Obituaries

CROSS PLAINS–Clara George-Minch, nèe Ripp, passed away peacefully surrounded by her love, Ron McLaughlin, all of her children and several of her grandchildren on Oct. 8, 2023.

Clara lived a full life. She was born in Cross Plains on May 2, 1939. She enjoyed living in several states (including Wisconsin, Illinois, Florida, California, and Colorado) and she was a Life Master at bridge. She loved traveling, eating well and spending time with her family and cats.

She was predeceased by her brother, John Ripp, and her parents, Ray and Theresa Ripp. She is survived by her children, Michelle Feldman (Dale Parker), Danielle Jaeschke (John) and Charles George (Robin), nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

MERRILL–Robert “Rob” Dresen, 59, of Merrill passed away on Oct. 9, 2023 with his family by his side. He was born on Dec. 3, 1963 to the late Norbert and Coletta (Birrenkott) Dresen at the Methodist Hospital in Madison. On June 22, 1991, Rob married the love of his life, Christy Mootz. They loved spending time fishing, enjoying “Sunday Fundays” and just being together. Together they had one son, Bryce and two four legged best buds, Val and Lilly.

Rob graduated from Middleton High School in 1982 and attended Madison College. He started at Fish Building Supply, then worked at Hurd Millwork and SEMCO. He worked in the residential and commercial window industry in purchasing, QA, production, estimating and sales and then retired at OldCastle BuildingEnvelope due to COVID-19 and his health in 2020.

MIDDLETON–Carol Anne Jensen, 82, passed away on Oct. 1, 2023, at Cardinal View Senior Living. She was born on July 12, 1941, to George and Mary Louise (Trundy) Jensen in Peekskill, NY.

Carol grew up in Morrison, IL and graduated from Morrison Community High School in 1959. She studied at Northern Illinois University before moving to Madison, which she made it her home for many decades before moving to Middleton.

She worked at Greenway Properties, Inc. before retiring.  She was very involved in politics from local races to national races. She was also part of the Middleton Kiwanis Club.

Carol is survived by her children, Sean (Sandy) McCarthy, Megan McCarthy, her grandchildren – Will Hinze, Jack McCarthy, Maddy Wrasse and Kennedy McCarthy.

She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Sigrid Houston, and brother Michael Jensen.

MIDDLETON–On Sept. 22, 2023, Millie moved on to her last adventure, to eternal life where she will be reunited with family and friends, and most importantly the love of her life, Rollie.  After 57 years together, and 17 without him, they are together again and can resume their nightly cribbage games, always keeping score and always with a toddy in hand…and always with the phone unplugged so they won’t be disturbed.

Millie was the oldest child of Gladys and Lawrence Kaufman and was born in Fond du Lac in 1927.  The family moved to Appleton when she was a small child.  In high school she met Rollie Mader, and together they created a family of four. Big changes came with a move to Texas in 1961 and she quickly became a Texan. They ultimately retired in New Braunfels, TX for almost 20 years before Rollie’s health took a downturn. Then they headed back home to Wisconsin where friends and family could provide support, and to Middleton where their daughter could look after them.

Dennis Robert Kerl, a devoted husband, loving father, and Navy veteran, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by family on Sept. 28, 2023, at the age of 77. 

Dennis was born on Dec. 13, 1945, in Mazomanie, WI. Upon graduation from Wisconsin Heights High School, he attended barbering school and enlisted in the Navy. He spent his early years working in his barbershop and then the Wisconsin prison system from which he retired. He was an avid member of the Wisconsin River Sportsman Club for many years. 

Dennis married his high school sweetheart, Alice Kahl, on Nov. 18, 1967. Together they built a life filled with love and laughter. He was devoted to their three children and ten grandchildren, Tonya (Jim) Tubbs and their children Colton, Jacob, Abby, Emma, and Joshua; Tammy (Mark) Sander, and their children Natalie, Nicole, and Zach; and Tim (Jean Pertzborn), and their children Garrett and Alaina.

CROSS PLAINS–James G. “Jim” Miller, 59, of Cross Plains, passed away peacefully on Sept. 13, 2023, at his home, surrounded by his four children. He was born on March 21, 1964, in Zion, IL, the son of James “Sunny” Miller and Ruth (Rogers) Cross.

Jim graduated from Southland High School in Cardwell, MO. He married Lynn on Sept. 18, 1982. He worked as a foreman for Olson Toon Landscaping for 32 years. He had an incredible work ethic, was a talented landscaper, enjoyed working with his hands (he could fix just about anything) and was passionate about cars.

Jim loved listening to classic rock, building things (most recently he began building 3D wooden models) and motorcycles–Harley Davidsons. One of his favorite things was spending time with family and friends.

Darlene ‘Darce’ Endres

PRIARIE DU SAC–A celebration of life will be held for Darlene “Darce” Endres on Sept. 16 from 1-4 p.m. at Lake Wisconsin Country Club at N1076 Golf Rd., Prairie Du Sac. Friends and family are invited to attend.

Darce passed away on June 26, 2023 at the age of 76.

BLACK EARTH–Frances I. “Fran” (Schlimgen) Michels-Beuthin, 90, died on Sept. 4, 2023, just four days shy of her 91st birthday. She was born on Sept. 8, 1932, to Arthur and Florence (Goelz) Schlimgen and grew up in Madison.

MIDDLETON–Joan Elizabeth Knudson, age 92, of Middleton, passed away on July 27, 2023, at BeeHive Homes of Oregon. Joan was born on March 21, 1931, in Elkhorn, the daughter of Max and Mabel (Evans) Wolters.

Joan graduated from Elkhorn High School in 1949 and graduated from Mercy Hospital Nursing School in 1952. She married Richard (Dick) Knudson on Jan. 17, 1953, in Elkhorn. Joan worked as a Registered Nurse for 30 years on the maternity floor at St. Mary's Hospital until she retired in 1993.

DEFOREST–Daniel "Dan" Pierstorff, 55, of DeForest, passed away on June 28, 2023, at UW Hospital due to liver disease and a stroke. He was born on Oct. 12, 1967, in Madison, the son of Robert and Lois (Tiedeman) Pierstorff.

In Dan's youth he and his brother, Paul, would play with toy trucks and farm equipment for hours pretending to farm outside in the dirt or inside on the living room rug. In his teen years Dan joined FFA and loved raising his beef cattle on the family farm and dreamed of maybe becoming a farmer.

Dan graduated from Middleton High school in 1986 and enjoyed working as a truck driver for various companies over the years delivering meats and produce or farm supplies from the CO-OP. In later years Dan obtained his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.