Obituaries

CROSS PLAINS–Dr. Stuart Wirth was born on Dec. 21, 1929, in Milwaukee to Bernard and Madeline (Steil) Wirth, the eldest of their four children. After graduation from Wauwatosa High School in 1947, he attended Marquette University and then moved on to the Marquette School of Dentistry, graduating with the class of 1955.

During his college years he met Kathleen Church, a wonderful, wise and beautiful woman whom he loved dearly. Kathleen had recently graduated from the UW-Madison in Speech Pathology, and they married in 1953. She preceded himin death after 68 years of marriage in 2020, and he was looking forward to being reunited with her.

MIDDLETON–Donald "Don" Edward Lewis, 88, passed away peacefully on Dec. 8, 2022. He was born in Madison on Feb. 16, 1934, the son of Dewey and Clara (Meier) Lewis.

Don graduated from Madison West High School in 1952 and later attended Madison Business College. He volunteered to join the United States Marine Corps from 1954-1957. After basic training in San Diego, CA. Don was stationed at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC and he also enjoyed his service time in Okinawa, Japan.

He married his High School sweetheart, Betty Jean Pyle on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 1957, at the Memorial Church of Christ in Madison. Don worked at Webcrafters Printing Company in Madison for 39 years as a production manager and volunteered his time to the Meals on Wheels program for many years.

CROSS PLAINS–Bruce David Laufenberg, age 54, of, Cross Plains, passed away peacefully on, Aug. 16, 2022 after two-year-long battle with cancer, with his niece/goddaughter, Caitlin Hellenbrand, by his side.

He was born on Jan. 28, 1968, in Madison, the son of Ralph J. Laufenberg and his wife, Carol M. (Uselman) Laufenberg. In 1986, he graduated from Middleton High School, where he took part in Future Farmers of America (FFA). Bruce married Lori Ann Schultz on Sept. 18, 1993, in Cross Plains.

Bruce worked as a small engine mechanic for Middleton Power Center for 30-plus years. He enjoyed tractor pulling and being outdoors, whether he was hunting, camping or snowmobiling. He had the know how to fix just about anything, he was a man of many talents.

MIDDLETON–Constance "Connie" Threinen passed away on Sept. 17, 2022, at the age of 96. She was born Constance Fuller in Belmont, MA on Dec. 10, 1925, to George Minot Fuller and Emilie (Allstead) Fuller.

She was the first-born of two sisters whose family history in the area began in 1642 when Lt. Thomas Fuller emigrated from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Connie’s youth was spent in Lexington, MA, when the family moved to an elegant Tudor house designed by her namesake aunt, Constance Fuller, one of the first women architects to graduate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA. 

CROSS PLAINS–Dad enjoyed reading and shared an article titled, “Laughter Makes You Live Longer.” He said, “If that’s true, I’ll live a long life.” The Jolly Ole Fellow, with a hearty laugh, wore out on Dec. 2, 2022, at the age of 87.

His journey started on Oct. 25, 1935, when he was born to John H. and Marcella A. (Bowar). Dad graduated from Middleton High School in 1954. He often bragged about being part of Middleton High School’s first state championship football team in 1953. After graduation, he served his country as a tank mechanic in the US Army. Upon returning home he continued to serve as a member of the American Legion Post 245, a volunteer with Cross Plains-Berry Fire Department, and a member of St. Francis Xavier Church.

Ronald "Ron" S. Endres, 71, of Middleton, passed away peacefully in Madison, on Nov. 26, 2022 after a brief battle with lung cancer with family by his side.

He was born on Sept. 19, 1951 in Madison, the second oldest child of Albert Mathias Endres and his wife Bernadette Catherine (Hellenbrand) Endres.

After attending Middleton High School in the late 1960s, Ron married Mary Ann Masino on Sept. 26, 1969 at Saint Peter Catholic Church in Ashton. Prior to their divorce in the early 1970s, they welcomed twin sons, Robert J. and Randall C., on Nov. 28, 1969.

CROSS PLAINS–Darlene A. “DoDo” Capel, 87, of Cross Plains, passed away on Nov. 29, 2022, following a brief battle with cancer. She was born on June 25, 1935, in Madison, the daughter of Isadore and Adeline (Bohle) Buechner.

Darlene graduated from Middleton High School, with the class of 1953. In 1970 she joined her dad, Isie, her brother, Ray, and eventually her sister, Holly, working in the family business, Hi-Way Service Garage, for many years until her retirement. She enjoyed playing cards with her many friends in their card club of over 50 years. Darlene was an avid bowler, joining her mother’s team at a young age and enjoyed years of bowling with her friends, daughters and granddaughter. She was a Wisconsin sports fan, but she was most passionate about the Packers. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Post 245 and a lifetime member of St. Martin's Lutheran Church.

EDGERTON/MIDDLETON–Alan Norman Acker, 70, passed away on Oct. 31, 2022, at Oregon Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Oregon. Sadly, he died after an 18-month duration with renal cell cancer.

He was born on March 5, 1952 in Madison to Albert Frank Acker and his wife Lorraine Rose (Meffert) Acker, who were married on March 4, 1943, at St. Peter Catholic Church in Ashton.

After graduating from Middleton High School in 1971 he later enlisted in the US Army National Guard. Alan was a commercial truck driver for many years. He enjoyed landscaping, family gatherings, and plowing snow in his neighborhood in his spare time.

MIDDLETON–William (“Bump” or “Bill”) Wills, 84, passed away peacefully due to end stage COPD on Nov. 17, 2022. He was at his home in Middleton, with his family by his side.

Bill was born in Madison on Dec. 18, 1937. He attended Middleton High School before attending the US Navy. Bill worked as a tinner in the sheet metal industry for Kilgust Mechanical in Monona for 35 years until his retirement. While not at work, he enjoyed helping on the family farm, fishing and hunting. Bill was a hard worker but liked to play hard too. He was always the life of the party and enjoyed spending time at Paul’s Neighborhood Bar having an “Old Shmile.” Bill was known to make people around him laugh with his quick wit and one liners. His family was very important to him, especially his two grandsons, Alex and Aaron Wills.

MIDDLETON–Arlene Mae (Guck) Warren, 92, of Middleton, passed away on Nov. 23, 2022, at St. Mary's Care Center. She was born in in her grandparents’ big farm home in Ferryville, to Bernard and Agnes (Moldrem) Guck on April 12, 1930. She was baptized at Utica Lutheran Church and confirmed at the Viroqua Lutheran Church.