Obituaries

Carolyn Monthey, 76, of Middleton, passed away on Oct. 23rd, 2022.

Carolyn was born to parents Sidney and Mildred (Hundt) Seidner, on July 18, 1946, in Portage. She graduated from Portage High School and attended Madison Business College. She then worked for Wheeler, VanSickle, Day and Goodman law firm in Madison as an executive secretary and St Benedict’s Center in Middleton. She was highly regarded for her work ethic, sharp mind, impressive shorthand, typing speed and all-around ability to keep track of everyone and everything while simultaneously juggling at least 4-5 other tasks! She later went on to co-own several businesses and franchises together with her husband.

LAKE GENEVA–Rita D. (Whitmore) Stofflet, who was born into poverty in a Brooklyn, New York Irish tenement on Oct. 24, 1920, passed away at age 101 on Sept. 10, 2022, at Golden Years Assisted Living residential facility in Lake Geneva, with her daughter and son by her side.

Reflecting on life at age 100, Rita said: "You experience all kinds of tragedies and good things, and you get your money's worth. But I look at it, and I can't believe it was as wonderful as it was."

It didn't start out that way. Rita remembers having little food as a child, "eating fried potatoes and onions night after night" made by her single mother, Ethel. Later in life, always a member of the "Clean Plate Club", Rita would say: "I eat it all because I paid for it," and "I like anything I can get for nothing." (It's even funnier if you imagine her quotes said with her Brooklyn accent.)

MIDDLETON–Elizabeth Jane Crawford Maher died peacefully on Oct. 18, 2022. She was born in Iowa City, IA, on June 19, 1935, to Phyllis Martin Crawford and Bartholow Vincent Crawford.Her sister Rachel Ann was born in 1938. Jane attended Lincoln and University Elementary Schools and graduated from University High School. She was active in writing, music, forensics and drama. The privilege of traveling in Europe soon after the end of WWII was generously extended by Stuart Cullen MD and his family.

Jane attended MacMurray College and graduated in 1957 with Highest Honors and Phi Beta Kappa honors from the University of Iowa with a major in history. Her high school sweetheart, Louis James Maher, Jr., graduated in geology with the same honors. 

Sally Winter Agarwal, 92, of Middleton, (formerly of New Philadelphia, OH) died peacefully at home surrounded by family on Sept. 21, 2022.

Sally was born on July 23, 1930 in Pittsburgh, PA to Thomas Albert and Florence McCullough Winter. Sally went away to college at the University of Iowa where she graduated in 1952. Sally returned to Pittsburgh and taught in the local school system as a speech therapist. She lived in her parents’ home as a new graduate and saved her money in order to purchase a new white Chevrolet.

CROSS PLAINS–Marilyn Andrews Cashwell, 85, of Cross Plains, passed from this life into Jesus' presence after losing her battle to cancer on Oct. 13, 2022, just two days after celebrating her 64th wedding anniversary.

Marilyn was born on Dec. 21, 1936, in New Bedford, MA, the daughter of James and Ellen (Hjelm) Andrews. She graduated from New Bedford High School in 1954.

Marilyn married Dick Cashwell on Oct. 11, 1958, in Massachusetts. Although they grew up 850 miles apart, Dick's sister and Marilyn's aunt decided that they would be a perfect match–and they were right. Marilyn excelled in her chosen career as homemaker. She was a superb wife, mother, and grandmother, making each of them feel special.

She was a member of Midvale Baptist Church and a charter member of the Middleton Civic Choir. She loved music, which included singing duets and in choirs with her husband, Dick. In their later years, Marilyn and Dick enjoyed traveling.

\WAUNAKEE–Gerald “Jerry” Albert Hellenbrand, 71, of Waunakee, passed away on Aug. 20, 2022, after a courageous battle with colon cancer. He was born at Saint Mary's Hospital in Madison on Oct. 30, 1950 to Leander J. and Verena M. (Greiber) Hellenbrand.

He graduated from Middleton High School in 1968, and later served in the Army Reserves from 1969-1975 with the rank of Specialist 5. On May 27, 1972, he married Kristine Kay Laufenberg at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Waunakee.

Jerry started working for Graber Manufacturing Co. (later known as Springs Window Industries) in Middleton on the day he turned 18 and retired 44 years later at age 62.

ASHTON–Kathleen Mary Egstad, 81, of rural Ashton, passed away on Sept. 18, 2022. She was born on Jan. 8, 1941 at Saint Mary's Hospital in Madison, the daughter of Eleanor C. (Boos) Hensen and her husband Herman L. Hensen, a Middleton native.

Kathy graduated from Edgewood High School in 1959 and then continued her studies at Edgewood College in Madison. She met her future husband, James Richard Egstad, on a double date while in high school. They were united in marriage on Aug. 20, 1960 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Madison.

At the time of her marriage, she was a sophomore at Edgewood College with intentions of being an art teacher, and James was a junior electrical engineering student at UW-Madison.

MOUNT HOREB–Doris Ann Hall, 79, of Mount Horeb, passed away on Sept. 20, 2022. She was born on March 19, 1943, in Sewickley, PA, the daughter of George Brothers and Ruth (Peoples) Brothers. She married the late Carl Haywood Hall Sr. on Sept. 26, 1973, in Alexandria, VA.

Doris graduated from Quaker Valley High School in Leetsdale, PA, received a full scholarship to Fisk University in 1961 and graduated with honors in 1965. Doris was a gifted musician having studied Music Education at Fisk University and could play beautifully by ear and read music. She loved playing the piano and organ and was often requested to play at various occasions such as church, weddings and even funerals as well as individuals. Two of her most prideful moments were playing for The Fisk University Jubilee Singers while attending there and the Evangelist Katherine Kuhlman.

MIDDLETON–Paul Anton Maly, 89, passed away on July 8, 2022 at Meriter Hospital in Madison. He was born at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison on May 28, 1933, the only child to Leon "Leo" John Maly and Edna Frances (Frisch) Maly.

Sadly, on April 15, 1934, Paul's father, Leo, 28, was tragically killed in a vehicle incident when he was driving north on Highway M while embarking for an early Sunday morning church service and crashed head-on into an incoming driver from Mazomanie. Paul, then 11-months young, his mother, and her younger brother, Raymond G. Frisch, were severely injured and were taken to Madison General Hospital where they were released 10 days later. It was ruled by then-Dane County coroner William E. Campbell that the fatal mishap on the wrong side of the road was an accident on Leo's part. 

MADISON–Diane Anita Price passed away at age 76 on July 14, 2022. She was born Diane Anita Thorstad, the second child for Clarence and Anita (Prinz) Thorstad, on May 5, 1946 in Madison. She was blessed to have grown-up with three siblings, Ronald, Dawneen, and John, whom she loved unconditionally and with whom she maintained strong bonds throughout life.

She spent most of her life in Madison, graduating from West High School in 1964 and then from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Following college graduation, she went on to attend nursing school at York College in York, PA, where she was the valedictorian of her class. Diane loved learning new things throughout her whole life.