Obituary: Robert W. Gill - Class of 1953

MADISON [Wisconsin] - Robert W. Gill, age 76, of Madison, died at home on August 28, 2010, surrounded by his loving family after a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born August 31, 1933, the son of Herbert and Lucille (Schmitz) Gill Sr. A native of Madison, Robert graduated from Central High School in 1953. He was drafted by the U.S. Army in 1954, and was stationed in Japan. He worked for Blied Printing, Wisconsin State Journal and the Madison School District. On May 11, 1957, he married Mary Lou Nicholls. During his life he enjoyed traveling, playing cards, gambling (penny slots), watching Badgers and Packers football, and bowling on many different teams. He was devoted to his family and friends and especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Robert is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary Lou; their six children and 16 grandchildren, Teresa and John (Michelle, Matthew, Ryan) Farr, Tim and Mary (Megan, Ashley) Gill, Julie (Zach, Zoie) Peterson, Jenny and Pat (Kendra, Paige) Hergenrother, Jerry (friend, Susie) (Amber, Nicole, Alison) Gill, Jacquie and Eric (Syerra, Kayla, Colin, Madison) Rhodes; two sisters, Donna Grahn and Dorothy (Arnie) Miller; sister-in-law, Dolores Gill; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Herbert Gill Jr. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 3, 2010, at IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5101 Schofield Street, Monona, with Father Bart Timmerman presiding. Burial with military honors will follow at Highland Memory Gardens. Visitation will be on Thursday, September 2, 2010, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 2418 N. Sherman Avenue, and again on Friday at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of mass. The family would like to express a special thank you to Dr. Peter Beatty and the staff at Dean Oncology Clinic, HospiceCare Staff and Dr. Paul Wertsch, family doctor. "Bob, Dad, Grandpa...You may be gone, but never forgotten." Ryan Funeral Home and Cremation Services 2418 N. Sherman Avenue (608) 249-8257

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on August 31, 2010

Obituary: Merle J. Manion - Class of 1954

MADISON - Merle J. Manion, age 74, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010, at St. Mary's Hospital with his loving family by his side.

He was born on Aug. 3, 1936, in Madison, the son of Harold and Jerona (Washa) Manion. In 1954, Merle graduated from Central High School. On Sept. 7, 1957, Merle was united in marriage to Karen E. Mockrud. Merle was employed by the State of Wisconsin for the Department of Transportation for 40 years until his retirement in 1994.

He was a member of the Westside Businessman's Association and the Madison Elks Lodge No. 410. Merle was also a faithful member of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church and was a proud member of the church funeral choir. Merle enjoyed volunteering his time as a driver for meals on wheels. Most of all, he cherished the time spent with his family and his many trips to his cabin in Northern Wisconsin.

Merle is survived by his wife of 53 years, Karen Manion of Madison; four daughters, Laura (Ron) Brugger of Irvine, Calif., Lynn (Paul) Schmitt of Fitchburg, Lisa (Mark Weerda) Manion of Fitchburg, and Jill Driscoll of Madison; three grandchildren, Sarah and Amanda Schmitt, and Danny Driscoll; his sister, Mary Thierer of Madison; and two brothers, Robert Manion of Riverside, Calif., and Don (Joann) Manion of Fitchburg. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, other loving family and friends.

Merle was preceded in death by his parents.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 401 S. Owen Drive, Madison on Friday, Aug. 27, 2010, at noon with Monsignor Kenneth Fielder officiating. A visitation will be held at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and at the church on Friday from 11 a.m. until the time of Mass. Burial will follow at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials may be made in memory of Merle to Our Lady Queen of Peace Endowment Fund, 401 S. Owen Drive, Madison, WI 53705; or St. Mary's Medical Foundation, 707 S. Mills St., Madison, WI 53715.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at St. Mary's Hospital Medical Intensive Care Unit for all their excellent care given to Merle and our family.

Cress Funeral and Cremation Service, 3610 Speedway Road, (608) 238-3434

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on August 26, 2010 (submitted by Michael Vahldieck, Class of 1968)


Note: Merle Manion's class year is based on information in The Madison Mirror (January 22, 1954), where he is profiled as a "Super Centralite" and vice-president of the senior class.

