Obituaries

MIDDLETON-On July 6, 2019, Roland J. Frank of Middleton, passed away peacefully at home at the age of 90 surrounded by his wife and family. “Rollie” was born on Feb. 25, 1929, in Cross Plains. He attended St. Francis Xavier grade school, Edgewood High School and UW-Madison.

Rollie had a 10-year career with the Milwaukee Road, beginning as a telegraph operator at train stations across southern Wisconsin. He was quickly promoted, becoming the youngest train dispatcher on the Milwaukee Road and was the chief dispatcher in Madison for all passenger and freight train traffic in south central Wisconsin. He loved the railroad, enjoyed sharing stories of the last great era of trains, and was a lifelong member of the Morse Telegraph Club. 

CROSS PLAINS–Barbara L. Esser, age 80, passed away on July 14, 2019, at Ingleside Manor in Mount Horeb. She was born on March 28, 1939, in Saratoga Wood County, to Harry and Doris (Ingwall) Ross. Barb married George Esser on June 1, 1957. They were blessed with two children. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandkids and their pets. Barb liked to do needle work. She was always up to trying new things and willing to lend a helping hand. Barb had a passion for old westerns (especially John Wayne) and she loved music and singing. She worked for Springs for 35 years.

CROSS PLAINS/VERONA–Joann Ellen (Moretti) Senn, age 71, passed away on June 15, 2019 at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg. She was born on April 9, 1948 in Monroe, WI to parents, Jacob and Edna (Wallbaum) Senn. Joann grew up on the family farm in Browntown and was a 1966 graduate of Monroe High School. She completed her Lab Technician training in Rockford, IL then spent time working with the Red Cross Hospital in Madison. Joann met Jay Moretti through mutual friends in 1973 and they were married November 8, 1975 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Cross Plains. Together, they raised three children and ran a legal office, where Joann worked as a legal assistant. Over the span of her career, Joann specialized in the administration field and worked for DeWitt Ross & Stevens, Madison National Life, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, as well as, Farm & Fleet. 

BARNEVELD–Scott R. Ellarson, 64, passed away Sunday, June 16, 2019 following complications from a stroke he suffered while turkey hunting on May 10.  He was born in Madison WI November 25, 1954, the son of Dr. Robert S. and Jean C. (Kintzele) Ellarson. 

MIDDLETON–Joan Ilene Staley, 85, of Middleton, formerly of Alexis and North Henderson, IL passed away May 19, 2019 in Middleton. She was born April 19, 1934 in Monmouth, IL the daughter of John Ranald and Helen Madge (Brown) Armstrong. When Joan was 5 her birth mother died and she was raised by her step-mother, Mary Francis Law Armstrong. Joan graduated from Alexis High School in 1952 and from the Moline Public Hospital School of Nursing in 1955.

Joan married Louis Dean Staley in Moline on September 27, 1955 and he passed on August 10, 2007.

She was a member of the Colonial Baptist Church in Galesburg, IL, and most recently Gateway Community Church in Middleton. She loved children and always enjoyed teaching Sunday School throughout her life. She was committed to supporting mission work around the world.

BARNEVELD/MIDDLETON–Katherine J. “Katie” Barrios, age 44, passed away April 25, 2019, at home with her husband by her side. She was born, Feb. 6, 1975 to Steven and Sharon Klein of Cassville, WI. Katie graduated from Cassville High School in 1993 and MATC with a degree in business management. After working in the banking industry, Katie attended the police academy to pursue a new career. She was an accomplished police officer at the Middleton Police Department, and the Warminster Police Department in the Philadelphia area, the Mount Horeb Police Department and the Iowa County Sheriff’s Department where she worked previously. Katie was, and continues to be, an inspiration to all.

MIDDLETON/SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT–The Druzba family sadly announces the passing of beloved wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt and best friend, Cécile C. Druzba, on March 22, 2019. She was 57 years old.

Born January 25, 1962 to Jeannine and Paul Marton, Cécile Claudine Marton grew up in Neshanic Station, NJ, attending Branchburg Public Schools and Somerville High School. Cécile graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University (Teaneck) in 1984 with a degree in communications and public relations.

Career and life events moved Cécile from her native New Jersey to New York’s Hudson Valley/Catskill Mountain area. In New York, Cécile met the love of her life, Matt, as well as some of her lifelong best friends. In 2003, Matt and Cécile moved to Middleton, WI to raise their family. Four years ago, the pull of extended family lured them to Vermont.

MIDDLETON–James W. "Jim" Weber, age 67, passed away on Dec. 14, 2018. A Celebration of Life will be held at Rex’s Innkeeper, 301 N Century Ave, Waunakee, from 1-4 p.m. on May 5, 2019. Casual clothes are suggested. Please share this celebration with friends and family. Memories and stories of Jim can be shared at www.gundersonfh.com and on May 5.

MIDDLETON-Lulumarie “Lu” (Elkinton) Baitinger, daughter of Francis “Frank” Elkinton and Genevieve Marie “Jayne” Schmitz, was born on Aug. 28, 1929 in Oshkosh, WI and died on April 9, 2019 in Madison. She was married to Kenneth George Baitinger at St. Paul’s Catholic Chapel on the UW-Madison campus on July 28, 1951. She lived with her family in Houston and other Texas cities as a child and in Winneconne, WI where she attended high school. She was a graduate in 1951 of UW-Madison with a major in Speech Education. She earned membership in Wisconsin Players and National Collegiate Players. She also had membership in Zeta Phi Eta National Professional Speech Fraternity for Women. Lu earned a master’s degree in Library Media in 1972 at UW-Madison. She was employed by WKOW-Radio and WKOW-TV until her children were born. Lu lived in Middleton, WI from 1955 and was an active member of St. Bernard Catholic Church and the Middleton Community.

MIDDLETON-James W. "Jim" Weber, age 67, passed away on Dec. 14, 2018. A Celebration of Life will be held at Rex’s Innkeeper, 301 N. Century Ave., Waunakee, from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. on May 5, 2019. Casual clothes are suggested. 

Please share this Celebration with friends and family. Memories and stories of Jim can be shared at www.gundersonfh.com and on May 5.