Obituary: Paul Timothy "Tim" Cuccia - Class of 1963

MADISON - Paul Timothy "Tim" Cuccia, age 65, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Friday, April 22, 2011. He was born in Madison, to Paul and Vera (Fillner) Cuccia. Tim grew up in the Greenbush neighborhood and was very proud of his Italian heritage. He graduated from Madison Central High School, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, took his basic training at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and served a tour of duty in Vietnam. Upon completion of his enlistment and deciding to remain in California, Tim worked in radio advertising for many years, while taking several college courses to further his education. He was recently the proud owner of his own home. Tim is survived by his sister, Barbara Cuccia (Wayne) Chase; nephew, Randy Chase; niece, Sandra Chase (Chris Klinger); and other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and other family members. He was especially close with his Aunt Jen and Uncle Tony Salerno, who served as his second family in Madison and California. Funeral services will be held at ROSELAWN MEMORIAL PARK CHAPEL, 401 Femrite Drive, Monona, at noon on Saturday, April 30, 2011, with the Rev. David Byers-Dent presiding. Visitation will be at the chapel from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Gunderson East Funeral  and  Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive.

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on April 28, 2011 (submitted by Michael Vahldieck, Class of 1968)

Note: Tim Cuccia's class is based on information in the 1963 Tychoberahn, where he is pictured among the graduating seniors.

Obituary: Leada (Hoecherl) Pawlowski

FOND DU LAC/MADISON - Leada's parents emigrated from Germany to Alberta, Canada where she was born Jan. 27, 1913. She died Monday, April 18, 2011, at the Fond du Lac Lutheran Home.

Her family moved from Canada to Spooner in 1919 where they farmed for many years. She left home at 13 to work as a nanny in Madison while attending Central High School. After graduation she left for Milwaukee where she received her RN degree after training at St. Mary's Hospital. She met and married Clarence Pawlowski and they celebrated 66 years of marriage before he died in 2001.

She worked for more than 25 years at Johnston Emergency Hospital in Milwaukee and after retiring they moved back to Spooner, bought a motor home and traveled all over the United States, Canada and Mexico. Her husband's failing health brought them to Madison in 1990 so her Madison area family could help them in their remaining years.

She is survived by two daughters, Nancy Socha of Murrells Inlet, S.C., and Judith (Albert) Jaloviar of Madison. She is also survived by five grandsons, Jeff (Sally) Jaloviar of Draper, Utah, John (Sunny) Jaloviar of Tampa, Fla., and Steven (Amy) Jaloviar of Portland, Ore., Steve (Virginia) Socha of Conway, S.C., and Tim Socha of Lexington, N.C.; as well as 14 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren. She is further survived by her sister, Bertha Hansen of Spooner; sister-in-law, Marie Hoecherl of Shell Lake; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; son-in-law, Jerome Socha; brothers, John, Louis, William and August Hoecherl; and her sisters, Francis Smith and Anne Draeger.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2011, at ST. PETER CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5001 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, at 11 a.m. with Monsignor Charles Schluter officiating. A visitation will be held at the church on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass. Interment will be held in the Spooner Cemetery on Monday, May 2, 2011, at 10 a.m.

The family would like to especially thank the staff of the Pathways Unit at the Fond du Lac Lutheran Home for the loving care they gave her for the past four years.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Parkinson's Research or the Fond du Lac Lutheran Home, 244 N. Macy St., Fond du Lac, WI 54935.

"God saw she was getting tired and a cure was not to be; so He put His arms around her and whispered 'Come with me;' with tearful eyes we watched her suffer and saw her fade away; although we loved her dearly we could not make her stay; a golden heart stopped beating, hardworking hands to rest; God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best."

