Obituaries

CROSS PLAINS–Donald J. “Jim” Sebree, 74, of Cross Plains, passed away on Sept. 21, 2022. He was born on April 2, 1948, in Indianapolis, IN, the son of Donald and Lois (Stonebreaker) Sebree.

Jim moved to Wisconsin to pursue his education at UW-Madison. He was united in marriage to Linda Diederich on Sept. 27, 1980 in Madison.

Jim worked as a purchasing agent at several area companies, enjoyed woodworking, cooking, reading and golfing. 

Jim is survived by his wife, Linda; daughters, Erica Sebree and Lisa (Nick) Williams; grandchildren, Mason and Harper Williams; sister, Lois Ann (Chris) Johnson; and two nieces. He was preceded in death by parents, Donald and Lois.

MADISON/VERONA–Carl Harold Reuter, 79, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones, on September 22, 2022. He was born in Madison on July 25, 1943 to the late Russell and Frieda (Mueller) Reuter. Carl grew up in Madison and was raised in the Vilas Park area. He graduated from Central High School. He received his bachelor’s degree from UW-Platteville studying education and industrial arts followed by his master’s degree at UW-Stout. Carl started the industrial technical education program for West High. Carl was a pioneer. He was a mentor to many teens and guided them in finding their path in life. Many of these students have become lifelong friends to Carl and his family. He was a teacher at West High for 35 years. 

MIDDLETON–Lisa Marie Morrick, 60, of Middleton, passed away peacefully on the morning of Sept. 20, 2022, surrounded by her family in Madison Wisconsin at UW Hospital. She was born on Jan. 14, 1962, the daughter of Robert and Joan (Hanson) Morrick.

Lisa grew up in Middleton Wisconsin. She was a server at Perkin's for many years. However, her real calling in life was to help and serve those in need at the Salvation Army’s Women’s and Children’s homeless shelter where she enjoyed doing arts and crafts and spending time with children.

MIDDLETON–Raymond T. Laufenberg, 89, of Middleton, passed away on Sept. 23, 2022, after a battle with kidney disease. He was born on Aug. 26, 1933, in Madison, the first of Casper and Lydia (Schroeder) Laufenberg’s 12 children.

MIDDLETON–Judith Ann (Kolb) Faren, 77, of Middleton, passed away on Aug. 20, 2022. She was born at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison on May 16, 1945 to Quintin "Jake" and Dorothy Helen (Knoche) Kolb, who were married on June 3, 1944.

After graduating from Madison West High School in 1963, Judy married the love of her life, Robert "Bob" Faren, on June 25, 1966 at Saint Bernard Catholic Church in Middleton. At the time of their marriage, she worked at Reliance Insurance Co. in Madison, and he worked at Johnson-Hill Press Co. in Fort Atkinson, where they lived soon after their return from a honeymoon to northern Wisconsin.

Later, they started their business, Faren Electric. They were blessed with a son Joseph and a daughter Rebecca and were longtime members of Saint Bernard Catholic Church in Middleton.

MIDDLETON–John M. Richgels, 72, of Middleton, passed away at home on July 21, 2022.

He was born on September 30, 1949, in Highland, the son of Highland natives Melvin J. Richgels and his wife Leora Ann (Drager) Richgels, who were married on July 19, 1947 in Highland.

The family later relocated to Cross Plains and were members of Saint Xavier Catholic Church in Cross Plains. John graduated from Middleton High School in 1967.

He married Beaver Dam native Linda Jo Skyler on June 13, 1995 in Rockford, IL. Later, he was employed as a machinist at Springs Window Fashions in Middleton for many years, followed by working as a delivery driver for Eannelli Pharmacy of Prairie du Sac.

He enjoyed fly fishing and tying flies, as well as travelling throughout Wisconsin, visiting new towns and local points of interest. He was always interested in trying new foods and recipes.

Donald L. O’Dell, 78, of Middleton passed away peacefully in the presence of family on Sept. 10, 2022 at Heritage Memory Care.

He was born on December 16, 1943 in Highland Park, MI, the son of Chester and Evelyn O’Dell. Don is a graduate of St. Johns Military Academy in Delafield and shared countless stories of his travels around the world as an Eagle Scout.

He met the love of his life, Susan Hauda, while studying at the University of Wisconsin - Madison and they were married on July 18, 1970. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business and a master of arts in teaching from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

CAMBRIDGE, MA–Former Middleton and Spring Green area resident Susan Jacobs Lockhart, 87, died peacefully on Aug. 22, 2022 at home in Cambridge, MA, due to complications from COVID-19, with her husband, Harvard University Art and Architecture Professor Neil G. Levine, who cared for her during the final weeks, by her side.

Susan was born in Milwaukee, on Nov. 19, 1934, the daughter of sculptor and architect expert Katherine F. (Wescott) Jacobs and her husband Herbert Austin Jacobs, a former Milwaukee Journal and then Capital Times newspaper journalist. Susan dedicated herself to living, enriching, and preserving the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright. For many, she embodied it and its values. Her involvement with Wright began at an early age.

CROSS PLAINS–Albert C. Zander, 87, of Cross Plains, passed away on June 18, 2022. He was born on Nov. 16, 1934, in Cross Plains, the son of Joseph J. Zander and Margaret (Laufenberg) Zander. He married Carrie Ann Frederick on May 30, 1959 at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Waunakee. During their marriage he was a member of Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Cross Plains.

In the early 1950s Albert attended Middleton High School where he was a member of Future Farmers of America (FFA). Later, he served in the US Army in Korea from 1956-1958, and he spent his entire life dairy farming until 1994. After Albert retired, he loved traveling and camping. In his free time, he enjoyed building instruments from wood.

MIDDLETON–Mary Diana Helt passed away on Aug. 29, 2022 at age 77. She was born in Kenosha on September 25, 1944. 

Mary married Donald Helt on April 20, 1963. Don preceded her in death in 2015.

Mary was a caregiver her whole life beginning with taking care of her siblings and into her adult years caring for her family and the elderly. She enjoyed gambling, cards and crafts. Most of all she loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. 

She will be dearly missed by her children: Donald, Jr. (Kathleen), Gregory (Dawn), Michael (Jennifer), Brian (Merri) and Andrea (Richard) Ziegler; 15 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; sister Phyllis (Everett) Duvall; sister-in-law, Sandy Hinkle; and other extended family and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her parents William and Kay Cole, husband Don, and brother Bruce Hinkle.