Obituary: James C. "Porkchop" Evans - Class of 1956

LODI - After a courageous battle with cancer, we lost a special man, James C. "Porkchop" Evans, on Saturday, March 27, 2010.

Dad graduated in 1956, from Central High School in Madison. After graduation he served, with great pride, in the U.S. Marine Corps. He worked for 18 years at Datex Ohmeda and retired in 2000. Dad loved car shows and was known as the "El Camino guy" by his friends at the many car shows he and mom frequented. Dad especially loved the hunt for the next El Camino and made many new friends in the process. Dad was blessed with a quick wit and an even quicker tongue. Most everyone he knew "earned" a nickname, like it or not.

Dad was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Martha. He is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Linda; his brother, Bob (Diane) and their daughter, Susan; his sister, Mary Ann (John) and their three sons, Sean, Danny and Patrick; his special mother-in-law, Grandma Bea; his daughter, Sue (Calvin); his son, Jerald (Amanda); his son, Cameron (Hope); his grandchildren, Lindsey, Dayna, Autumn, Spike, Allison, Landon, Joshua and Kaeleb; his many brothers and sisters-in-law; as well as several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to his many close friends and relatives that visited often and to the people of Home Health United Hospice who made Dad's final days comfortable. It was a great honor and privilege to have him as our father. He will always be mom's soul mate. We will always love you dearly.

Friends and family that wish to pay their condolences to the family may do so at the HAMRE FUNERAL HOME in Lodi, on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m.

"Semper Fi"

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on March 30, 2010

Obituary: James Thomas Keating - Class of 1968

MADISON - Jim was born Jan. 6, 1950, and passed peacefully from this world to the next surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, after suffering a second stroke. His first stroke occurred in 1993. For the past 17 years Jim has lived a life of joy and grace while teaching us all how to ignore the obstacles and embrace the pure love of life.

Jim is survived by his longtime loving soul mate of 30 years, David Fischer; Lind Wernick (Mick), Bill Keating, Sherrie Keating, Lori Recker (Rodney); many nieces and nephews; and other family members.

He was preceded in death by parents, Warren and Irene Keating; and brothers, Dennis and Bob.

Jim's wishes were to commemorate his life with a party for family and friends. Please join us at the EDGEWATER HOTEL - RIGADOON ROOM Sunday, April 18, 2010, from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. to honor his request. A few moments of observance will be held at 2:30 p.m.


Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on March 21, 2010.

Note: The class year for James Thomas Keating was confirmed by his fellow classmates, Debbie Benell and Michael Vahldieck (who submitted the photograph of Jim originally published in the 1968 Tychoberahn).

Obituary: Richard D. Harrington - Class of 1944

MADISON - Richard D. Harrington, Marine Corps (Retired), age 84, passed away on March 12, 2010. He now joins his beloved wife, Grace who passed away January 30, 2007. He was born on June 17, 1925, in Madison, to Leo and Frances Harrington. He attended Holy Redeemer Grade School and graduated from Central High School where he was a member of the football team, President of Hi-Y and Junior Class President. He enlisted in the Marine Corps during World War II and served with the "C" Company 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division in the Pacific as a rifleman and flame thrower operator. After the war he served in China on occupation duty. He retired to the states and attended school for two years. He returned to active duty in 1950, and served during the Korean War and during Vietnam. He retired from the Marine Corps with 30 years service. He was a member of the 1st Marine Division Association, The Fleet Reserve Association and the China Marine Association. On December 20, 1947, he married the love of his life, classmate, Grace Elinor Batker. Together they raised four children, Jacqueline (Gary) Rockweiler of Verona, June (Mike) Goglio, Mike (Laura) Harrington and Patrick (Julie) Harrington, all of Madison. He was proud of all of his grandchildren, Renee (Rich) Wilson, Danielle Larson, Joshua and Frances Goglio, Nicholas and Jeffrey Harrington and Jenna and Jayci Harrington; also two great-grandchildren, Annika and Ethan Larson. Dick and Grace had a small painting and repair business, D and G, from 1974 -1994. Dick was an area football official and his crew worked in several championship games. He is survived by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Ken (Nell) Batker and their children, David, John, and Carol; and nieces, Janice (Jim) Rebne, Sharon Rock, and Joan Loshek. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Grace; his sister, Mary Loshek; brother-in-law, Robert Loshek; and his in-laws, Edward and Bertha Batker. Dick was a caregiver for his wife, Grace for over ten years as she fought her courageous battle with Alzheimer's. They were married over 59 years. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 20, 2010, at the RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 2418 N. Sherman Ave., with Chaplain Steve Zwettler officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home on Saturday. Entombment will be private in the Good Shepherd Mausoleum, next to Grace, at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, 715 Broadway Street, Quantico, VA 22134. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the Cardiac Unit at Meriter Hospital. Ryan Funeral Home and Cremation Services 2418 N. Sherman Ave. (608) 249-8257

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on March 15, 2010

Note: Information about Richard Harrington's Class year was provided by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968): "Richard D. "Dick" Harrington is listed as getting a legislative (armed services) diploma in Wisconsin State Journal, Friday, June 09, 1944 , Page 12."

