Obituary: Donald Mann Harris

MADISON [Wisconsin] - Donald Mann Harris departed from this Earth on Thursday, July 25, 2002, following a brief hospitalization. Donald was born in Madison, Wis., Sept. 15, 1924, to Willie Lou and George Harris. He attended Longfellow Elementary and Central High School. In Dec. of 1942, he married Pearl Elvord. Their union produced four children. During World War II, Donald proudly served in the United States Navy in the Pacific. An entrepreneur, Donald was involved in several businesses during his lifetime. They included Fabric Specialist Cleaners, Harris Brothers Construction Company, The Tuxedo Lounge, and House of Ribs. He was a baton twirler with the Madison Boy Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps., and a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Known as a hockey Dad, he also possessed a good sense of humor, love for family, gift of gab, and love of bowling. Donald is survived by his wife, Pearl; two daughters, Donna Smith, Madison, and Ruth Ann Harris, Altedena, Calif.; two sons, Donald M. Harris Jr., DeForest Wis., and Gary Harris, Verona, Wis.; a brother, Richard H. Harris (Maxine), Madison; a sister, Georgia Henderson, Madison; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren; a host of cousins; nieces; and nephews; and beloved friends. Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Lou and George Harris; two brothers Calvin A. Harris II, and Charles C. Harris; and a sister Nan Harris. Services are being handled by the CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 30, 2002, followed by the funeral at 1 p.m. Burial will take place at Sunset Memory Gardens, Madison. Cress Funeral Home 3610 Speedway Road Madison, Wis.


Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on July 28, 2002; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)

Obituary: Estrella Reis Milton - Class of 1923

MADISON [Wisconsin] - Estrella Reis Milton, age 96, passed away on Wednesday, July 24, 2002, at the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center, Fitchburg. She was a lifelong resident of Madison, except in 1911 when she and her family spent a year homesteading in South Dakota. She was the first born of 11 siblings to John and Appolonia (Blanche) Reis. She graduated from Madison Central High School in 1923. She worked many years for the Department of Agriculture until her retirement from Forest Products Laboratory. She was married to Dale Milton in 1958. Her avocations were reading, gardening and sewing. Her family owned a grocery store for many years that eventually became the Mifflin Street Co-op. She is survived by a brother, Frank Reis; two sisters-in-law, Vera Mennerich and Margaret Reis; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale, in 1977. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at noon on Friday, July 26, 2002, at ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 602 Everglade Drive, Madison, with Father Robert Butz officiating. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Burial will be at Roselawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Joyce-Ryan Funeral Home 5701 Odana Road (608) 274-1000

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on July 26, 2002; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)

Obituary: Orval O. Fisher - Class of 1945

MADISON [Wisconsin] - Orval O. Fisher, age 74, of Madison, passed away on Monday, July 22, 2002, at St. Marys Hospital. He was born on Sept. 9, 1927, at Madison General Hospital, to Vernon and Ethel (Burnsworth) Fisher. Orval graduated from Madison Central High School in June 1945. He entered service in the U.S. Army in September 1945 and stationed at Fort McCoy during World War II. Orval served in the Korean War and went to Vietnam with the 826th as first sergeant with more than 200 men in Long Bindh. He served in the Army for more than eight years and the Reserves for 25 years, retiring from the 84th Division, 2nd Battalion, 339th Regiment, in May 1979. Orval was united in marriage to Patricia Hellenbrand on May 22, 1954, at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Ashton. He was employed by Oscar Mayer for more than 40 years as a pipefitter. Orval was a charter member of St. Dennis Catholic Church, where he served as an usher; he was also a member of Oscar Mayer Local No. 538; American Legion Post No. 534, past commander, honor guard and marching unit of VFW Post No. 7591; and a life member of the Bristol Gun Club. An avid sportsman, Orval started fishing and hunting with his dad and continued the pastime with family members and his many friends. An annual Canadian fishing trip became a tradition. Orval is survived by his wife, Pat of Madison; sons, Clifford (Jean) and Brian, both of Madison; a daughter, Denise (Scott) Miller of McFarland; five grandchildren, Reese, Blake and Desirae Fisher, and Rachel and Courtney Miller; step-sisters, Dorothy Leming of Edina, Minn., Joyce (Dick) Sutton of Mount Horeb, and Emilie Hawk of Verona; a step-brother, Ronald (Darlene) Johnson of Mount Horeb; a sister-in-law, Pam Fisher of DeForest; and many relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; step-father, Loren Johnson; a brother, DeWayne; infant brother, Clinton Fisher; step-sisters, Lorraine Hill and Arlene May; and a step-brother-in-law, Dick Leming. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. DENNIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 505 Dempsey Road, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 26, 2002, with Father Kent Schmitt presiding. Burial will be held at Highland Memory Gardens, with military rites conducted by the Madison Veterans Firing Squad. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, 2002, where VFW Post No. 7591 will conduct a pass and review at 7:30 p.m., with a rosary to follow. Visitation will also be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Dennis Catholic Church for masses or to the American Heart Association. Orval died doing what he enjoyed the most, fishing with his son and grandsons. Gunderson East Funeral Home (608) 221-5420

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on July 24, 2002; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)

