Door County Advocate

(nee Paul) Formerly of Mequon, WI. Born to Eternal Life December 2, 2022 in Geneva, IL at the age of 94 years. Beloved wife of the late Joseph Mathy. Loving mother of Marsha (Dale) Rajchel, Mark (Carmon) Mathy and Carla (Michael) Coyle. Dear and proud grandmother of Mark Jr. and J.T. Mathy, Vincent, Karaugh and Trenton Coyle. Further survived by 8 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Visitation Saturday, December 10, from 10:30-11:00 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Chruch, 110 N. 5th Ave., Sturgeon Bay, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. Burial to follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Sturgeon Bay. Betty had a great love for her family and had a special...

South Milwaukee, WI- Passed away peacefully, at 83, October 23, 2022, with family at her side. Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, Samuel & Sara Cotherman (nee: Robinson) and her loving husband of 37 years, Thomas Brace. Survived by her children, Phil Davis, Jeff (Sharon) Davis, Cynthia (Jackie) Brace and Lori Conner (Davis). Further survived by her beloved brother, Bill Cotherman. Cherished grandmother of Kelly, Lindsay, Joe, Scena, Katherine, Annelise, Craig and Christy. Joyce was great-grandma to 8 great-grandchildren. She treasured every moment spent with them and all her loved ones, including nieces, nephews, extended family & friends. Joyce valued her privacy and...

Kenneth "Ken" A. Ronske, 88, of Elkhart, husband of Charlotte (Kodanko) Ronske, passed away on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, in Elkhart. Cremation was chosen and will take place at Billings Funeral Home in Elkhart, IN. A graveside service in Wisconsin is to be announced in 2023.

The geographer who loved nothing more than exploring unfamiliar territory has embarked on his next journey, to a destination not found in any atlas. William Ganfield Laatsch, 84, passed away September 14, 2022. For 43 years, Bill taught Geography at the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. He was a graduate of Carroll College, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of Alberta. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved in-laws Richard and Elizabeth Hunter. He is survived by his wife Fran, his daughter Ann Laatsch (Shorewood, WI), son David (Tara) Laatsch (Wauwatosa, WI), and his two amazing grandchildren, Elizabeth and Andrew Laatsch, as well as countless friends,...

Betty L. Stanek, age 82, of Edgerton, passed away on Monday, August 22, 2022, at Stoughton Hospital. She was born in Sturgeon Bay on November 17, 1939, the daughter of Harry and Clara (Pelke) Richmond. She was a 1957 graduate of Sturgeon Bay High School. She went on to receive her first teachers' certificate from Door/KewauL.nee Normal School and later obtained her Bachelor of Education Degree from UW-Whitewater. She married her high school sweetheart George K. Stanek on July 15, 1961, in Sturgeon Bay. Betty taught at various school districts throughout Wisconsin, with the majority of her teaching career spent in the Edgerton school district. Betty helped everyone and was generous with her...

Gordon Bruce Spaete was born January 20, 1944 in Rice Lake, Wisconsin to Paul and Helen (Betz) Spaete. He died July 21, 2022 in Watertown, South Dakota. He was the third oldest of five children. He graduated from high school in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin where he participated in football and track and field. He attended the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, served in the U.S. Army, and returned to the University of Wisconsin Stout where he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering and a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology. He began employment with Lake Center Industries in Winona, MN, transferred to one of their manufacturing facilities in Los Angeles, CA for two years, and returned...

Formerly of Milwaukee, Born to Eternal Life on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at the age of 83. Cherished sister and best friend of the late Darlene Zak. Dear cousin of Renee Scherr. Devoted daughter of the late Helen and Harry Zak Sr. Also survived by her brother Harry Jr. (Adeline) Zak, nieces, nephew, other family members and friends. Visitation WEDNESDAY, June 15, 2022 from 10:00 A.M.-11:00 A.M at Prasser-Kleczka Funeral Homes, 3275 South Howell Avenue. Milwaukee, WI 53207. Funeral Service at 11:00 A.M. Interment Thursday, June 16, 2022 at 1:00 P.M. at St. Mary's of the Lake Cemetery in Bailey's Harbor, WI. Donna was a cat lover and worked for several years at the Greyhound Bus Station. She...

