Thursday, March 29, 2001

Obituary: Clara Helen Haak - Class of 1930

MADISON [Wisconsin] - Clara Helen Haak, age 88, passed away on Sunday, March 25, 2001, at St. Mary's Care Center. She was a lifelong Madison resident. Clara attended St. James Catholic Grade School and Madison Central High School, graduating in 1930. She attended the University of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin School of Music, with a degree in harmony. She worked for many years at the Homecraft Shop on Regent Street before her retirement. She was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, serving as an organist for the Resurrection (Funeral) Choir for many years. She was a member of the Madison Catholic Women's Club, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and the National Order of Foresters. Clara will be deeply missed, and is lovingly survived by her sister, Hildegarde of Madison; a brother, Francis E. (Berenice H.) Quinn of Potomac, Maryland, and their three sons, Richard (Diane) of San Diego, California, Ronald (Sharon) of Potomac, Maryland, and Randall of Washington, D.C. She is also survived by numerous cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Helen (Newel) Haak. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 31, 2001, at BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2131 Rowley Ave. Father Stanley Drongowski and Father Lawrence Kieffer will concelebrate the Mass. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery. Friends may call after 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday at the church. Joyce-Ryan Funeral Home 5701 Odana Road (608) 274-1000

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on March 29, 2001; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)

Tuesday, March 27, 2001

Obituary: George Minard

MADISON [Wisconsin] - George Minard, age 70, passed away on Sunday, March 25, 2001, surrounded by his family, at St. Mary's Care Center. He was born on December 18, 1930, in Madison, to George and Catherine (Furey) Minard. George graduated from Madison Central High School. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. George married Grace Urben on November 13, 1953. He was a member of the Painter's Local Union 802 and was a painter for the board of education for Madison Public Schools. George was a member of the Moose Lodge and VFW Post 8483. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Grace Minard; five children, Cheryl (Terry) Christianson, Susan Minard, Dan Minard, Lori (Jayme) Johnson and Steven (Carol) Minard; five grandchildren, Kirstin, Jesse, Nichole, Nathan and Kayla; siblings, Leo (Adeline) Furey, Tom (Elaine) Furey, Constance (Wayne) Gibson and Eleanor Dollard; and other relatives and friends. George was preceded in death by his parents; and siblings, Stan Ryan, Irene Solein, Delores Puttkamer, Vera Buckley, Richard Furey and Florene Sinner. Funeral services will be held at GUNDESON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 29, 2001. Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28, 2001. Gunderson East Funeral Home (608) 221-5420

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on March 27, 2001; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)

Tuesday, March 20, 2001

Obituary: Sara Sweet Shapiro - Class of 1931

MADISON - Sara Sweet Shapiro passed away peacefully Sunday night, March 18, 2001, surrounded by her loving immediate family, at the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center in Fitchburg after a courageous seven-year battle with cancer. She was 88 years old. Sara, who lived at Coventry Village Retirement Apartments, was born April 13, 1912. She was the third of six children born to Morris and Helen Sweet. The family lived in Madison's Greenbush neighborhood, where Morris operated a blacksmith shop. Sara attended Longfellow grade school and graduated from Madison Central High School in 1931. She was working as a clerk at Bloom's Grocery when she was introduced by relatives to Sam Shapiro, a native of Chicago, who had come to Madison to attend the University of Wisconsin. After a two-year romance, Sara and Sam were married on June 25, 1933, and they enjoyed 55 years together until Sam's death in 1989. Sara lived an active life. She loved to play softball with the boys when she was young, and she was a league bowler up to her later years. She was an avid and skilled Mah-Jongg player. In 1950, Sara, Sam, and Sam's brother Louis and his wife Florence purchased the Sweet's Food Shop grocery store at the corner of Main and Broom streets, and the two families operated this landmark grocery store for 25 years. It was one of Madison's first self-service grocery stores and also featured home delivery service. Sam and Sara were charter members of Beth Israel Center, and she was active in the sisterhood and served on a host of synagogue committees. Up until the past year, she continued to work in the Beth Israel kitchen helping to cater dozens of bar mitzvahs, weddings and anniversary parties, something that she had loved to do for more than 40 years. Her chopped liver, strudel, taglach and mandel bread were out of this world. Sara held a variety of part-time jobs during her middle and late years. She worked at J.C. Penney, Gimbel's candy department, and she volunteered at Meriter Hospital and the Westside Coalition. Up to late last year, Sara had enjoyed serving as a consultant for the books that were being written about the old days in Greenbush ... the Mothers of Greenbush and the Grandmothers of Greenbush. She was a gold mine of knowledge ... she knew everyone, she knew their families, where they lived and what they did. Sara is survived by her two children: her son, Marshall (Susan) Shapiro, Madison, and their two daughters, Ragen and Lauren; and her daughter, Naomi Cissy Shapiro (Ray Spitz), Clam Lake, Wisconsin, and her two daughters, Andrea and Eden Epstein. She is also survived by a sister, Lena, Milwaukee; two sisters-in-law, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded n death by her parents; and her four brothers, Harry, Sam, Nathan and Mike. The Shapiro family would like to thank the HospiceCare Center staff, and other friends and volunteers for their loving care in her final days, especially Judy Sokolow, Sheila Buss and Sue Laughrin. Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning, March 21, 2001, at 11:00 a.m. at FITCH LAWRENCE SANFILLIPPO CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 6021 University Ave., with the Rabbi Kenneth Katz officiating. Burial will be in the family plot in Forest Hill Cemetery immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Sara's name be made to Beth Israel Center, Westside Coalition and HospiceCare.

