Condolences

Dr. David R. Downs, MD, Madison and Dodgeville… age 91, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 21st, at his home in Oakwood Village Prairie Ridge, Madison, Wisconsin. Dave was born on February 1st, 1933, in Madison to Leslie and Lois (Ross) Downs. After graduating from Madison West High School, he studied medicine at UW-Madison. In 1955, Dave married the love of his life, Bonnie Jean Tuttle, in Madison.

Joanne Wittek, Thorp… age 75, passed away on August 3, 2024 in Thorp surrounded by family after her four-year battle with melanoma. She grew up on her family farm near Owen-Withee. She pursued a Bachelor of Science in Education from UW-River Falls in 1970. She served as the choir director for both Thorp Catholic Parochial School and Thorp High School in addition to various youth music activities.

Richard “Dick” Camp, Boscobel…age 90, passed away on Friday, May 3, 2024 at Soldiers Grove nursing Home in Soldiers Grove, WI, surrounded by his family. He graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry, in 1955, where he met his wife, Connie. Dick served in the Air Force as a helicopter pilot.

Thomas Rigden, Minocqua… age 68, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 at the Aspirus Ironwood Hospital in Ironwood, MI. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps. Following his honorable discharge, Tom attended the Northern Illinois University and graduated with a public law degree in 1984, where he passionately played on the Lacrosse team.

Lee Johnston, Oconto Falls…age 84, passed away at his home in Oconto Falls on July 4, 2024.  After serving in the Army National Guard, Lee went on to work in forestry most of his life. He started as a seasonal worker in the Bagley and Stiles fire towers for several years. He was then permanently assigned to the Stiles Ranger Station and later to the Oconto Falls Ranger Station.

Rosemary Bazile (Fournier), Town of Wyoming (Waupaca Co.)… age 83, passed away on June 23rd, 2024 at Aster Assisted Living in Clintonville after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease surrounded by her loving family. At a blind date at the age of 15, she met John Bazile, who would eventually become her future husband. Rosie started Bazile Assessment Services with her husband.

Grace Witter White, Madison… age 98, passed away on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Oakwood Village University Woods in Madison, WI, where she died peacefully. After graduating from Wausau Senior High School in 1943, Grace made a deal with her parents that if she won a national writing contest, she could go to college.

Ernest “Ernst” Gutschow, Kiel…age 76,  passed away at Manitowoc Health and Rehabilitation Center on May 14, 2024. He graduated cum laude in Music Education from Lakeland College and furthered his education at the VanderCook College of Music, Chicago. Ernst entered the United States Navy Music Program where he served at the U.S. Navy School of Music, studying string bass and the art of Drum Major.

Wayne D. Grocki, Chilton… age 80, died on February 26, 2023 at Thedacare Regional Medical Center in Neenah, WI following a battle with pancreatic cancer.  He graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and had a very long and successful career at Zenith Electronics.  He proudly secured several highly visible patents related to radio frequency technologies and participated in several U.S. military-related projects.

Dexter Porter, Sheboygan Falls… age 78, passed away unexpectedly on November 22, 2023.  He married Jean Bursack in 1976 in Wautoma. He was a U.S. Army veteran. Dexter retired from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service as a soil conservationist, and continued conservation projects until the very end. He enjoyed many outdoor activities but most importantly Dexter loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.