THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS

This blog is serving as an archive for obituaries published after 1989 of women and men who attended Madison Central High School. As of today, the only entries are of obituaries published in Madison, Baraboo, or Portage newspapers during 2005 in which the text specifically indicates that the deceased attended Central. If you know of other Central alumni who died during 2005 and whose obituaries are not included here, please contact me by email and let me know when and where the obituary was published.

You may certainly browse the entries on this blog, but links to all the obituaries posted here will also be listed on the primary blog for Madison Central High School alumni. The URL for that primary blog is http://madisonchshhistory.blogspot.com/

As I locate additional obituaries, I will post them here and notify you of the updated information via the primary blog.

How These Obituaries Are Organized

The obituaries in this blog are organized chronologically: the most recently published obituary is at the top of the page. Only obituaries from 1990 to the present are archived here, due to space and formatting limitations.

For obituaries prior to 1990, please use the link on the right.

Obituaries for members of the Class of 1965 are also archived separately on that class blog. Please use the link on the right to access and search the Class of 1965 obituaries.

Obituary: Margaret Mary (Wardle) Swiggum - Class of 1964

BLANCHARDVILLE - Margaret Mary Swiggum, age 59, of Blanchardville, died on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005, at the home of her sister, in Sauk City. She was born on Sept. 9, 1946, in Madison, to Jack and Mary (Maloney) Wardle. She grew up in Madison, attending the St. James Catholic School, Madison, and Central High School, Madison, graduating in 1964. She worked at St. Marys Hospital, Madison, in the dietary department, then Madison General Hospital, and then back to St. Marys Hospital. Margaret was married on June 15, 1972, at the Blanchardville Lutheran Church Parsonage to Dennis Swiggum. She lived and worked on the Swiggum farm with Dennis until they were divorced in 1991. She worked at Argyle Industries from November 1992 until they closed in September 2002. Margaret enjoyed horseback riding, country music and playing outside with her grandchildren. Margaret is survived by four children, Jack (Sceone) Gard of Evansville, Adam "Scott" Swiggum of Blanchardville, Tami Lynn Swiggum of Blanchardville, and Daniel Eric Swiggum of Blanchardville; three sisters, Susan (Kenneth) Kaether of Brooklyn, Marilyn Smith of Sauk City, and Kathleen (Randy) Gilbertson, of North Leeds; six grandchildren, Michael, Nicole and Andrew Gard, Allison Swiggum, Tyler Whittenbach and Logan Swiggum; and her former husband, Dennis Swiggum of Blanchardville. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2005, at 11 a.m. at the BLANCHARDVILLE LUTHERAN CHURCH. The Rev. Mark Gruner of the Pecatonica Lutheran Parish will officiate. Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery in Blanchardville. Friends may call on Monday, Dec. 26, 2005, from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the SAETHER FUNERAL HOME, Blanchardville.

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on December 24, 2005

Obituary: John Tormey - Class of 1930

MADISON/AKRON,OHIO - John L. Tormey, age 92, of Akron, Ohio, died on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005, at his home. John was born on April 10, 1913, in Madison. He was a graduate of Madison Central High School and attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He served as a Second Lieutenant in the 5th Army, Signal Corps, during World War II in North Africa and Italy. He married Nellie in 1946, and they moved to Akron in 1950. John joined Roadway Express that year and 28 years later he retired as Chairman and CEO. During those years, John found time to guide a major corporation, help his wife, Nell raise three sons, build and maintain a reputation of the highest ethical fiber and also make major contributions to the greater Akron and Cleveland community. In Akron, he served as Chairman of the Akron Metropolitan Park Board; Trustee of the Akron City Hospital, Akron Community Foundation, Akron Community Hall (Civic Theater), Akron YMCA, Akron Zoo, Stan Hywet Hall, The Summit County Historical Society, the GAR Foundation and Bluecoats Inc. In Cleveland, John served as Trustee of the National Council on Educational Research, National History Day, Western Reserve Historical Society, and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. John also served as a Trustee of Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan. John is survived by his wife, of 59 years, Nellie; sons, Thomas A. (Anne) Tormey of Chargrin Falls, Ohio, and James N. Tormey of Akron, Ohio; and a sister, Catherine T. Sommer of Middleton. John was preceded in death by his parents, John and Margaret; son, John Edward Tormey; sisters, Margaret Jackson, Elizabeth Howley, Mary Connor and Jean Tormey; brothers-in-law, Harold Howley, Robert Connor and David Sommer. A Mass of Christian Burial, will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005, at 11 a.m. at ST. SEBASTIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, 476 Mull Ave., Akron, Ohio. Procession will form at the church. Interment in the Holy Cross Cemetery, 100 E. Waterloo Road, Akron, Ohio. Friends may call at the HUMMEL FUNERAL HOME, 500 East Exchange Street, Akron, Ohio, on Monday, Dec. 19, 2005, from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to St. Sebastian Parish Foundation, 476 Mull Ave, Akron, Ohio 44320. Hummel Funeral Homes (330) 253-6126