Obituary: Myrtle M. (Muzzy) Bruegger

FITCHBURG [Wisconsin] - Myrtle M. Bruegger, age 87, passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2002, at the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center. Myrtle was born on May 24, 1915, at Lannon, Wis., to William and Catherine (Huberty) Muzzy. She graduated from Madison Central High School and attended the UW and the Madison Vocational School. Myrtle enjoyed a 31 year career at Forest Products Laboratories. In retirement, she gave generously of her time to other people spending 28 years volunteering at Madison General Hospital. She also worked on behalf of the South and West Madison Coalitions for Aging. Myrtle will be remembered for her sharp intellect, her enjoyment of being with people and her wonderful sense of humor. Traveling was her special interest. A highlight of earlier years were her Green Lake vacations with her family. Myrtle was preceded in death by her daughter, Suzanne; her parents; a brother and sister. Survivors include a sister, Olive (Carter) Lueders of Sun City, Ariz.; three grandchildren, Doug Morrison of Arlington Heights, Ill., Barbara (Scott) Kroll and Bradley Morrison all of Atlanta, Ga.; and four great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews include, Mary Cummings, Carter Lueders, James Lueders all of Phoenix, Ariz.; Patricia Grant of Sun Prairie and Joan Nagle of Madison. Myrtle enjoyed her friends and her life at Oakwood Village. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 21, 2002, at the RESURRECTION CHAPEL at OAKWOOD VILLAGE WEST, 6201 Mineral Point Road. The Rev. Clyde Carleton will officiate. Memorials may be made to the Oakwood Community or to American Cancer Society. Cress Funeral Service 3610 Speedway Road (608) 238-3434

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on July 16, 2002; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)

Obituary: Loretta (Straus) Blodau - Class of 1927

MADISON [Wisconsin] - Loretta (Straus) Blodau, age 92, died on Saturday, July 6, 2002, at Oak Park Nursing Home, with her family at her bedside. She was born in DeForest on July 25, 1909, the daughter of Joseph and Albie (Kovanda) Straus. Loretta graduated from Madison Central High School. On Dec. 6, 1929, she married Harry J. Blodau. Together they farmed briefly in Sauk County. Loretta and Harry operated a grocery store in Madison on the near West side for 25 years. She also worked for the State of Wisconsin at the Oregon School for Girls. After retirement, Loretta was involved in many volunteer activities. She took great pleasure in gardening and in her grandchildren. Loretta is survived by her husband of 73 years, Harry; two daughters, Nancy (Clare) Hutson and Jeanette (Harlan Marquess) Blodau, both of Madison; 5 grandchildren, Frederick (Gretchen) Hutson, Anne (Edwin) Sommers, Karen Hutson, Alan (Debra) Hutson and Annette Mann; 8 great grandchildren; a brother, Jerome (Ruth) Straus of Seattle, Wash; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; and sister, Leona (Roy) Butler. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9, 2002, at MERITER HEALTH CARE CENTER CHAPEL, 334 W. Doty Street, Madison, with the Rev. Siggi Arnarson officiating. The family suggests that memorials may be made to the Alzheimers Association, 517 N. Segoe Road #301, Madison, WI, 53705. Cress Funeral Service (608) 238-3434

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on July 8, 2002; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)

Loretta Straus's class year is based on information in the 1927 Tychoberahn, where she is pictured among the graduating seniors

Obituary: Frederic E. Mohs - Class of 1927

Skin Cancer Surgeon Dr. Frederic Mohs Dies

The Madison Resident, Famous For His Skin Cancer Treatment, Died At Age 94.
By Thomas W. Still

Dr. Frederic E. Mohs, a UW-Madison researcher and surgeon who devised a skin cancer treatment in the 1930s that remains the global standard today, died Monday in Madison. He was 93.

As a UW-Madison medical student in the early 1930s, Mohs began experimenting with procedures and compounds that came to be known as"microscopically controlled surgery." Once it gained popularity, the process became known worldwide by the name it still carries: Mohs surgery.

Mohs surgery provides a precise method for removal of all cancerous tissue,while sparing the greatest amount of healthy tissue. It typically results in a significantly smaller surgical defect and less noticeable scarring, as compared to other methods of skin cancer treatment. The cure rate for many types of skin cancer can be as high as 99 percent.

Over time, Mohs surgery training programs were established at a number of the nation's leading medical schools and clinics, including UW-Madison, the University of Michigan, the University of Iowa, New York University and the University of California-San Francisco.

The process is also used internationally, due in part to Mohs' travels to address medical audiences around the world. The American Society for Mohs Surgery was founded in 1990 to further the practice.

In a 2001 book, "Saving Face: My Victory Over Skin Cancer," author Carolyn Shuck of La Jolla, Calif., called Mohs "the foremost skin cancer surgeon in the world."

Born in Burlington, Mohs was 3 months old when his father died and the family moved to Madison, where his mother ran a boarding house. Mohs wanted to be a radio engineer, but became interested in medicine at the university.

He is survived by two sons, Frederic Jr., a member of the UW Board of Regents, and Thomas; a daughter, Jan Shimming of Jupiter, Fla.; seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. A family memorial will be held Wednesday.

Originally published as a news story in the Wisconsin State Journal on July 2, 2002

Note: Frederic E. Mohs's class year is based on information in the 1927 Tychoberahn, where his photograph is among those of the graduating seniors.