Peggy was called home on Tuesday May 31st, 2022 to be reunited with her beloved husband Art whom she lost last year after almost 65 years of marriage. Peggy was born in Bryan Mar, Pennsylvania on April 13th, 1935. As the second youngest child of James and Anna Marie (Conway) Reilly, she spent her early years with her six siblings Betty, Anna (Sis), Joan, Patti, Jim and Tommy in Ardmore and Wayne PA. Peggy's adult life began when she met Howard (Art) Vercoe on February 11th, 1954. They married on June 16th, 1956 and immediately departed for Denver for Art's first assignment in the United States Air Force (USAF). On their second tour based in Duluth, Minnesota they were blessed with the...

Elizabeth "Betty" R. Notch, 83, of Watertown, passed away on Monday, March 21, 2022, at Heritage Homes in Watertown. Elizabeth R. Erickson was born on February 13, 1939, in Milwaukee, the daughter of Edwin and Rose (Manik) Erickson. On October 4, 1957, she married George E. Notch in Waukegan Illinois. George preceded her in death on December 8, 2011. George and Betty were the proud parents of sixteen foster children. Betty enjoyed the time she spent working at Oconomowoc Hospital. She also had been employed at Coldwell Banker as a realty broker in Door County. She retired from Eaton in Watertown after 18 years of employment. Betty was a very social person who loved to sing, especially in...

Sondra C. "Sunny" Sinnett, 85 of Racine, WI (previously of Baileys Harbor) passed away January 26, 2022, at St. Monica's Memory Care in Racine. Sunny was born December 11, 1936, in Monaca, PA, and was the daughter of the late Reed and Dorothy (Crease) Heckman. On September 4, 1959, in Monaca, Sunny was united in marriage to David B Sinnett who preceded her in death on September 28, 2011. After her graduation from Monaca High School, she attended Penn State and earned a Bachelor's Degree in dietetics. She completed a dietetic Internship at Indiana University where she met Dave. Sunny and Dave moved to Racine in 1961 where she worked at Racine Unified School District as an education...

Sondra C. "Sunny" Sinnett, 85 of Racine, WI (previously of Baileys Harbor) passed away January 26, 2022, at St. Monica's Memory Care in Racine. Sunny was born December 11, 1936, in Monaca, PA, and was the daughter of the late Reed and Dorothy (Crease) Heckman. On September 4, 1959, in Monaca, Sunny was united in marriage to David B Sinnett who preceded her in death on September 28, 2011. After her graduation from Monaca High School, she attended Penn State and earned a Bachelor's Degree in dietetics. She completed a dietetic Internship at Indiana University where she met Dave. Sunny and Dave moved to Racine in 1961 where she worked at Racine Unified School District as an education...

Shirley Mae McMullen, lover of good wine, great scotch, music, dancing, acting, hugging, and kissing her family, passed away at her home in Franklin, WI January 3, 2022 at the age of 92. Shirley was born on November 1, 1929 in Chicago, IL, her parents were Evelyn and Charles Rioch. While attending Northwestern University, she met the one and only love of her life, Donald McMullen (who passed away September 22, 1998). They married in 1956, had 2 children, and after 10 years in Chicago moved to New York. For the following 15 years, she spent time working in theater while Don was a professional photographer. This created many stories of the New York speed record in costume changes and...

Shirley Mae McMullen, lover of good wine, great scotch, music, dancing, acting, hugging, and kissing her family, passed away at her home in Franklin, WI on January 3, 2022. She was 92. Shirley was born to Evelyn and Charles Rioch on November 1, 1929 in Chicago, IL. While attending Northwestern University, she met the one and only love of her life, Donald McMullen (who passed away September 22, 1998). They married in 1956, had 2 children, and after 10 years in Chicago moved to New York. For the following 15 years, she spent her time working in Theatre while Don did professional photography. This earned her many stories of the New York speed record in costume changes and attending...

Dr. Ben Franklin Rusy died on December 27, 2021. He was born July 12, 1927 to Professor Ben Franklin and Agnes Catherine (Wolfert) Rusy in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Ben graduated from Madison West High School in 1945, served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, and earned a B.S. in electrical engineering (1952) and an M.D. (1956) from the University of Wisconsin. After graduating from medical school, Ben moved to Philadelphia, where he completed an internship and residency in anesthesiology at Temple University Medical School. He married Anita L. Byrnes in Media, Pennsylvania on June 28, 1957. While at Temple, he completed a postdoctoral research fellowship, earned an M.S. in pharmacology, and...

