Sunday, January 22, 2012

Obituary: Sidney Sweet

MADISON - Sidney Sweet, age 93, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012.

Sidney, the eldest child of Max and Libby Sweet was born in Duluth, Minn., on the original Armistice Day. Nov. 11, 1918, and as he came into the world, a world at war found peace. The Sweet family survived the Great Depression in Madison's beloved Greenbush section. Sidney would sell newspapers and began to learn the family trade from his father, the laundry and dry cleaning business. But, there was always some time if not money for his true passions - big band music and dancing. War came again to the world and Sidney answered the call serving four years as a medic with the Eighth Air Force in England.

After the war, Sidney set out to establish his own laundry and dry cleaning business in Beaver Dam with Eager Beaver Laundry and then in Madison with Bold Cleaners, NuLife-Spotless, Spic and Span and Quality Service Laundry and Cleaners. After closing the business, the hard work ethic learned at his parents' side during the Depression would continue. Sidney worked for both Dane County Public Works at the Verona landfill and the Veterans Administration Hospital in Madison. In addition, he started another business, Sweet Tees and Sportswear, teaching himself the screen printing business and selling collegiate souvenirs at Wisconsin and Iowa sporting events. He also operated two gift stores in Wisconsin Dells and one in Madison.

Sidney was a charter member of Beth Israel Center. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors and the Ritual Committee, he was a member of the Madison Jewish Burial Society for 25 years. Sidney organized and hosted seven free big band reunion dances in Madison. He also wrote a book, "Greenbush USA, I Lived There" covering his early experiences in the "Bush." After living in Madison nearly 70 years, Sidney moved to Las Vegas, Nev., where he spent his later years dancing and enjoying the big band music at the local casinos. He soaked in the Vegas scene as only he could.

Sidney is survived by his three children, Mark (Linda Eyers) Sweet of Wisconsin Dells, Larry (Sandra) Sweet of Northbrook, Ill., and Nori Nathanson of Chandler, Ariz. He is also survived by his sister, Betty of St. Paul, Minn.; and his sister-in-law, Connie Largent of Brownstown, Ill. Sidney's special partner Eda Bade provided him with so much love and compassion making his later years more comfortable. Sidney is also survived by his grandchildren, Nicole, Joel and Bryan Nathanson, Bradley Sweet; and step-grandchildren, Brian (Angy) Lundeen and Aaron (Melissa) Lundeen; and several nieces and nephews.

Sidney was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Sophie; his parents, Max and Libby Sweet; his brother, Allan; his sister, Lillian; and sister, Bertha.

Sidney was born in peace and fittingly he is now at peace, again. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012, at 1 p.m. at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on January 22, 2012 (submitted by his cousin, Gloria Frank, Class of 1955).

Friday, January 20, 2012

Obituary: Josephine (Giusti) Walsh - Class of 1937

 COLUMBUS/ FALL RIVER - Josephine Walsh, age 92, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, at the Columbus Community Hospital. She was born in Madison, on Sept. 18, 1919, to George and Jenny (Metranga) Giusti. She grew up in the Italian Greenbush neighborhood, and was proud to be the daughter of one of the founders of the Italian Workmen's Club. She graduated from Central High School in 1937. On July 4, 1952, she married Clarence Walsh and they settled in Madison. In 1957, they moved to rural Columbus, where they raised four children. Josephine was a patient, loving and devoted mother, always seen in the audience offering encouragement during her children's many athletic or musical events. She was a long-time member of St. Columbkille Catholic Church in the Town of Elba, where she taught Catechism and served on the Altar Society. She had worked at both Stokely Van Camp in Columbus, as a first-aid technician, and the Wisconsin Cheeseman in Sun Prairie. She enjoyed reading, especially biographies. She had a life-long love of the movies - as a young girl, shows at the downtown Madison theaters were a favorite, inexpensive Depression-era escape. Those lucky enough to sit at her table were treated to sumptuous meals - she could make anything from wild game, to a perfect roast chicken, to the world's greatest lemon pie. She loved to travel, visiting Switzerland twice to see her dear friends, Mary and Martin Steiner. She also sat on the beach in the Bahamas and got a kiss from Wayne Newton in Las Vegas. She was a die-hard Packers and Badgers football fan, and spent the last Sunday of her life cheering on her Packers from a hospital bed. She is survived by her husband, Clarence, of Columbus; two sons, Greg (Tanna) of Sylvania, Ohio, and Tim (Agnes Chwae) of Madison; a daughter, Karen (James Berbee) Walsh of Madison; a sister, Rosella Sager of Sacramento, Calif.; her two beloved granddaughters, Caitlin (Sam) Evans of Perrysburg, Ohio, and Megan Walsh Rodgers (Joe) of Fairview Park, Ohio; many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her son, Jonathan in 1973; granddaughter, Theresa Walsh in 1993; her parents; two brothers, Sam Giusti and Tony Justo; three sisters, Saveria Stassi, Jenny Giusti and Ann Spada; other relatives. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012, at ST. COLUMBKILLE CATHOLIC CHURCH, W10802 County Highway TT, Columbus. The Rev. Rick Wendell will officiate. Interment will be in the church cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, at the funeral home. There will be no visitation at the church prior to Mass. Josephine's family would like to especially thank the staff of the Meadows Assisted Living Apartments, Dr. Sam Poser and the Columbus Community Hospital for their caring and support during her final months. Jensen Funeral & Cremation Columbus .

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on January 20, 2012 (submitted by Michael Vahldieck, Class of 1968)