Obituaries

WAUNAKEE–Carrie S. Munz, 62, of Waunakee, passed away on Aug. 25, 2021, as she took her final ride on her broomstick across the sky. She was born Aug. 9, 1959, in Madison, to Robert Munz and Anna Mae Gallagher. She was one of seven children, and to say that neither her family nor the world were prepared for her arrival is truly a testament to her character.

Many words could be used to describe to her. Spirited and strong willed, a hilarious firecracker of a woman with a wild sense of humor, she was as vibrant as she was complicated. She was as human as the rest of us, and to know her was to know her warmth as well as the storms she carried with her.

MADISON–Marvin L. Conney, 94, of Madison, died on March 25, 2021, in Palm Desert, CA. 

He was born on March 17, 1927, in Milwaukee, the son of Nathan and Belle (Burstein) Conney. Prior to moving to Madison in 1964, he grew up in Ripon and Fond du Lac, and dropped out of high school to serve in the US Navy (1945-1946). He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in economics in 1950.

Marv's greatest blessing was to have found Watertown native Mildred Golper, the genuine love of his life and wife for over 65 years. His true feelings for her were best expressed in Irving Berlin's song "How Deep is the Ocean?": "How far would I travel to be where you are? How far is the journey from here to a star?"

MADISON–Janet N. Schmock, 94, beloved wife, precious mother and great friend, passed away at home, at 702 Schmitt Place in Madison, on July 28, 2021, surrounded by her loving family.

Janet (nicknamed "Girlie" as a child) was born Jeanette Naomi Punswick on Feb. 28, 1927, to her devoted parents, Ellen (Dahl) and Erling Punswick, who was born Erling Johan Samuelsen and emigrated to America in 1884 from Lofoten on the northern coast of Norway. Janet was the second youngest of 10 children. She was born and raised on the family farm in the township of Vermont, in northwestern Dane County. The family lived through tough times with no running water or electricity in the early years. She was confirmed at Vermont Lutheran Church in 1939.

LODI–Frances Adeline E. Gamer, 107, of 7129 Lee Road in Lodi, passed away on June 26, 2021. She was born on March 6, 1914, in the Pheasant Branch settlement area of what is now the northern portion of the City of Middleton, the daughter of Frank Paul and Anna Augusta Martha Augusta (Schuett) Muetz.

Frances married LeRoy "Roy" Donald Gamer on June 1, 1935, at German Lutheran Church in Middleton. She worked as a wiener skinner for the Oscar Mayer Company in Madison, retiring after 34 years. Frances was a member of Bashford United Methodist Church in Madison. She enjoyed flower gardening, dancing, playing cards and traveling.

Agnes C. Acker, 92, passed away peacefully at home on May 11, 2020, surrounded by her family.  Agnes was born on Jan. 18, 1928, in Ashton, WI to Aloysius (Al) J. and Rose Elizabeth (Spahn) Meinholz.

She was the second of six children who grew up on the family dairy farm. Agnes loved to be outdoors, helping milk the cows (first by hand and later with a machine), and work in the fields. Her life-long love of horses began with the farm’s work-horse team. "On Sunday afternoons when friends and neighbors came to visit, I would hitch the team to a wagon and take them for rides" Agnes said during a 1983 interview.

Agnes attended St. Peter’s Catholic Elementary School in Ashton. She was a devoted Catholic and a member of St. John the Baptist Church in Waunakee for most of her adult life. She grew up a neighbor to her future husband, Ervin J. Acker, the son of John C. and Katherine (Ziegler) Acker, whom she married on May 25, 1948, at St. Peter’s in Ashton.

CROSS PLAINS–Charles Ransford “Randy” Case II, son, brother, husband, father and grandfather, passed away from cancer on Aug. 19, 2021, one day shy of his 74th birthday. Randy was preceded in death by his parents, Charles R. Case I and Ilyeene Case; and his brother, Steven K. Case. Randy is survived by his wife, Beth Ann Hamilton; brother, Bruce W. Case; sister, Catherine E. “Cathi” Case; son, Charles R. Case III (Monica); son, Peter S. Case (Aneta); son, David H. Case (Kristen); and grandchildren, Madeleine, Michael, and Alexander. A fourth grandchild is due in December.

A lifelong believer in education, Randy graduated from Oshkosh High School in 1965 and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 1969. He held two master’s degrees: in physics from Iowa State University (1971) and in botany from the University of Michigan (1974). He was particularly proud of his secondary education teaching certificate in science and mathematics earned at the University of Michigan in 1974.

MIDDLETON–Jenna L. (Vanden Brook) Baker, 33, of Middleton, passed away on July 6, 2021, at University Hospital in Madison after a courageous battle with brain cancer. Jenna was born March 31, 1988, in Madison the daughter

of Julie and Mark D. Vanden Brook. She married Jesse Abraham Baker on June 22, 2013 in Bedford, VA.

In May of 2006, Jenna graduated from Waunakee High School where she was active with concert choir, girl’s tennis, and vocal jazz performing. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Liberty University and her Master of Business Administration earned at Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA.

WAUNAKEE–Mary Ann “Mae” Wipperfurth passed away at home surrounded by family at age 97 on July 13, 2021.

Mae was born in Marxville, Wisconsin on April 26, 1924, to Louis Mathias Meier and his wife Theresa (Meinholz) Meier. She married Town of Roxbury native and US Navy veteran Robert J. Wipperfurth on Sept. 26, 1946, after his return from serving in the Pacific during World War II. 

Later, they settled in Waunakee where the couple lovingly raised their 10 children, and where Bob owned and operated Wipperfurth Excavating, Inc. He was also an original partner in the development of the InnKeeper restaurant and Country Aire.

ROXBURY–Ellen Louise (Mack) Schmitt, 67, of Roxbury, passed away peacefully on June 28, 2021, at Meriter Hospital in Madison after battling lymphoma and pneumonia.

Ellen was born on May 3, 1954, in Baraboo, to Herman J. and Blanche M. (Breunig) Mack. After attending Sauk Prairie High School, she married the love of her life Dane Township native DuWayne P. Schmitt at St. Norbert's Catholic Church in Roxbury on Sept. 30, 1978, just 11 days after the sad passing of her father. At the time, she was employed at Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Mutual and Credit Union Member Insurance Services (CUMIS) Insurance Co., in Madison.

WAUNAKEE–Ronald (Rex) Gerard Endres of Waunakee passed away unexpectedly at age 64 on July 5, 2021.

Known to many as Rex, he was born on March 1, 1957, at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, to Laverne M. Endres and his wife Jeanette Ann (Wagner) Endres. He grew-up on the Endres family farm in rural Waunakee, and later was a 1975 graduate of Waunakee High School.

He married Debra Theresa Pulvermacher, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Robert and Bernadette (Annen) Pulvermacher, on Sept. 26, 1981, at St. Martin's Catholic Church in Martinsville with a reception held later that day at the Dorf Haus in Roxbury.

Rex learned his work ethic early, growing up on the family farm in the Waunakee area. During high school he began laying carpet and he later co-owned a local carpet business.