faculty member, passed away in Madison, WI on August 20, 2024.

Tania Ann Bowden, age 48, Delavan, Wi., passed away unexpectedly on August 1, 2024. Born September 16, 1975, to John Bowden and Irene Bowden (Proc) originally from Chicago, IL. Came to Wisconsin from Chicago in 1979. Tania attended Whitewater High School. Tania is survived by her Mom, Irene and James Osgood, Delavan, WI., three daughters Casandra Harris (Casey), Fort Atkinson, WI., Samantha Dohms (Sammy), Cheyenne, Wyoming, Mariah Flynn, Slinger, WI., Laura, Sandy, Bonnie Bowden and many nieces and nephews, Fayetteville TN., and the list goes on. Private visitation and the celebration of life will be held at her Mom’s residence.

Lee Spencer Murray, 92, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 18, 2024 at Fairhaven in Whitewater. Lee was born on September 24, 1931 in Princeville, Illinois to Harlow and Grace (Larson) Murray.  He graduated from Princeville High School in 1949 and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana with his bachelor’s degree Agriculture-Agronomy in 1957.  Lee served in the United States Army from 1951-1953 and received a purple heart during his service in the Korean War. He was a proud member of the Whitewater American Legion, Princeville Masonic Lodge, Whitewater Jaycees and Wisconsin Fertilizer Association. Lee is survived by … Read more

Updated 8/23/24 @ 4:40 p.m. to add information regarding the casket. Leo Jorgen Hansen, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle, passed away in Janesville, Wisconsin, on August 18, 2024, at the age of 98. Leo was born in Chicago, Illinois, on October 15, 1925, and spoke Danish before he learned English. He entered the work force at the age of 12, assisting his father, a house painter. When he was 17 years old, the family moved to a 120-acre farm on the southeast edge of Whitewater, Wisconsin. The family initially worked the fields with two teams of workhorses and … Read more

William Walton “Bill” WeissMarch 23, 1944 – August 19, 2024MADISON – Bill Weiss went Walking with The King on Aug. 19, 2024. William Walton “Bill” was born on March 23, 1944, to Myrtle (Walton) and William Weiss in Philadelphia, Pa. Bill’s father was serving in World War II when Bill was born. He was 17 months old before he met his father for the first time. Until then, Bill and his mother lived with her parents. His mother and brother died in childbirth when Bill was 2 1/2 years old, and Bill returned to live with his maternal grandparents. Papa … Read more

Christine Marie “Chris” Gasperetti, 58, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 surrounded by her loving family at Fort Memorial Hospital. Chris was born on June 9, 1966 in Milwaukee to Joseph and Elaine (Sadowski) Socha. She was raised in Whitewater in her childhood home on Whitewater Lake. Chris graduated from Whitewater High School in 1984. Chris met her husband, Tim, while working at Wenninger in Milwaukee in 1988, and the two later married on September 30, 1989. Tim and Chris were married for exactly 34 years and ten months, and together they raised their daughter, Anna. … Read more

Janet Irene Heckert, age 87, passed away peacefully on July 25, 2024 in Delavan, Wisconsin. Born on November 1, 1936, in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, she was the daughter of Gladys and Henry Jansen. Janet was preceded in death by her loving husband Kenneth Heckert and her brothers Sonny and Paul and sister Darlene. Janet was a graduate of Elkhorn High School in 1955. On October 24, 1957, she married the love of her life, Kenneth Heckert, at Elkhorn Baptist Church in their hometown of Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Janet worked for many years as a seamstress, but her true passion was as a … Read more