Obituaries

MIDDLETON–Anne Vilas Irish died on Jan. 26, 2021 at UW Hospital.  Anne died as she lived–with grace and a strong, steady will, driven by concern and compassion for the people around her and the world in general. All that knew her would agree that the world is a better place because of her. 

MIDDLETON - Scott Googins, age 55, of Middleton, passed away on Jan. 26, 2021, at UW Hospital of a traumatic brain injury. He was born on June 7, 1965, in Madison, the son of Sharon and Dan Googins. A few years later he became a big brother to Dawn Googins.

Scott grew up in Madison and was a graduate of Madison West High School in 1983. He completed coursework at UW-Madison and Carthage College and graduated in Computer Technology from Control Data Institute in Minneapolis, MN.  Scott married Theresa Aldrich on June 3, 1989.  His first daughter, Kyra, was born in 1992, and second daughter, Amber, in 1995.  He enjoyed going on trips with family and friends.

ORLANDO, FL–Kendall Martin Ripp (formerly known as Brother Simon, C.Ss.R., Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris) passed away at age 78 on Jan. 7, 2021 at home in Orlando, FL.

He was born in Madison on Feb. 18, 1942, his parents' sixth wedding anniversary. He was the third of 11 children for Olive Catherine Maly Ripp and her husband Martin Joseph Ripp, a successful farmer and multi-term elected Town of Middleton chairman and a member of the Dane County Board of Supervisors in the 1950s and 1960s.

Kendall grew-up on the family farm in rural Black Earth and was a 1961 graduate of Black Earth High School, where he was a member of the Prep Club and was senior year class treasurer. The inscription with his senior portrait in the school's yearbook said, "An agreeable guy with laughter in his eyes."

CROSS PLAINS–Willa Mae Faust, age 93, of Cross Plains, passed away on Jan. 9, 2021, at Milestone Senior Living. She was born on Oct. 22, 1927, in Custer County, NE, the daughter of John and Margert (Leonard) Brainard.

Willa graduated from Sargent High School, Sargent, NE., in 1945 and accounting school in 1950. She was united in marriage to Roman Rosen in 1952, raising five children, being married 39 years. She married Keith Faust of Cross Plains, in 1995, united for 25 years. 

Willa worked for several businesses as a bookkeeper, including Ballweg Chevrolet in Sauk City, making the leap from ledger paper to computer, retiring in 1990. She volunteered to teach religion classes, was on the prayer chain of her local congregation, enjoyed studying scripture, and embraced her faith in Jesus.

MADISON–Charlotte Ann “Char” Flottmeyer, age 84, of Madison, passed away on Jan. 12, 2021. She was born on Nov. 1, 1936, right after her twin brother, Charles, to Joseph and Esther (Howard) Horihan. 

Char attended St. Peter's Grade School and graduated from St. Peter's High School in 1954. She attended the La Crosse School of Beauty and worked with her sister at Rita's Beauty Salon as a hairdresser. Char married Donald Flottmeyer in La Crosse, on Dec. 26, 1964. He died in August 2007.

Char had been employed by Attic Angels Madison as a Nurse’s Aide and Food Service assistant for over 30 years. She enjoyed playing Rummy 500 with her grandkids, long weekend getaways with her family, and playing piano. She thinks she could have won an Olympic Medal in Word Search or WordCrush on her iPad.

BLACK EARTH/MARXVILLE–Barbara Meier, age 88, passed away on Jan. 3, 2021, at UW Hospital after complications from surgery.

Barbara was born in Monroe, on Aug. 13, 1932, to Harold and Deloise (Heiler) Lawver. She graduated from Lodi High School in 1950. She married Albert Meier on April 3, 1951, at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Martinsville. He preceded her in death in 1999. Barbara and Albert were the fourth generation to farm the family farm in the Berry Township near Marxville. She loved her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, attending the grandchildren’s sporting events and concerts, socializing with friends and reading. She was a member of St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Martinsville.

Gerald O. Gunderson  

MIDDLETON–Gerald Olin Gunderson, a man who viewed time in terms of eras and epochs rather than in years or centuries, left us far too soon early on the morning of Jan. 7, 2021, at age 79. 

Jerry was born Jan. 1, 1942, in Green Bay, the oldest of three children born to Joe and Helen (née Fabry), in a family of teachers who valued education, curiosity, and hard work. The Gunderson kids grew up working on their family’s Christmas tree farm in Waushara County, planting and pruning trees in the chill of spring and selling them in the bitter cold of winter.

MADISON–Peter Bertz, age 68, of Middleton, passed away peacefully on Jan. 3, 2021, at the Madison VA Hospice.

He is survived by his sister, Lauren and her husband, Mike (Thommen) of Forest Lawn, MD.; his brothers, Paul and his wife, Phoebe (Lewis) of Fredericksburg, VA., Phillip, his wife, Linda (Gill) of Marshfield, and Patrick and his wife, Lorinda (Rainsberger) of Sanford, NCHe was born on April 19, 1952, in Marshfield, the son of John and Jane (Smith) Bertz, originally from Loyal, Wis. Peter graduated from Neillsville High School in 1969 and attended UW-Madison for a short period of time.  

MARTINSVILLE/MIDDLETON–Deanna Sue “DeDe” (Simon) Kessenich, age 64, passed away at home surrounded by her loving family on Dec 27, 2020. 

Deanna “DeDe” was born Sept. 6, 1956, in Madison, the daughter of John “Jack” and Dolores (Laufenberg) Simon. DeDe graduated from Middleton High School in 1974. While in High School, DeDe met the love her life, Dennis J. Kessenich. They were married on July 17, 1976.

More than anything else, DeDe loved times with her family: sporting events, especially those of her children and grandchildren, family traditions and vacations at the beach. Throughout her life, DeDe was a pillar of strength for her family and friends, she was admired by everyone who was lucky to know her. She always looked forward to shopping and lunch with her girls and extended family.

CROSS PLAINS–Lorraine E. Westphal, of Cross Plains, joined her husband in heaven as she passed peacefully at home on Dec. 29, 2020. Born April 27, 1926, in Lone Rock to Cornelius and Mary Greenheck, she joined a family of siblings she loved dearly. She married Robert “Bob” Westphal in 1947 and stood by his side for their 73 years together.

She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. Always rooted strongly in her Catholic faith, she had a rosary in every purse and pocket. She was a living example of the love of Christ and taught us all how to love and be compassionate.