All Obituaries

Jim Halpin, age 65 of rural Rio, died Monday, February 18, 2019, at the U.W. Hospital from lung cancer. Jim was born May 18, 1953, the second of eight children to Norman and Ann (Klaila) Halpin.  He was raised on the Halpin family farm, originally purchased in 1849 becoming the fifth generation to farm it. Upon graduation from Rio High School in 1971, Jim attended U. W. Madison, earning a degree in Meat & Animal Science in 1975.  During college, he was a member of the Alpha...

Joanne G. Schaffer, 88 of Portage, passed away Sunday, February 17, 2019 at Tivoli at Divine Savior. A complete obituary will appear soon.

Philip Walter Peetz, 85 of Wyocena, passed away Saturday, February 16, 2019. He was born October 5, 1933 in Baraboo, the son of Walter and Helen (Kessler) Peetz. Survivors include his wife June of 66 years; two sons David (Susan) Peetz and Gary (Sharon) Peetz; three daughters Debra (James) Knickerbocker, Vicky (Jose) Rodriquez, and Sherrie Peetz; 14 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren and three half-brothers and one half-sister. Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 21 at...

Vivian Grace (Babcock) Gorman, age 97, of Poynette/Rio passed away Thursday, February 14, 2019 at the Columbus Community Hospital.  Vivian was born January 4, 1922 in Rothiemay, Montana, daughter of Grant and Mae (Disbrow) Babcock.  After graduating from St. Vincent’s School of Nursing in Billings, Montana; Vivian, along with her twin sister, Vera Dowdell, served as Army Air Corp Nurses in World War II.  Vivian continued her nursing career by caring for many family...

Pardeeville - The heavenly gates opened up their doors as Jerome "Pete" D. Peterson entered them on Angel's wings Sunday, February 10, 2019, surrounded by his loving family after a short but courageous battle with MSD (bone marrow cancer).  He was born April 28, 1943, the son to Vern and Elsie (Halverson) Peterson at the Poynette Hospital.   He married Barbara Martin April 29, 1967. Jerome graduated from Poynette High School in 1961 and bought the family farm...

Walter E. Krueger, 75 of Pardeeville, passed away peacefully Thursday, January 31, 2019 at his home. He was born January 14, 1944 in Portage, the son of Elmer and Helen (Fredrick) Krueger. He graduated from Pardeeville High School, the class of 1962. In his earlier years, Walter drove semi-truck for others and himself. Walter loved the land and farming was a true passion of his. He enjoyed attending tractor pulls and during the harvest season, Walter would run the combines out in North...

Vera Dowdell, 97 of Rio, passed away Thursday, January 31, 2019, at At Home Again in Rio. She was born January 4, 1922, along with her identical twin sister Vivian at their family’s homestead at the foot of the Snowy Mountains in Golden Valley County, Montana. The daughter of Grant and Mae (Disbrow) Babcock, she graduated from St. Vincent’s Hospital School of Nursing in Billings, Montana in 1943. She proudly served her country during WWII as an army nurse.  Vera was able to...

Donna Mae Kessenich, 87 of DeForest, passed away peacefully, Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at Maplewood Rehabilitation Center in Sauk City. She was born September 21, 1931 at University Hospital in Madison, the daughter of Lloyd and Gertrude (Statz) Oien. She graduated from DeForest High School, class of 1950. She was united in marriage to Thomas Kessenich on March 27, 1951 at St. Olaf’s Catholic Church in DeForest, They were the first couple married in that church! Together, Donna and...

Mary Alice Kiefer, 90 of Portage, passed away with family at her side Wednesday, January 23, 2019. Mary was born August 5, 1928 in Portage to Irish parents, Frank and Gabriella (Kearns) McCoy. She was always so proud of her Irish heritage. She graduated from Portage High School in 1946 and worked at Atkinson’s Department Store after graduation. She married her high school sweetheart, Howard Kiefer September 4, 1948 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Portage. The newlyweds moved to...

Timothy Ward Zanca, 73 of Cambria, passed away peacefully Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at Tivoli at Divine Savior in Portage. He was born October 20, 1945 in Milwaukee, the son of Jerome and Marjorie (Ward) Zanca.  He graduated from Marquette Boys School. He worked in shipping and receiving for many years at Everbrite in Pardeeville then drove truck for Jack Jones in Pardeeville. Tim served for more than twenty-five years as a volunteer on the Pardeeville Fire Department. He had a...