Obituaries

MADISON/CROSS PLAINS-Emily Mari Oyan, 43, of Cross Plains, passed away unexpectedly of a brain aneurysm on Oct. 12, 2022, at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison. She was able to give the gift of life by being an organ donor.

Emily, known as "Em", was born in Madison on Aug. 29, 1979, the daughter of Mark and Diann (Rostermundt) Oyan. She graduated from Madison East High School in 1998 and from UW-Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin in 2003. Em was employed in patient services for Girlie's Manor nursing home in Cross Plains. She worked very hard over the years to provide a good life for her son, Jack.

ROXBURY–James W. Frey, 87, passed away peacefully at Maplewood of Sauk Prairie Health and Rehabilitation Center in Sauk City on Oct. 15, 2022. 

He was born in Roxbury on Feb. 4, 1935 to George J. Frey and his wife Anna R. (Lochner) Frey, who were married on May 23, 1929. James graduated in 1953 from Sauk City High School, where he participated in baseball, basketball, football, and was on the sophomore year homecoming and junior year prom courts.

James served in the United States Army at Fort Rucker in Daleville, Alabama where he was a crew chief responsible for testing helicopters, which were experimental at the time. After his military service, he was proud to have operated road construction equipment building new roads and airport runways across Wisconsin in the 1960s. James was employed at Ace Hardware and later at Dischler Heating and Cooling in Prairie du Sac for 50 years as a heating and air conditioning technician where he retired in 1997.

MADISON–Former Middleton and McFarland resident Grace Marie Forsmo, 78, passed away on Oct. 8, 2022. She was born on Dec. 4, 1943, the daughter of Arley W. and Linda J. (Kemmer) Nesson.

In 1961, she graduated from Middleton High School where she was a member of Future Homemakers of America (FHA), Girls Athletic Association (GAA), chorus, and the girl's glee club.

On May 15, 1965, Grace married Gordon Clair Forsmo at Saint Bernard Church in Middleton. At the time of their marriage, she was employed at the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles, while Gordon worked at Gateway Sporting Goods.

MIDDLETON–Beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother and godmother for many, Clara Tyler passed away on Nov. 5, 2022, at age 97. Born to Julia and Joseph Sweeney, she was preceded in death by her parents, and brothers, Joseph, Quentin, Vincent and Jerome.

Clare is survived by her children, Christine, Stephen (Juanita), Mark (Karen), Maureen (Nataraj Hauser) and Marilyn (Joseph Lustek); grandchildren, Lauren and Tyler Lustek; sister, Terri Corbett; and many nieces and nephews.

Clare was a graduate of Aquinas High School and St. Francis School of Nursing in La Crosse, Wis. She was married to William Tyler, a science teacher at Middleton High School, until his death at age 45.

She loved being a nurse and was patient and generous with her expertise when called upon by neighbors for advice. She worked at St. Mary’s Hospital, Madison, and as a nurse clinician for the UW Student Health Center, where she made many friends and retired from at age 67.

CROSS PLAINS–Jeffrey A. Bankes, 59, of Cross Plains, passed away on Nov 8, 2022, at UW Hospital in Madison. He was born on Sept. 17, 1963, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, the son of Melvern L. Bankes and JoAnn (Lynch) Bankes.

Jeff served in both the US Army and the Wisconsin National Guard. He worked as a coast-to-coast furniture mover and in the building repair and construction industries. He loved animals and took pleasure in helping others. In his free time, he loved being outdoors in nature–camping, kayaking, hunting and bicycle riding. He was able to fix most anything mechanical. Jeff was an accomplished cook, both in the kitchen or on his favorite charcoal grill.

WAUNAKEE–Russell C. Wipperfurth passed away at Brightstar Senior Living in Waunakee on Sept. 21, 2022, four days after his 91st birthday. He was born on September 17, 1931 in Waunakee, to Anton M. Wipperfurth Sr. and his wife Eva Christina "Christine" Mary (Spahn) Wipperfurth.

While skating at Tenney Park in Madison, he met Elizabeth "Betty" Stewart, who became the love of his life. The couple wed on Sept. 1, 1956, and their marriage was an adventure especially for a woman who moved here from Kilmarnock, Scotland at a young age.

They raised five children while he farmed, showed horses, and drove a motor home yearly to Florida. A second home in Wisconsin Dells was their sanctuary. Russ was a devoted Catholic and led a blessed life.

MIDDLETON–On Oct. 20, 2022, Bret J. Carlson passed away peacefully at age 45 in Middleton.

Born to loving parents in Salt Lake City, UT, Bret grew up playing baseball, football, hockey and golf. As the oldest of five siblings, Bret was the ultimate big brother and was the anchor to his family. In his 20s, Bret owned Spinnerfall Guide Service, a premier flyfishing outfit on Utah’s famed Green River.

Bret and his wife Raenee (Bugarske) Carlson started dating in 2015, were married in picturesque Spring City, Utah, in 2017 and had their son Cooper J. Carlson in 2018. A romantic at heart and a family man, Bret shared unconditional love with his wife and son for the time they were afforded together.

SAUK CITY–Verna Elaine Winters, 100, of Sauk City, passed away on Oct. 21, 2022, at Maplewood Health Care Center. She was born on May 12, 1922, in Heaton, N.D.

Verna graduated from Heaton North Dakota Teachers College. She loved teaching and was involved in the Military in the Women’s Air Corps as a private citizen. She traveled to Washington DC and met her husband, Russell James Winters, there. They married on Nov. 20, 1950. She enjoyed her travels to Japan with Russ while he served during World War II. Verna loved sewing and cooking and could make the best baked goods.

Verna is survived by her son, Jon (Kristina) Winters; daughter, Kim (Arnold) Merkle; stepdaughter, Vida (Keith) Musselman; grandchildren, McKenzie (Dan) Syens and Brandon Merkle; and great-grandchild, Isabelle Syens. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Russell James Winters.

A private graveside service will be held. Online condolences may be made at gundersonfh.com.

MIDDLETON–Mike Middleton, 59, of Middleton, passed away on Oct. 23, 2022, at home. He was born on Sept. 22, 1963, at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, to George Jr. and Dorothy (Schmidt) Middleton. Mike graduated from Middleton High School in 1983. He worked for The Bruce Company for 39 years. Mike loved anything Badgers sports. He had season tickets for several years to the Badgers Hockey games and enjoyed going to the games with his best friend, Pete. Mike also enjoyed watching the Packers.

Mike is survived by his mother, Dorothy; siblings, Richard (Jen) Middleton, Connie Cupp, Terry (Bobbi Lincks) Middleton, Karen (Barney) Foye, Darlene (Jack Flint) Middleton, Rita Middleton and Ronald Middleton; and brother-in-law, Roger Breunig. Mike is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Mike was preceded in death by his father, George Jr.; brother, Rickey Middleton; and sister, Mary Breunig

MADISON/MIDDLETON–Ramona Jean Clift, 98, passed away on Oct. 16, 2022, at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg.

She was born on Jan. 17, 1924, to Zelpha Mabel (Williams) Gochenaur and her husband Abner Z. Gochenaur, on their farm in the Township of Forest, near Viola. 

She graduated from Viola High School in 1941 and attended Madison Business College. Later, she would marry Viola native Richard D. Clift in Richland Center on Feb. 2, 1943. They spent the next few years living and traveling in North Carolina, Virginia and Washington, DC, where she worked for the Selective Service and the Internal Revenue Service while Richard "Dick" served in the US Army.