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on March 20, 2001; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)

Saturday, March 17, 2001

Obituary: Richard J. Crase

MADISON/ DeFOREST [Wisconsin] - Richard J. Crase, age 65, was born into eternal life on Thursday, March 15, 2001, after a courageous battle with cancer. Richard was born on July 22, 1935, in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, the son of Victor and Frances (Meyer) Crase. He was a graduate of Madison Central High School and enlisted in the Air National Guard, where he received his training as a heavy equipment operator. On May 7, 1958, he married Mary Ann Wartner at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Madison. Richard was employed for more an 42 years at Dane County Regional Airport and retired on January 15, 2000, as an air field maintenance supervisor. He enjoyed working outdoors and his woodworking. Richard was a member of St. Olaf's Catholic Church in DeForest, Knights of Columbus and Capitol City VW Club, and a former member of St. Dennis Catholic Church and the Holy Name Society. Survivors include three sons, Tim (Bonnie) Crase of Madison, John (Gretchen) Crase of Rio, and David (Lori) Crase of Madison; two daughters, Mary Jo (James) Revels of Portage, and Joan (Paul) Kunz of DeForest; eight grandchildren, Joseph, Suzanne and Nathaniel Crase, Nicholas and John Revels, and Elizabeth, Michael and Mary Jane Kunz; two sisters, Mary Ann (Stephen) Raynoha of Madison, and Marcella (Elroy) Croissant of Sheboygan; sister-in-law, Jane (Robert) Rule of Crystal Lake, Illinois; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral services will be held at ST. OLAF'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 623 Jefferson St., DeForest, on Sunday, March 18, 2001, at 3:30 p.m. Father Gary Wankerl and Father Daniel Finnane will officiate. Visitation will be at the church on Sunday from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. Graveside services will be on Monday, March 19, 2001, at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, Madison, at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Olaf's Building Fund. Richard was a loving husband, devoted father and grandfather, and will be greatly missed by all. Ryan Funeral Home 2418 N. Sherman Ave. (608)249-8257

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on March 17, 2001; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)

Friday, March 09, 2001

Obituary: Mary E. Godding - Class of 1936

MADISON [Wisconsin] - Mary E. Godding, age 83, died on Thursday, March 8, 2001, at Four Winds Lodge in Verona, Wisconsin, after a long illness. Mary was born on June 22, 1917, to Albert Lester and Elizabeth Johanna (O'Neill) Godding in Madison. She was a lifelong resident of Madison, and a member of St. Raphael's Cathedral parish. Mary attended Longfellow School and graduated from Madison Central High School in 1936. She worked for more than 40 years for the state of Wisconsin in the Bureau of Finance before retiring in 1979. For more than 30 years until February 27, 2001, she resided at Karen Arms Apartments in Madison. Mary is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Charles Lester Les and Ruth Godding; and a sister Anne Heath, both of Verona; a sister-in-law, Tirzah (Mrs. Albert) Godding of Madison; nieces and nephews, Ruth Bongey, Donna Walter, Yvonne Lake, Delores Reynolds, Bill Godding, June Sarbacker, Gary Godding, Lori Godding, Nancy Noel and Ken Heath; and many, many great-nieces and great-nephews, as well as great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews; and also her good friend and neighbor, Janet Cramer. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Walter and Albert (Abbey) Godding; and a nephew, Gordon Godding. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, 2001, at JOYCE-RYAN VERONA FUNERAL HOME, 118 N. Franklin St., with Monsignor Daniel Ganshert officiating. Burial will be held at Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the services on Saturday. Mary deeply loved nature - anything to do with the outdoors, plants, birds, animals and the Wisconsin countryside. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in her name to the Nature Conservancy of Wisconsin, Dane County Chapter, 633 W. Main St., Madison, WI 53703. Joyce-Ryan Verona Funeral Home 118 N. Franklin St. (608) 845-6625

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on March 9, 2001; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)