Obituaries

MIDDLETON–Elizabeth Johanna “Betty” Schroeder, age 88, passed away peacefully on March 19, 2021. She was born on June 3, 1932, in Madison, the daughter of John and Mary (Wagner) Meier.

Betty was a 1950 graduate from Middleton High School. She worked at Oscar Mayer in Madison, Eagle Foods as a head cashier, The Flower Shop, Lands’ End and National Guardian Life where she retired in 1999. 

Betty was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and the Middleton Senior Center. She enjoyed going to NASCAR races in Florida and Michigan, swimming with her friends at Swim West, hunting, fishing, and searching for morel mushrooms.

CROSS PLAINS–Karen Kathleen Urbainzick, age 77, of Cross Plains, passed away on March 4, 2021, at Meriter Hospital. She was born on May 28, 1943, in Cambridge, the daughter of Erich and Catherine (Stohler) Wechter. She married Gale Urbainzick on April 30, 1962, and moved to Cross Plains with their son, Lee, where they resided.

Karen is survived by her son, Lee Urbainzick; sister-in-law, Margaret Wechter; niece, Megan (Aaron) Statz; grandniece, Avryana Statz; and many extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gale Urbainzick; parents; brother, Phil Wechter; and nephew, Matthew Wechter. 

Per Karen's request, there will be no funeral services. Online condolences may be made at gundersonfh.com.

MADISON–Patricia Ann Woods, 80, passed away peacefully on March 5, 2021 surrounded by family and friends after a short battle with cancer. Pat was born on March 17, 1940 in St. Louis, MO, the third of seven children. The family moved to Cape Girardeau, MO in 1946.  She graduated from Cape Catholic High School in 1957. After graduation, the family moved to Springfield, MO where she met and married Stanley Woods in 1961. In 1962 they settled in Madison and raised a family of three boys.

Pat had a wide range of interests and entrepreneurial skills which she learned while working for her father in his restaurants in Cape Girardeau and in his floral business in Springfield. With those skills she had a successful business career including starting her own boutique store in Madison selling interior design merchandise.

MIDDLETON–Gordon Edward Helmeid, age 84, of Middleton, passed away peacefully on Feb. 28, 2021, at the University of Wisconsin Hospital after battling complications from lung cancer. He was born on Dec. 3, 1936, the son of Eddie Helmeid and Selma (Gilbertson) Helmeid.

Gordon “Gordy” was raised on the family farm in Blue Mounds and graduated from Mount Horeb High School in 1954. He served in the US Army from 1956-58. He was trained to be a radar repairman. He spent the first year in electronics school on the East coast and the second year in the Chicago area working on the Army Radar installations that controlled the 120-millimeter guns that surrounded the City of Chicago at that time.

CROSS PLAINS–Ronald J. “Kully” Kalscheur, age 90, of Cross Plains, passed away on Feb. 25, 2021. He was born on April 17, 1930, in Madison, the son of Frank and Dorothy (Schmitz) Kalscheur.

Ron graduated from Middleton High School in 1948 where he served as the class president. He married Sarah “Sally” (Coyle) Kalscheur on Feb. 19, 1949, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Ron worked as an auto body supervising technician for Zimbrick Automotive where he retired after 32 years of service.

MIDDLETON–Susan Harris Shapiro, 70, formerly of 7777 Elmwood Ave, in Middleton, passed away at UW-Madison Hospital in Madison, on Jan. 13, 2021 with her family at her side.

Susan was born on Jan. 31, 1950, in Racine, the daughter and the second youngest of six children for John Francis and Mary Ann (Mayme) Harris.

In 1968, Susan graduated from St. Catherine's High School in Racine and later received a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from UW-Madison. 

During college, she held a spectrum of jobs that included bartending at the Edgewater Hotel, working as a page at the Wisconsin State Capitol, and employed in retail sales at a men's shoe and boot boutique, the Boot Barn, at 438 North Frances Street in Madison, which still stands today.

North Frances Street would also be an important part of her life after meeting Madison native Marshall Stuart Shapiro, who she married in 1975. 

MIDDLETON–Pauline B. Gehrmann, age 88, passed away on Feb. 14, 2021, following a lingering illness and complications from COVID-19. She was born on Nov. 26, 1932 and was the daughter of Joseph and Bernice (Klinger) Gehrmann. 

Pauline is survived by her brothers and sisters, Barbara Wright, Carl Gehrmann, Patricia (Ken) Tjugum, Tim Gehrmann, Kathy (Larry) Anderson, and Don (Julie) Gehrmann; many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Geraldine Goplin; and brothers, Rudolph and Dan Gehrmann. A private burial is planned.

We would like to thank Autumn Winds Assisted Living and Rainbow Hospice for the excellent care given to Pauline. Online condolences may be made at gundersonfh.com.

MIDDLETON/ORO VALLEY, AZ–Tim Studer, long-time resident of Middleton, died unexpectedly of a heart attack on Jan. 14 in Oro Valley, AZ.  Tim moved to Oro Valley after retiring from a 30-year career with the City of Middleton as Finance Director.

MIDDLETON–Ruth Ann (Green) Haberland passed away peacefully on Jan. 28, 2021, surrounded by her family. She is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Franklin Haberland; three daughters, Mary (Jim Hengelbrok), Ann (Doug Cloutier) and Catherine; nine grandchildren, Kenny Hanway, David Hengelbrok, Tim Hengelbrok, Michael Hengelbrok, Lara Hengelbrok, Elizabeth Haberland-Ervin, Caroline Haberland-Ervin, Sean Cloutier and Jake Cloutier; sister, Donna Green; brother and sister-in-law, John and Sue Green; brothers-in-law, Martin Haberland and Bill Diedrich; and her niece, nephew, and many Green and Esser cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Don and Marion Green; and her brother, Jim Green.

MIDDLETON–Dr. Maurice Barnett (Barney) Webb, age 94, formerly of 1805 Baker Avenue in Madison, passed away on Jan. 15, 2021 at the Brookdale Century Avenue assisted living facility, 6916 Century Ave. in Middleton, where he had lived the previous year.

Born on May 14, 1926, Dr. Webb was an Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, his alma mater (BS 1950, PhD 1956), up until his retirement in 2001. He was a native of Neenah and member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society at the university. Additionally, was the chairman of the UW-Madison Athletic Board from 1986-1989.

Dr. Webb is survived by his children: Richard of Inver Grove Heights, MN., Craig of Fort Collins, CO., and Kathryn of Madison; and his six grandchildren.