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on April 24, 2011 (submitted by Michael Vahldieck, Class of 1968)

Obituary: Robert A. Gruber - Class of 1955

MADISON [Wisconsin] - Robert A. Gruber, age 74, of Madison passed away on Monday, April 18, 2011. He was born on Jan. 25, 1937, the son of Richard and Dorothy (Rowe) Gruber. He married Sharon Herschleb on Dec. 28, 1961. Bob graduated from Madison Central High School in 1955. He served in the U.S. Army. Bob was a 32nd Mason, and a member of Masonic Lodges Commonwealth #325 and Daylight #362. He was a member of the Zor Shrine, Starlight Chapter #283 OES, and a life member of Scottish Rite. Bob was also a member of the VFW #1318 and the Luther Memorial Church where he taught Sunday school and served on many committees. He received honors from the three Masonic youth groups (Legion of Honor for DeMolay, Member of Honor of Job's Daughters, and the Grand Cross for Rainbow for Girls). Bob was a Wisconsin PGA official, and loved spending time on the golf course. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, woodworking, and was a lifelong Badgers fan. Bob is survived by his wife, Sharon; four children, Bob Jr. (Cindy), Tom (friend, Debbie Benicek), Kris (Doug) Engbring, and Kevin; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Betty Lee Gloe. Funeral services will be held at LUTHER MEMORIAL CHURCH, 1021 University Avenue, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 25, 2011, with the Rev. Brad Pohlman presiding. Burial will be held at Roselawn Memorial Park with a Masonic service at the gravesite at 2 p.m. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Monday. A special thank you to Dr. Paul Wertsch, Dr. Ed Pendergast, and Dawn from HospiceCare, Inc. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Luther Memorial Church or HospiceCare Inc. Gunderson East Funeral and Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive.

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on April 20, 2011 (submitted by Michael Vahldiek, Class of 1968)

Obituary: Suzanne Bible Waters - Class of 1965

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA.- Suzanne Bible Waters died on March 25, 2011, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., in peace.

She is survived by her husband, Michael Waters; mother, Betty Bible; Nancy Bible and James Bible. Her ashes will be spread in their garden in Rockland, Maine. She would love to have you plant something in your garden in her memory.

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on April 11, 2011

Obituary: LaRhee (Wrend) Esse - Class of 1962

MADIOSN -LaRhee (Wrend) Esse died peacefully at home on Monday, March 28, 2011.
She was born in Madison on March 3, 1944. LaRhee is survived by her husband of 41 years, Gary Esse of Madison; sons, Paul (Tami) and his children, Sydney and Garrett Esse of Deforest, Erick Esse of Madison, and David Esse of Burlington; brothers, George Wrend of Florida, John (Donna) Wrend of Monona and Ben (Joyce) Wrend of Adams, Mass. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ben and Bernadette Wrend.

LaRhee graduated from Central High School in Madison in 1962. After high school, she went to M.A.T.C. and became a Licensed Practical Nurse, practicing at Madison General Hospital. After her career in nursing, LaRhee became a dedicated mother to her three boys and provided support to her husband's business. Being from Sicilian descent, she always said "once you are a friend, you are a friend for life." This statement was evident from the many friendships she had that lasted over 50 years with friends from elementary school. She was always there to support friends or provide a quick laugh when needed. Many people often joked about LaRhee's relationship with friend, Charlene. After years of having to explain to people their relationship, they finally gave in and declared themselves as "sisters."

LaRhee had a strong passion for traveling and visited many places throughout Europe and the U.S. with friends and family. Some of her favorite places to reminisce about were Italy, France, Ireland and Sicily. She also enjoyed spending time at the family cabin in northern Wisconsin watching loons swim and the hummingbirds fly.

With support of Dr. Huie and Nurse Sandy at UW Hospital, numerous friends and close family, LaRhee remained positive during her fight with cancer and was truly a role model for those that knew her. She was always known for her generosity and willingness to give rather than receive.

Funeral services will be held at BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 312 Wisconsin Ave., Madison, at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, 2011, with the Rev. William White presiding. Visitation will be at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday, April 8, 2011. LaRhee was a wife, mother, friend and mentor to many. She will be dearly missed.

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on April 3, 2011 (submitted by Michael Vahldieck, Class of 1968)