Obituaries

CROSS PLAINS–Amanda Sue Butler, 24, of Cross Plains, passed away peacefully on February 22, 2022. She had been diagnosed with borderline personality and had spent years successfully fighting the ultimately overwhelmingly mental, emotional, and physical challenges that associate with this condition.

Amanda was born on Sept. 10, 1997 to Kenneth L. and Peggy Butler. In 2016 she graduated from Middleton High School where she was a member of the girls’ volleyball team. She was a beloved member of District 1 Emergency Medical Services in Cross Plains, and was certified as a CPR instructor, a state and national EMT, ACLS, PALS, CNA, and ER technician. She had a bachelor’s degree in arts and was currently a COVID-19 pandemic vaccinator.

MIDDLETON–Kathleen Ann Ballweg, 70, of Middleton, passed away on July 6, 2022. She was born at Madison General Hospital in Madison. on June 5, 1952, the eldest daughter of George Edwin Ballweg and his wife Margaret Gertrude (Coghlan) Ballweg.

She was raised in Middleton and graduated from Middleton High School in 1970. She was smart, adventurous, and confident, and she loved her family and friends very much.

While living in Madison, she went from cooking at Rennebohm’s while in high school to selling shoes at Manchester’s department store. Then, she fell in love with San Francisco and moved to California where she continued to work in the shoe business. She managed The Little Daisy in the Embarcadero Center then in Strawberry Village in Mill Valley, CA.

WESTON–John David Jensen of Weston, passed away Aug. 20, 2022, of Pancreatic Cancer. John was born on Sept. 15, 1966, the son of Barbara (Flaherty) and David Jensen.

John graduated from Middleton High School in 1984 and received a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He worked as a project manager for Municipal Well and Pump where he was a highly respected colleague and friend.

John loved spending time with his family and friends. He grew up playing hockey, was a member of Madison Junior Scouts, and got great enjoyment out of boating, hunting, fishing and spending time with his dog Gracie.

In 1993 John married Lisa Gauthier and they had two children, Caylee and Taylor. They shared 19 years together until her passing in 2012. After meeting Darcy Knapp in 2014, they married and built a wonderful life together, enjoying traveling, ballroom dancing, music and cooking. Darcy was a devoted wife and caregiver throughout his illness.

CROSS PLAINS–Paul Clarence Weber, 78, of Cross Plains, passed away peacefully at Heartland Country Village nursing facility in Black Earth on June 7, 2022. He was born at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison on May 14, 1944, to Leonard N. and Regina M. (Esser) Weber.

Paul graduated from Queen of Apostles Seminary High School in Madison and enlisted in the US Army National Guard. In August 1972, Paul married Ruthann Auman. He worked at Whitewater College as a baker and then he joined the family-owned Weber's Bakery, which began in 1967, located at 2223 Main St. in Cross Plains, until they closed in 1988. Paul later worked as a baker for Cub Foods grocery store in Madison, and at Middleton Farmers Co-op until he retired.

He is survived by his beloved wife of almost 50 years, Ruthann. He is also survived by his brothers, Edward (Katherine), Harold (Sue), Joe, and John (Janice); his sister-in-law, Donna  Weber; and many nieces and nephews.

LODI/LAKE WISCONSIN–JoAnn Roy Stormer, age 65, of Lodi, passed away on Jan. 12, 2022, at her home surrounded by her loving family.

JoAnn was born on July 9, 1956, in Rockford, IL, the daughter of Franklin and Jacqueline (Blais) Roy. After she graduated from Rockford's Boylan Catholic High School in 1974, she relocated to Madison to attend Edgewood College. 

In March of 1975, JoAnn met the love of her life, Stephen M. Stormer. Six months later they were engaged. Nine months after that they were married on June 26, 1976.

JoAnn began her career with the Catholic church, working as the Director of Education for three different Madison-area churches. In 1990, she transitioned to secular work as the Director of Volunteer Services for the Southwest Chapter of the American Red Cross. Throughout her career, she also participated in many professional organizations and boards.

WEST BEND–Mary Ann Baldwin, 75, of Madison, peacefully passed away on Aug. 3, 2022 at The Kathy Hospice, with her family by her side.

Mary was born to the late Roy and Mabel Rades, Nov. 1, 1946, in Shawano. She graduated from Shawano High School in 1965. She was immensely proud to have received her bachelor’s degree from Upper Iowa University in 1996 at the age of 49. Mary worked for over 36 years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, retiring in 2003 with emeritus status; she truly enjoyed her interactions with the engineering students, especially meeting those from other countries.

MIDDLETON–Orrin Rongstad, 91, of Middleton, passed away on Aug. 4, 2022. He was born on April 22, 1931, in York, to Johnny and Cora Rongstad, the fourth of six children. Orrin graduated from Osseo High School as valedictorian in 1949 and then attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire until 1952, when he joined the US Air Force. He graduated from the Air Force Officers Candidate School in 1953 and was honorably discharged in 1957. Orrin then continued his studies at the University of Minnesota with a degree in Wildlife Management and furthered his education at the University of Wisconsin with a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology and Zoology in 1965.

PRAIRE DU SAC - Patrick Passini was a competitor.

The first born to Satimo and Mabel Passini, he set the example for his siblings, James, Michael, Timothy, and Kathleen to be loyal, hardworking, and a good teammate. Pat relished competition in all forms. He was a four-year letter winner with the Middleton High School Baseball team and shared his passion for the sport by coaching many young men on the Middleton Home Talent team whom he treated like sons, teaching them the fine points of the game, conducting Saturday night bed checks, and leading them to three Home Talent Championships. Pat was also a scratch bowler. He had multiple 700 series and a perfect 300 game.

MADISON–Mary Jane Maier, 85, of Madison, passed away on Aug. 3, 2022. She was born on July 30, 1937, in Wonewoc, the daughter of Gerald and Blanche (Hynek) Fike.

Mary Jane graduated from Sauk City in 1955. She went on to work for Dental Health from 1956-1960 then spent 1960-1978 as a mother raising her two sons. She returned to the workforce at the Veterans Hospital in Madison Canteen in 1979, retiring in 1990.

Mary Jane was a friend to many. She loved her time with her friends she met at Rosewood Senior Living, from her wine nights to her Badgers and Packers Parties she would take part in. Mary Jane loved helping setting up the Saturday Mass at Rosewood and decorating the community room. She could often be found in the community room at the puzzle table. Along with all this, Mary Jane’s greatest joy was her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

ARENA–Jason J. Sanftleben, 48, of Arena, passed away on July 23, 2022, after heart surgery complications at St. Mary’s and UW hospitals. He was surrounded by his family.

Jason was born to Jim and Debbie Sanftleben and grew up in the countryside of Cross Plains. He graduated from Middleton High School in 1992 then started a 30-year career in the elevator trade, first with Northwestern and ending with Schindler, recently taking a job with UW-Madison in elevator service and repair.