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on December 18, 2005

Note: John Tormey's graduation date is based on information in the 1930 Madison Central High School yearbook, which also shows he was Secretary-Treasurer of his graduating class.

Obituary: Valerie "Jean" (Morgan) Gugel - Class of 1946

MADISON - Valerie "Jean" Gugel, age 77, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005. She was born on July 19, 1928, to Bernard E. and Etta (Gage) Morgan of Madison. Jean attended Franklin School, graduated from Central High School in 1946 and attended Madison Area Technical College. On Jan. 21, 1950, she was united in marriage to Ralph W. Gugel at St. James Catholic Church, Madison. Jean was a homemaker, and also was employed by the Credit Union National Association. She was a member of St. Bernard Catholic Church, and Women of the Moose Lodge No. 1451. Jean enjoyed crochet, bingo, bowling, camping, and her vegetable garden. She is survived by her husband, Ralph; five children, Barbara Gugel, Tom (Kathy) Gugel, Richard (Karen) Gugel, Mary (Chris) Nielsen, and Bill Gugel; ten grandchildren, David (Cammi) Gericke, Andrea Gugel, Daniel "Boomer" Gugel, Jeremy Gugel, Luke Gugel, Sarah Gugel, Christopher Nielsen, Jacob (Anita) Nielsen, Susan (Paul) Post, and Valerie (Steve) Zindars; seven great-grandchildren, Amanda Gericke, Cody Gericke, Eva Nielsen, Dain Post, Ryley Post, Abigail Zindars, and Tyler Zindars; and Jean leaves behind her brother, Bernard "Junior" (Dorothy) Morgan of Baraboo. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Robert Morgan and Ronald Morgan; and a daughter, Nancy Gericke. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2450 Atwood Avenue, Madison, at 2 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 19, 2005, with Monsignor Michael Hippee presiding. Entombment will be at Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church from 12:30 p.m. until the time of the service on Monday. The family thanks Karmenta Nursing Home for their loving care over the past year. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Centers 5203 Monona Drive (608) 221-5420

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on December 18, 2005

Obituary: Arthur John "Art" Disch

MADISON - Arthur John "Art" Disch, age 78, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2005, at Belmont Nursing Home. He was born on Feb. 11, 1927, in New Glarus, son of Henry and Ingeborg (Fladen) Disch. He attended Central High School, Madison, and during World War II, he served in the U.S. Marines, in the Pacific, from 1944 to 1946. Art operated a service station in Middleton for several years, worked at Cantwell Printing Company and retired from Cuna Mutual Insurance. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. Art is survived by his wife, Florence Disch; his three children, Nancy (Darwin) Thompson of Madison, John (Mary) Disch of Monona, and Joseph (Beth) Disch of DeForest; his five grandchildren, Kris (Edward) Porter of Sun Prairie, Scott Thompson of Madison, Henry and Annie Disch of Monona, and Bryn Disch of DeForest; a great-granddaughter, Kayleigh Thompson and her mother, Kirsten Bobholz; a brother, Raymond (Jackie) Disch; and an aunt Helen Shold. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins. Art was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Henry and Ralph; and a sister Gladys Hall. A memorial visitation will be held at RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 2418 N. Sherman Ave. on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. A private burial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials may be made to the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711. Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Service 2418 N. Sherman Ave. (608) 249-8257

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on December 15, 2005