Obituary: Scot M. Tappen - Class of 1967

MADISON [Wisconsin] - Scot M. Tappen passed in to the everlasting arms of his savior, Jesus Christ, on Tuesday, November 28, 2000, following a long illness. Scot was born in Madison, Wisconsin, on July 1, 1948, to John R. Tappen and Evelyn (Kluge) Tappen. Scot graduated from Madison Central High School in 1967, and entered the Air Force shortly thereafter. While on active duty as a fighter aircraft electronics technician, he was stationed in Thailand and South Vietnam, and brought home a love for these southeast Asian cultures when he was honorably discharged in 1971. Scot worked for Grant Electronics of Madison for a time, and then at the Madison post office before retiring in 1999. He enjoyed wind surfing, deer hunting and cruising on his recumbent bicycle. Scot attended and was baptized at Grace Baptist Church in Madison, where he put his talents and skills at electronics to work for his Lord. Survivors include his parents, John and Evelyn Tappen of Mount Home, Arkansas; brothers, Craig (Kathey Riggs) Tappen of Redding, California, and Jay (Jane Manion) Tappen of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; sisters, Gail Tappen and Emily Capicik, both of Madison; nieces, Amy Tappen and Jesslyn Capicik; and nephews, Aaron Tappen and Jiri Capicik. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Arthur G. and Hester Tappen of Madison, and Arthur and Amy Kluge of Minong, Wisconsin; his uncle, Dr. David Noll of Verona, Wisconsin; his aunt, Judy (Kluge) Ryan of Dayton, Ohio; and his cousins, Barbara Gonstead of Beloit, Wisconsin, Guy Beardsley of McAllen, Texas, and James Tappen of Buhl, Idaho. A memorial service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, on Saturday, December 2, 2000, at 10:35 a.m., with Pastor Dean Howell of Grace Baptist Church presiding. Family and friends are invited to attend. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grace Baptist Church. The family wants to thank all of those who helped and loved Scot throughout his life. Scot will always be remembered for his gentleness and kind spirit, and his great love of animals and the outdoors.


Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on November 30, 2000; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)

Obituary: Charles Addison Peckham

FRIESLAND [Wisconsin] - Charles Addison Peckham, age 80, of Friesland, died Monday morning, November 27, 2000, at Columbus Community Hospital. Charles was born in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, on April 14, 1920, the son of David Ray and Clara (Fehrman) Peckham. He was a graduate of Madison Central High School. He attended UW-Madison for two years in physical medicine and later graduated from Madison Area Technical College with a major in accounting and office management, and a minor in data processing. Charles joined the U.S. Army in World War II and became a technical sergeant in the Medical Corps, and later was a volunteer for detached duty and was transferred to serve with the paratroopers and special forces. He was engaged in battles in North Africa, Sicily, Anzio, Salerno, Omaha Beach, the Battle of the Bulge and in Desert Storm. Charles was honorably discharged from the Army and held various accounting positions in the Madison area. He was a 17th ward alderman for the city of Madison from 1953 until 1955, was a justice of the peace, was foreman for Badger Ordinance Works, and in 1953 became general foreman for the Joliet Arsenal in Joliet, Illinois. In 1969 he was certified by IBM as a computer programmer and has worked as auditor for the State Medical Society of Wisconsin and as a senior auditor for Olin Industries' Badger Ordinance Works. While Charles was working as a custodian of Madison East High School in 1976, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. After three years of treatment and in remission, Charles became involved in founding the state chapter Living With Cancer. In the years of 1980 until 1984, he became a registered master gardner through the UW-Extension division. Charles was a member of the Bricklayers Union (AFL-CIO) serving as secretary for their arbitration committee and in 1976 was president of Local No. 60 of Madison Municipal Works Union, past associate member of the National Archives in Washington, D.C., past commander of the Madison Chapter of Disabled American Veteran's Veterans, brigadier of the United States Veterans Assembly, legislative director for the Wisconsin Veteran's Council, and past president of the Allied Veteran Council of Dane County. On September 12, 1992, Charles was united in marriage to Lorraine E. Bobholz at Trinity Lutheran Church in Friesland. Together they made Friesland their home for the last eight years. Since his marriage, Charles was a member of John E. Miller American Legion Post No. 146 of Beaver Dam and a faithful member to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Friesland. Survivors include his wife, Lorraine of Friesland; three sons, John, Stephen and David; a daughter, Ann; two grandsons; a granddaughter; a step-granddaughter; two sisters, Yvonne (James) Thompson of North Leeds, and Shirley Johnson of Reynoldsburg, Ohio; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Charles was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers; and four sisters. Memorial services will be held on Friday, December 1, 2000, at 11:00 a.m. from TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH in Friesland, with Pastor John Unnasch officiating. Burial of cremains will follow in Friesland Cemetery. Family and friends may call on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH in Friesland. Kratz-Smedema Funeral Home in Cambria is serving the family.

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on November 30, 2000; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)

Obituary: Tina Nania

WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA - Tina Nania, age 82, passed away on Wednesday, November 8, 2000, at John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek, California. Tina was born to Joseph and Gaetana Nania on August 6, 1918, in Madison, Wisconsin. After graduating from Madison Central High School, Tina enrolled at the University of Wisconsin, where she earned a B.A. degree in education. She worked as a secretary in the legal department for Badger Ordinance proof reading government contracts during World War II. After the war she made her residence in Berkeley, California. She earned a master's degree in library science at the University of California at Berkeley. Tina was employed as a librarian in the legal department of the law library at Berkeley until her retirement. Surviving are her sisters, Stephena N. Frederick, Janesville, Wisconsin, and Ann Nania, River Forest, Illinois. Further survivors include her nephews, Jeff Nania, Madison, Dr. James Nania, Spokane, Washington, Joel Nania, Spokane, Jay Nania, Houston, Texas, George Frederick, Carol Stream, Illinois, and Joe Nania, Mishawaka, Indiana. Surviving nieces include Arra Lasse, Janesville, and Becky Kitta, Mishawaka, Indiana. Tina was preceded in death by her parents; and her brothers, Dr. James Nania, Ernest Nania and Corporal John Nania. Mass will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, November 13, 2000, in ST. JAMES CATHOLIC CHURCH, 1128 St. James Court, Madison. There will not be a visitation. The family wishes to thank all of Tina's friends who extended their generous help during her latest illness. Cress Funeral Service (608) 238-3434

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on November 11, 2000; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)