Obituary: Beth (Ulrich) Burack - Class of 1962

STOUGHTON - Beth (Ulrich) Burack [age 65] passed away on Monday, March 8, 2010, after a long struggle with cancer. The help given her by her doctors and by HospiceCare in her last days was a true gift of love. Beth was the daughter of Ruth (Andersen) and Wilbert Ulrich. She was born on June 2, 1944, four days before D-Day, and was in the very best sense a warrior in all of her life as in her final 11-month battle with a deadly disease. She was a lady of courage who faced pain and adversity with a dignity and humor that gave care to her caregivers, even in her own hour of direst need. Beth was a native Madisonian from the days when the old downtown Madison Area Technical College was still her own Madison Central High. When cruising the square was the best form of mass transit going. When car clubs, Cary Grant, James Dean and Amelia Earhart all defined excellence for her in their various ways. She was a rebel who whipped into shape the newsboys and newsgirls of the Press Connection and organized a union at the Progressive Magazine. But she also proved she could change her mind and shift gears when her mind and the times told her it was time to move on. Beth's working life took many twists and turns. Among other things, she sold dolls for Pleasant Company, managed an insurance office, was a circulation director and a trade show consultant selling history materials for the schools. In her spare time, she was a sky diver, pilot, amateur geologist, bird watcher, hiker, photographer, and more. In the 1960s and '70s, she and David Dahlk, her husband at the time, raised sons, Eric and Stephen Dahlk. In 1980, she was married again, this time to Jonathan Burack. For the past 30 years, she and Jonathan remained devoted partners in every way, not just the usual ways. A faith united them as well, iron-clad and self-defined, based above all on the evening dinner-time prayer of thanks, they took turns inventing anew each night. For recreation and relaxation, the two traveled the back roads and byways of Wisconsin, driving, reading, reminiscing, listening to the Brewers, and following their instincts in searching out the unheralded wonders of the Wisconsin countryside. For Beth, her children, Eric and Stephen always came first. In them, she gave the world two remarkable men of real integrity. She treasured her six grandchildren, whose unique and well-defined characters are already developing in ways that made her proud. She cared deeply about all her family. The friends and acquaintances whose lives she blessed and altered are too many to be named here. George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) could do no better. With Terry and, especially, with Pat, she stood fast through the highest highs and lowest lows of their lives, as they did with her. As in so much else in her life, Beth was true like steel in this and fiercely loyal to someone who was also fiercely loyal to her. The world was blessed to have her and is diminished by her early departure. Beth is survived by her husband, Jonathan; her mother, Ruth (Andersen) Richards; her sister, Joann Banks; her two sons, Eric Dahlk and Stephen Dahlk; Eric's wife, Candace; Stephen's wife, Paula; and six amazing grandchildren, Eric and Candace's children, Erica and Kirsten, and Stephen and Paula's children, Leif, Meisha, Elizabeth and David; her uncle, Wally Ulrich; and aunt, Lil Ulrich; many nieces and nephews; and her friends, Terry Boehner and Pat Bea. She was preceded in death by her father, Wilbert Ulrich; her brother, Paul Ulrich; and her previous husband, David Dahlk. A memorial service at GUNDERSON STOUGHTON FUNERAL HOME, 1358 Highway 51, Stoughton, is planned and will be announced at a later date. Gunderson Stoughton Funeral and Cremation Centers Highway 51 N. at Jackson St. (608) 873-4590

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on March 14, 2010; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)

Note: Beth Ulrich Burack's class year is based on a list of Central High School graduates published in the Wisconsin State Journal on June 16, 1962. She is also pictured among the graduating seniors in the 1962 Tychoberahn, where she is identified as Elizabeth A. Ulrich.

STOUGHTON [Wisconsin] - Beth (Ulrich) Burack passed away on Monday, March 8, 2010, after a long struggle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at GUNDERSON STOUGHTON FUNERAL HOME, 1358 Highway 51, Stoughton, at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 10, 2010. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 1 p.m. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, we ask for contributions to build a park bench in Beth's name at Lake Kegonsa State Park, where she hiked nearly every day over the past 10 years. If contributions exceed the cost of the bench, remaining proceeds will be donated to the Lake Kegonsa State Park Friends Group. A full obituary ran in the Sunday, March 14, 2010, paper. Gunderson Stoughton Funeral and Cremation Center 1358 Highway 51 (608) 873-459

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on April 4, 2010; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)