Obituary: Jospeh L. Peterson - Class of 1959

MADISON - Joseph L. Peterson, age 68, passed away Monday, Aug. 16, 2010, at home with his wife by his side. He was born Oct. 21, 1941, in Madison, the son of Donald and Ivy Peterson. Joe graduated from Central High School in 1959. He married Sharon Peterson on Sept. 26, 1981. Joe was a yard perfectionist, automobile enthusiast, novice investor. He worked in sales at Evans T.V., American T.V. and SM and P Utility Resources as a utility locator, and Vannguard Utility Partners. Joe is survived by his wife, Sharon; daughter, Deborah K. (Mike) Williams of Racine and their children, Christopher and Joshua; son, Troy A. Peterson of Madison; stepson, Michael D. Kelleher of Round Lake, Ill; stepdaughter, Tanya L. Kelleher of San Francisco, Calif.; sister, Jackie (Dave) Schultz of Waunakee; brother, Jim (Kathy) Peterson of Madison; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents. A celebration of life will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010, with Sister Georgeann Roudebush presiding. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until the time of the service. A special thank you to Dr. DeWitt and HospiceCare for their support. Memorials may be made to HospiceCare Foundation, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg, WI. 53711 Gunderson East Funeral and Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608) 221-5420

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on August 17, 2010

Obituary: Camilla Jean (Glasrud) Crawford - Class of 1969

WATERTOWN - Camilla Jean (Glasrud) Crawford [age 58] bravely fought and lost her battle with cancer on Friday, Aug. 13, 2010. She was born on Oct. 4, 1951, and spent her early years in Pipestone, Minn. Her parents, Leslie E. (deceased) and Margaret Rud Glasrud, plus their six children, left Pipestone for Rochester, Minn. and then moved to Madison. At the latter, Cam, as she wished to be called, attended and graduated from Central High School in 1969. While in Madison, she also matriculated at Madison Business College to acquire a secretarial certificate. In 1979, she was employed by EVCO Plastics Corporation of DeForest, where she was employed in many roles over the years before becoming corporate payroll assistant. She worked with EVCO until 2008. In 1995, she married Peter Crawford of Pardeeville. They settled in Watertown. Cam gained a daughter from her marriage to Peter-Nicole Anna Crawford. For leisure and recreational activities Cam enjoyed playing pool and water skiing in her younger years. She also liked to read, visit antique and craft shows, work in her garden and listen to music. Cam fascinated friends and acquaintances alike with stories from The Male Bible, an unpublished and unauthorized compendium of the lesser appreciated antics and behaviors of the male species of humanity. She was an ardent fan of the Green Bay Packers (and thought her brother's slight interest in the Vikings to be traitorous). She loved cats; Chester, her current feline companion, entertained and loved her with his behavior. Camilla will be remembered for her loving, generous heart, which she shared with all of her friends and family every opportunity she had. She is survived by her husband, Peter Crawford of Watertown; daughter, Nicole (Johannes) Hanson of Onalaska; grandson, Dominic Hanson; mother, Margaret Glasrud of Madison; brothers, Bruce (Pearlene) Glasrud of Seguin, Texas and David (Jane) Glasrud of Mesa, Ariz.; sisters, Judy Lynn of Sequim, Wash. and Karen (Doug) Wolf of Verona; and numerous nieces, nephews and much loved extended family. She was preceded in death by her father, Leslie Glasrud of Madison; brother, Robert Glasrud of Omaha, Neb.; first husband, David Voll of Madison; and brother-in-law, Norm Lynn of Sequim, Wash. A memorial service will be held at ST. JAMES EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 427 S. Main Street, Verona, at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010. Entombment will be at Roselawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or to HospiceCare Foundation. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the palliative care staff at the University Hospital for their wonderful care. Gunderson East Funeral and Cremation Centers 5203 Monona Drive (608) 221-5420

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on August 15, 2010 (submitted by Michael Vahldieck, Class of 1968)