Born April 13, 1931 to the late Oliver Charles Gaskill and Mabel Tobina Olson in Fort Wayne, IN, Charles passed away October 19, 2021 in Lawrenceville, GA. Charles moved to Ephraim, WI from Fort Wayne at an early age. He graduated Gibraltar High School, Fish Creek, WI and enlisted in the U.S. Army at age seventeen. Charles was a Sergeant First Class (T) in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers serving at Schofield Barracks, O'ahu, Hawai'i and during the Korean War. Following his military service Charles spent his career with the Western Electric Company in Cicero, IL and Norcross, GA. Charles pursued a lifelong love of all things related to fishing and the outdoors. In addition to fishing...

On September 26, 2021, at 6:55 PM, Ruth Kiehnau died at the age of 94. Preceding her in death were her parents and brother, James Shawley of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Surviving is her husband Donald Kiehnau, daughter Laurie and husband Dr. Jeff Weil of Long Beach, California, son Craig Richards and wife Mary of Clintonville, Wisconsin, four grandsons, and four great-grandchildren. Also surviving are stepson Keith and wife Margaret Kiehnau of Germantown, Wisconsin, and stepdaughter Colleen and husband Mike Londo of Hartford Wisconsin, six step-grandchildren, one deceased, and four step-great-grandchildren. Ruth was born and raised in West Allis, Wisconsin. In the early 1960's she did...

Robert Axel Johnson "Bob" Passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on September 12, 2021 at the age of 78. A celebration of life for Robert will be held at Max A. Sass Funeral Home, Mission Hills Chapel, on Saturday September 18, 2021 with the gathering from 10 until 12 noon with a celebration of Bob's life service at 12 noon. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Bob's name may be made to the charity of your choice. The family would like to thank Dr. Pant and the oncology department at St. Lukes for their care of Bob; in addition, special thanks to Aurora at Home Hospice Care for all their help. Please see the funeral home website for further details.

Kenneth "Ken" passed away at home on Friday, September 3rd, ending a long and arduous battle with cancer. He had been in hospice care with family at his bedside and his dogs on his bed for his last three weeks of life. Ken was at once magnanimous and obstinate; a true instigator at heart. He felt his emotions fully and expressed them at will. He was a creative and innovative force of nature who freely shared his generosity and love. Most of all he loved his family, his dogs, and his CSW family. He will be remembered for his radiant smile and love of life. He is dearly loved and will be greatly missed. Ken was a proud first generation American, born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to English...

Birgit (nicknamed Gittan) died peacefully in the early hours of July 1st, 2021 surrounded by her family. She was as graceful in her exit as she lived her life. Birgit is survived by her son Johan (Jane) and her grandsons Andy in London, David (Rachel) in Milwaukee, Charlie in Edwards CO., and Craig Tomlinson in Boulder CO. as well as two great grandchildren, Everett and Greta. She is further survived by extended family and close friends. She is pre-deceased by her husband, Anders and her daughter Karin Segerdahl Noll, her parents, Ragnar and Signe Nilsson as well as her sister Maj Bohman and her brother Lennart Nilsson Birgit was born on November 27th, 1924 in Vastervik, Sweden. Her...

Keith Hubbell Howard, 89, of Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin passed away May 31, 2021 in his seasonal St. Petersburg home in the care of his wife, Barbara, daughter, Susan, granddaughter, Jessica and Suncoast Hospice. He was preceded in death by his mother, Gladys Wandtke, and his son, William Keith Howard. Keith is survived by his wife, Barbara Bagnall Howard, children, Cynthia Ann Howard, Susan Howard Thomas, and Jeffrey David Howard; grandchildren (8) and great-grandchildren (11). Keith was a Navy Veteran, a member of the Masonic Lodge, and a Service Manager for AT&T for 33 years. Keith and Barbara celebrated 67 years of marriage. Keith was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather,...

Reunited with his parents and brothers on March 31, 2021. Survived by his beloved wife, of 52 years, Elizabeth (nee Langer). Loving father of Dr. Sheila E. Stover and her husband Dr. Lance K. Hashimoto. Further survived by his brother-in-law Glenn (Bernadyne) Langer, sister-in-law Nancy Stover-Chanos, nephews Gordon J. Stover and Dr. Grant A. Stover, as well as many nieces and nephews. Alan was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI with many summers spent in Door County. He attended Rufus King High School. A graduate of Marquette University, and proud alum of Marquette University School of Dentistry. After college he was active in the Navy from 1959 till 1962, with an additional 17 years in the...