Obituary: Shirley Mae (Porter) Connery - Class of 1953

MADISON - Shirley Mae (Porter) Connery, age 74, of Madison, passed away on Monday, March 1, 2010, at Four Winds Manor in Verona with her family by her side. She was born on May 6, 1935, in Madison, the daughter of Helen (Armstrong) and Alfred Porter. Shirley grew up in the Greenbush area of Madison and graduated from Madison Central High School in 1953. She married Richard Connery on Dec. 11, 1954. Shirley enjoyed gardening, music, reading, crossword puzzles, birdwatching and feeding the birds, her cats, picnics at Vilas Park, and Sunday afternoon drives with the family. She was a talented sketch artist. Shirley worked for Troia Steak House for many years and retired from 28 years of service with the Internal Revenue Service in 1996. She is survived by her son, Michael D. (Faye) Connery of Verona; two granddaughters that were the love of her life, Callie Mae and Cassandra Margaret Connery; two brothers, Ronald (Sandra) Porter and William Porter both of Madison; and two sisters, Jeanne Sigmond of El Paso, Texas, and Beverly Fitzgerald of McFarland. Shirley had a special love for her many nieces, nephews and friends. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; former husband, Richard; and mother-in-law, Lucille Friesleben. Funeral services will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 8, 2010, with Chaplain Steve Zwettler presiding. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.on Sunday, March 7, 2010, and from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Monday. Inurnment will be held at a later date at Highland Memory Gardens. Memorials may be made to Angel's Wish or to HospiceCare Inc. The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff at Four Winds Manor in Verona and her HospiceCare team for the loving care and attention given to Shirley.Gunderson East Funeral and Cremation Centers 5203 Monona Drive (608) 221-5420

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on March 7, 2010

Obituary: Helen G. (Sharratt) Bruegger

WHITEWATER - Helen G. Bruegger, age 99, of Whitewater, died Wednesday, March 3, 2010, at the Fort Atkinson Memorial Hospital.

She was born in Madison on Dec. 7, 1910, the daughter of Henry F. and Gertrude (Davis) Sharratt. She was raised in Madison and graduated from Central High School. Helen married Roger W. Bruegger on May 12, 1936. Together they traveled extensively in an Airstream trailer and later they spent their time between Whitewater and Bradenton, Fla. She was always ready for a good card game. Helen attended church at Milton United Methodist Church in Milton.

She is survived by two daughters, Joan H. (Darwin E.) Fish of Fort Atkinson, and Elizabeth "Betty" Gilbert of Madison; daughter-in-law, Kathy (Jack) Findley of Whitewater; nine grandchildren, Patricia Gilbert of California, June Gilbert of Madison, Ronald (Alexis) Gilbert of Colorado, Kevin (Michelle) Fish of Janesville, Kent Fish of Portage, Karen (Brent) Miller of Milton, Erin (Daniel) Hubbard of Minot, N.D., Ellen (Joe) Guerin of Minnesota, and Erica (Robb) Yopps of California; 13 great-grandchildren; and nephew, John Whitfield of Illinois.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband; a son, William Bruegger; a grandson, Jeffrey A. Fish; a sister, Violet Whitfield; and a brother, Robert Sharratt.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 6, 2010, at the NITARDY FUNERAL HOME, 550 N. Newcomb St., Whitewater. Assisting the family is the Rev. Patrick Schultz of Milton United Methodist Church. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Monona.

Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society or Milton United Methodist Church.

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on March 4, 2010 (submitted by Michael Vahldieck, Class of 1968)

Obituary: Marilyn M. (Mahaffey) King - Class of 1950

VERONA/ MADISON - Marilyn M. King, age 77, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 1, 2010, at the HospiceCare Center in Fitchburg after vigilantly battling lymphoma cancer for 16 years. Marilyn was born in Madison on Dec. 14, 1932, the daughter of Florence (Yates) and Chauncey E. Mahaffey, who preceded her in death. Marilyn graduated from Madison Central High School in 1950, and married Robert D. "Bob" King on Aug. 25, 1956. Bob and Marilyn were married for 39 years, until his passing on Sept. 13, 1995. During their lives together, Bob and Marilyn raised three children, Judy (Ted) Nowak of Madison, Laurie (Wayne) Mueller of Stoughton, and David King of Montello. In addition to her children, Marilyn leaves four grandchildren, Daniel and Matthew Nowak, and Kelsey and Robert Mueller. Marilyn worked for the Madison Metropolitan School District for 23 years as an educational assistant, the majority of her time spent at West High School. Many of her colleagues remained treasured friends after her retirement in 1997. Marilyn loved to sew, knit, cross stitch and crochet, and her handiwork was admired and treasured by those lucky enough to receive an item "Made by Marilyn." After moving to Verona in 2004, she spent many hours at the Sow's Ear knitting, crocheting and chatting with her friends. She leaves many cherished friends at the Meridian Condominiums in Verona and Olympic Village Condominiums in Sun Prairie, as well as friends from the "old" Madison West Side neighborhood, who will miss her caring nature, sass and sense of humor. In keeping with Marilyn's wishes, a private burial will take place at Sunset Memory Gardens. A get together to celebrate her life is being planned, to take place at a later date. Marilyn and her family would like to thank HospiceCare and Brightstar, with special thanks to Brightstar CNA Saoirse, for the excellent care she received, allowing her to stay at home until her final days. In lieu of flowers, donations in Marilyn's name can be made to HospiceCare Inc. or the American Cancer Society. "Grammy, we love you and will miss you." Cress Funeral and Cremation Service 3610 Speedway Road (608) 238-3434

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on March 3, 2010