Obituaries

MIDDLETON–Rose Marie Morgan, 80, of Middleton, passed away with her daughter by her side, on Feb. 13, 2022, at Wisconsin Dells Health Services. She was born on July 11, 1941, in Bardwell, KY, the daughter of Paul and Lillian (Viniard) Jett. She married Frederick E. Morgan on April 8, 1961.

Rose attended Lone Oak High School and Murray State University. She was the owner of Heritage House Fine Furnishings and Design and later worked as a supervisor of Whitehaven Welcome Center in Paducah, KY. Rose was an active member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and a member of the Sarah Circle. She was the former President of Kentucky Presbyterian Women prior to moving to Madison. She had a fun sense of humor and loved nothing more than trying new recipes and shopping at Macy’s.

MIDDLETON–Gary Earl Miller passed away on Feb. 4, 2022, after a brave battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 81 years old.

Gary leaves behind his wife, Lori; children, Guy (Lisa) and Jill (John); grandchildren, Jessica, Zack, Nick, Grace, Bibi, and Maddie; great-grandchildren, Aden and Parker; and sister, Laurel (Bob) Dove. He is preceded in death by his mother, Elsie, and father, Earl. Last, but not least, he leaves behind his feline friend, Elsa, who liked to cuddle with him on his favorite chair.

Gary was born Aug. 22, 1940. He grew up in Bakersfield, CA, and he spent his youth getting “greasy,” working on cars and racing his ‘32 Ford Coupe in the heyday of drag racing in Famoso, CA. This love of cars would stay with him for the rest of his life.

MADISON–Eugene LaVerne “Gene” Spindler, age 76, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving wife and family, on Feb. 3, 2022. He was born on March 31, 1945, in Marshfield, the first of eight children of the late Norbert and Delores (Bell) Spindler. He grew up on the family farm in Rozellville, where he attended Columbus Catholic High School, graduating in 1963. 

In December 1967, Gene graduated from UW-Madison with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. During college, he met and married the love of his life, Bonnie Rusch. They married on June 10, 1967, at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Wausau.

Shortly after graduating from UW-Madison, Gene was drafted into the US Army. He was honorably discharged from service in 1970 after serving in both the United States and Germany for two years.

CROSS PLAINS–Virginia “Ginny” (Esser) Faust, 93, of Cross Plains, passed away on Jan. 30, 2022, at Girlies Manor. She was born on July 18, 1928, to Frank and Martha (LaCrosse) Esser. She married Raymond J. Faust on Aug. 16, 1947, who died March 7, 1999.

She is survived by her four children, Allen (Janet Bouchard) Faust, Ronald (Gail Conner) Faust,

Sandra Faust (Wayne Buschmann) and David (Cheri Richter) Faust; eight grandchildren, Janet, Adrea, Tom, Theresa, Brian, Caroline, Michael, Michele and Rachel; several great-grandchildren, Anna, Maya, Natalie, Alex, Abigail, Chelsea, Brandon, Riley, Zane and Blake; sister-in-law, Ramona and her husband, Richard; and many relatives and friends.

CROSS PLAINS–Gary A. Trappe, 79, died on Jan. 26, 2022, at Homestead Living in Waunakee, after many years battling Alzheimer’s. He was born in Seelyburg., on Sept. 7, 1942. He was the sixth child of Benjamin and Zelma (Risen) Trappe. Gary graduated from West Lima High School in 1960. He married Karen Rognholt on April 4, 1964, at Five Points Lutheran Church in Richland County. They celebrated 52 years of marriage before Karen’s death in 2016.

Gary worked in Janesville, before landing in Madison to work at American Scientific Laboratories (ASL). After ASL closed their Madison location, Gary worked at Valley Bank, CBI, Kennedy-Hahn and finally as a park ranger for Dane County Parks.

MADISON–Gale W. Meyer, 79, of Madison, died January 30, 2022 at UW Health in Madison. He was born on September 13, 1942 to Otto and Susan (Hillyer) Meyer in Sparta. He graduated from Sparta High School in 1960.

Gale continued his education at the University of Wisconsin Madison receiving his bachelor’s degree in secondary education in 1965, and his Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology in 1970. He was a Peace Corps volunteer in Kandahar, Afghanistan from 1966-1968. He was a social studies teacher in Stoughton and Highland. He then was a school counselor in Middleton Schools from 1969 until 2019, a career he loved.

Gale is survived by nieces, nephews and cousins along with a special friend, Barbara Melchert. He was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Susan Meyer; brother, Elmer (Ellen) Meyer; and sisters, Esther (Joe) O’Neil and Lillie (Roy) Pfaff.

William “Bill” P. Walsh, Jr.

EAGLE POINT, OR–William “Bill” P. Walsh, Jr., 74, died peacefully at home in Eagle Point, OR of pancreatic cancer on Jan. 2, 2022. Because of limitations on safe travel and gathering due to COVID-19, only his sister Mary Jane, brother-in-law Ellis Berns, and Shirley Weathers, his wife and life partner of over 35 years, were with him when he passed, but he was held close long-distance in the hearts of the many family members and friends who knew of his condition.

MIDDLETON/MADISON–Alvin Millard Lokken, 91, passed away at Ingleside Manor in Mount Horeb on Jan. 12, 2021. He was born on a dairy farm in the Township of Middleton on April 29, 1929, to Albert D. and Anna M. (Boley) Lokken. He attended Twin Valley Grade School in the Town of Middleton, which still stands where it was built. Al and many of his friends had to walk to the top of Twin Valley Road both ways every day to attend school. Al was confirmed at West Middleton Lutheran Church and was a 1947 graduate of Middleton High School.

MAZOMANIE–Donald Wayne “Don” Kerl, 92, of Mazomanie, passed away on Jan. 11, 2022. He was born on Jan. 5, 1930, in the Town of Berry, the son of Felix and Viola (Helke) Kerl.

Donald was raised on the family farm in the Town of Berry. He helped on the family farm up until the time he met the love of his life, Patricia Parks, who he met through his cousin who lived in Madison.

Donald and Patricia married on Jan. 10, 1954, and together raised two daughters. Along with farming, he hauled milk and was employed as a mechanic at Middleton Ford where he worked for 32 years.

Donald is survived by his two daughters, Debbie Kerl and Sandra Malm; grandchildren, Fawn (Malm) Sands and Cheyenne Mae Kerl-Ambler. He was preceded in death by his parents; and beloved wife, Patricia in 2013.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. 

MIDDLETON–Allen Jeffrey “Jeff” Martin, 78 of Middleton, passed away on Dec. 13, 2021. He was born in Elsie, MI., the son of Robert and Gathal (Bell) Martin.

Jeff is survived by his wife, Jan (Goscinski, married in 1965); sons, Joel (Mary) and Jonathan (Erika) Martin; grandchildren, McKenna and Jack Martin; and sister, Sharon Olney. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law, father-in-law, and mother-in-law.