Obituaries

CROSS PLAINS–August L. Butler, age 88, passed away on Dec. 28, 2019, at Sienna Meadows. He was born on Jan. 19, 1931, in Cross Plains, the son of Leroy and Hulda (Scheele) Butler. He married Shirley Schoephoerster on May 14, 1960. 

August owned a successful upholstery business in Cross Plains and was a proud member of the Cross Plains Volunteer Fire Department. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, and he was a gifted woodworker, building furniture and doing wood crafts. More than anything, he loved his two grandchildren.  

August is survived by his wife; daughter, Mary Ann Butler; sons, Kenneth Lee (Peggy) Butler and James Michael Butler; grandchildren, Joshua Lee Butler and Amanda Sue Butler; and many dear relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, William Butler and Donald Butler; and sister, Grace Fulgrabe.

MIDDLETON/MADISON–Michael Scott Nicholson, age 51, passed away at his home in Madison on Dec. 26, 2019. He was born on Nov. 18, 1968, in Madison, the son of Michael and Carol (Eslinger) Nicholson. Scott lived in Middleton and Madison for his entire life. He graduated from Middleton High School and then attended the University of Wisconsin. He sold life insurance and investments, then joined Wisconsin Mutual as a claims adjuster. Most recently, he worked at Costco.

Scott was an avid sports fan with a special interest in baseball. He played Home Talent for Cross Plains and then coached little league for many more years there. He was always the one doing the goofy things at family functions, which earned him the title of “Uncle Buck.” Scott will be dearly missed by all of us.

MIDDLETON–Kimberly Kay (Rowley) Herrling, a proud mother and office employee of Piggly Wiggly of Waunakee, passed away peacefully in the embrace of her family, on Dec. 17, 2019, in Madison, at the age of 52.  

Kimberly is survived by her children, Whitnee (Leighton) Otto, Jordann Herrling and Sydnee Herrling; her parents, Edward and Catherine Rowley; siblings, Steve (Marianne) Rowley, Suzanne (Richard) Wipperfurth and Deborah Rowley; and her fiancé, James King.  

Kimberly was born in Newton, IA on Aug. 11, 1967. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Kimberly especially enjoyed the outdoors, traveling, spending time with her daughters and hosting gatherings at her Middleton home.  

We would like to graciously acknowledge UW Carbone Cancer Center in Madison, especially Dr. Huie, for all of the care and compassion Kimberly received. 

ASHTON/MIDDLETON–Jerome W. Wagner, age 93, passed away peacefully on Dec. 12, 2019, in his home surrounded by family. He was born on Feb. 7, 1926, the son of William and Margaret (Brabender) Wagner. Jerome was united in marriage to Theresa M. (Bollenbeck) Wagner on Oct. 19, 1950, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. Together they farmed in the Middleton/Ashton area for 55 years. After Theresa passed, he continued to guide the farm with his sons and he never retired because farming was his passion. 

MIDDLETON–Lawrence (Larry) Hanson, age 85, passed away Dec. 10, 2019 at his home.

Larry was born on Feb. 24, 1934, to Adele and Ivan Hanson in Madison.

Larry married the love of his life, Alice (Ripp) on June 21, 1958. Together they raised five children. Larry felt truly blessed to have had such a wonderful family and so many friends.

WAUNAKEE–Armella C. (Acker) Endres died peacefully at the age of 95 on Dec. 3, 2019.

She was born April 19, 1924 to John C. and Catherine (Ziegler) Acker in Ashton. She married Ray A. Endres May 3, 1945. Together they raised seven children on the family dairy farm in Dane. 

She was an avid cookie baker, loved her rosary, enjoyed her visits with friends at St. Vinny’s, and treasured time with her grandkids and great grandkids, remembering them all on their birthdays. Some of the grandkids fondly called her “Gramma Knock Knock.”

Armella was a member of many different card groups and enjoyed all of her card playing friends up until the very end. 

She is survived by seven children: Shirley Noltemeyer (Benny Statz), Pat (Bob) Fredrickson, Jayne (Larry) Pulsfus, Dick Endres, Roger (Debbie) Endres, Judi (Jim) Nonn, and Russ (Jean) Endres, a sister Angeline Kraemer, and sisters in law Ruth Acker, Agnes Acker, and Fidelis Endres.

MIDDLETON–Duane A. “Dewey” Eller, age 68, passed away peacefully at his home on Nov. 30, 2019, surrounded by his family. Duane was born April 27, 1951, in Madison to Florence (Bollenbeck) and Ronald Eller. He married Janelle (Ruhland) Eller on June 8, 1978. 

Dewey graduated from Middleton High School in 1969 and proceeded to attend his undergraduate at Stout University where he studied Industrial Arts. After college, he taught industrial arts and driver’s education at Middleton High School. He then went onto work at Electric Motor Service as a small motor engineer. After Electric Motor Service, he moved onto working for Automed/Ameriscource-Bergen as an electrical engineer constructing pharmaceutical autocad designs. He gracefully worked at Ameriscource-Bergen until he retired in 2016. 

PINE BLUFF/MOUNT HOREB-Robert Paul Ellestad, age 100, of Pine Bluff/Mount Horeb, passed away on Oct. 24, 2019 at his home. He was born to Andrew and Alma (Quale) Ellestad on Sept. 24, 1919 in Madison. He grew up in Madison and graduated from Central High School.

After high school, he went to work for Gisholt Machine Company as a draftsman where he met his future wife, Joan Coyle, in 1942.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a SEA BEE in 1942 and was stationed in Okinawa during World War II. He married Joan Coyle on Feb. 11, 1944 at St Francis Xavier in Cross Plains. He was honorably discharged in 1945 and their family moved to Cross Plains. They then moved to Madison in 1952. In 1962, Bob and Joan bought the Coyle Homestead in Pine Bluff where they raised their four children. In 1972, he went to work for the US Post Office as a rural postal carrier and retired in 1985. 

MIDDLETON–Betty Ann Brown, age 89, of Middleton, passed away on Oct. 22, 2019, at St. Mary's Hospital. She was born on Dec. 5, 1929, the eldest daughter of Algie and Katherine (Schultz) Schlough. The Schlough family lived on their family farm outside of Mazomanie. Betty Ann graduated from Arena Union Free High School in 1948. After graduation, Betty Ann worked for her father at A.B. Schlough Plumbing in Madison. It’s there that she met Douglas Brown who was employed with a Madison area general contractor. Betty Ann and Douglas were married on July 30, 1955, at St. Barnabas Catholic Church in Mazomanie. Betty Ann stayed at home to raise her 11 children. She devoted her life to her family. She was a loving and caring mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was dedicated and devoted to her entire family.    

CROSS PLAINS–Vera Maxine (Wierenga) Riley, age 80, of Cross Plains, WI passed away on Oct. 14, 2019 peacefully in her sleep.  She was born on January 8, 1939 in Beloit, Kansas, the daughter of George and Anna (Remus) Wierenga. She was the second of four children. She married Robert E. Riley on October 23, 1965 in Madison.