Obituaries

MIDDLETON–Emily Zarndt Knoche, age 99, of Middleton, passed away on March 5, 2020, at Agrace HospiceCare. She was born in Madison on Nov. 10, 1920, to Fred Zarndt and Ella (Wittenberg) Zarndt. She married Roland Knoche in Middleton on Oct. 1, 1939.

Emily attended Madison Business College after graduating from Middleton High School. She worked as an editorial assistant at the American Society of Agronomy. She enjoyed golfing at Lake Wisconsin Country Club, spending time at the family cabin in Couderay, bowling (especially state tournaments!), traveling, attending Badgers football and basketball games and performances of her children and grandchildren.

MOUNT HOREB–Craig W. Hanson, age 77, passed away on March 3, 2020, at Agrace HospiceCare. 

A celebration of Craig’s life will be held at Gunderson West Funeral and Cremation Care, 7435 University Ave., Middleton, from 3-5 p.m. on April 4, 2020. A full obituary will be published in the March 26, 2020 edition. Online condolences may be made at gundersonfh.com.

MIDDLETON/WAUNAKEE–Leonard Werner Buechner, age 78, passed away on Feb. 28, 2020, at his home in Middleton. He was born on March 26, 1941, in the Town of Springfield, the son of Ludwig and Gertrude (Meier) Buechner. Leonard graduated from Waunakee High School.

Leonard worked for Rosenberg’s Grocery Store in Waunakee for several years. He then worked for UW Provisions until his retirement.

Leonard enjoyed working outside on his yard and maintaining a large vegetable garden. He was an avid sports fan. He especially loved watching the Minnesota Vikings and Twins.

Leonard is survived by sister, Rose Grosse; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Marie Schneider, Bernadette Haack and Henrietta Grosse; and brothers, Vincent, Norbert, Louie and Leo Buechner.

MIDDLETON/MT. HOREB/MADISON–Sharon Lee Zarndt, age 59, grew her angel wings and flew off to Heaven on Jan. 29, 2020, after a short stay at Fresno Heart and Surgical Hospital in Fresno, CA. Sharon was born on Dec. 26, 1960, in Madison, to Vernon Henry and Esther Dora (Shimniok) Zarndt.

MIDDLETON–Emogene M. (Simon) Frederick, age 90, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Feb. 3, 2020, at Brookdale Middleton Stonefield. Emogene was born on March 7, 1929, to John and Emma (Schmitt) Simon in Springfield Corners. She grew up in Springfield Corners, attended St. Martin’s Grade School and graduated from Middleton High School with the class of 1947.

Emogene married Vern Frederick on Jan. 16, 1951, at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Martinsville. She worked for the Wisconsin State Revenue Department. Emogene was then a stay at home mom with her children. She was a supervisor for the Middleton School Library Services. Emogene enjoyed going to U.W. football and basketball games and also enjoyed watching her grandchildren participate in sporting events. She really liked boating, snowmobiling and going on many family vacations, as well as playing in her ladies bridge groups.

MIDDLETON/ASHTON–Robert Adam “Bob” Bong, age 85, of Middleton/Ashton, passed away on Feb. 19, 2020, after a hard-fought battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was born on Feb. 6, 1935, in the Township of Berry, the son of John and Anna Bong. He married Patricia Mash on March 21, 1969, and they enjoyed their 26 years together, always welcoming family and friends to their lake cottages.

He who binds to himself a Joy Doth the winged life destroy;

But he who kisses the Joy as it flies Lives in Eternity's sunrise.

MIDDLETON–After a lifetime of adventures, varied careers, travel, hobbies, and lots of laughter, Mary Wells, age 69, died of complications due to the cancer she'd lived with for more than 15 years on Feb. 11, 2020.

Mary loved music, reading, riding her bicycle, sewing and writing. She delighted in the "gobble and gab" lunches with friends Jean Kringle and Rena Askey, occasions she said were too infrequent but always marvelously invigorating. Though her last years were less dramatic than those that went before, she was never lacking in activities, including, at the age of 66, deciding to study Greek.

MIDDLETON/ASHTON–Stanley Wagner, age 94, passed away on Feb. 13, 2020 with his granddaughter by his side. Stanley was born on October 16, 1925 to George and Lena (Laufenberg) Wagner in Middleton. He lived his entire life and farmed within one mile from where he was born. He married Evelyn Koch in August 1950. Stanley was fortunate enough to still be cutting lawn at the age of 93 with the help of his daughter-in-law. After retiring from farming he worked for the concrete remover doing computer/book work. For many years was a driver for RSVP. He was also a member of the Catholic Knights and Knights of Columbus.

MIDDLETON/MADISON–Ronald P. Schaefer, age 82, of Madison, passed away on Feb. 6, 2020, in Wickenburg, AZ. He was born on July 25, 1937, in Madison, the son of George and Genevieve (Hoven) Patzer.

Ronald graduated with the Central High School class of 1956. He worked for the State of Wisconsin Division of Highways for many years. He enjoyed playing for various softball and basketball leagues, and he proudly coached boys little league and girls softball teams. He also coached Cross Plains Home Talent baseball. Ronald loved being a youth leader at Mount Olive. He was a hardworking handy man and he loved playing golf and cards, riding dune buggies, and being around dogs.

Ronald is survived by his son, Jim; granddaughters, Teal and Brooke; sister, Jacci Overland; and many relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Randall Schaefer; and sister, Sandy Husby.

MIDDLETON–Dr. Thomas Michael, age 70, of Middleton, passed away on Feb. 14, 2020, of pancreatic cancer. He was born on June 30, 1949, in Minneapolis, MN, the son of Earl and Pearl (Passi) Julian. Tom graduated from Silver Lake High School and went on to graduate from St. Cloud University. He married Kathy Chalupsky on June 12, 1971, in Silver Lake, MN. and they moved to Brainerd, MN., where he was a social worker.

They then moved to Minneapolis, where Tom attended medical school at the University of Minnesota and graduated in 1978. He was a physician there until moving to Middleton in 1988. He finished his career at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, retiring in 2011. He was a member of many professional organizations and did much speaking, editing and writing of papers and books. He greatly appreciated the patients, students, interns, nurses and staff that he worked with throughout the years.