All Obituaries

              Judith “Judy” Lichter, 67, of Sparta, passed away, Wednesday, May 15, 2019, at her home. She was born October 26, 1951, in Racine, WI, to Nicholas and Kathleen (Hayes) Lichter. Judy grew up in the Kenosha area and graduated from Salem Central High School. She then moved to Colorado to ski and settled in Georgetown where she subsequently received her bachelor’s degree in Computer and Management Science from Metropolitan...

     Wayne T. Swinghamer, 90, of Onalaska, passed away, Wednesday, May 15, 2019, at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse.      He was born December 1, 1928, in Cumberland, WI, the youngest of five boys, to Ambros and Magdalena Swinghamer. As a baby he was brought to La Crosse. Wayne was a graduate of Aquinas High School in La Crosse. He worked various jobs including: traveling to and from Alaska to bring back geological findings for Shell Oil; working as...

     Lewis G. Andringa, 83, of Black River Falls, formerly of Sparta, passed away Sunday, May 12, 2019, at County Terrace in Black River Falls.      He was born December 2, 1935, in Sparta, WI, the only child of, George and Arlie (Fanning) Andringa. Lewis attended Sparta High School before working various jobs for different stores in Sparta. Whoever needed him, he was there. Lewis worked at Morrow Memorial Home for over 10 years and then, for Rolling Hills...

     Francis “Fran” Conrad Benzing, 100, of Sparta, died Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at Morrow Memorial Home, Sparta.      He was born February 5, 1919, in Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, to John and Martha (Martinson) Benzing; and grew up on a farm near Brookfield, WI.      He married Annetta Schmitz on October 2, 1948, at St. James Catholic Church, Lannon, WI. They dairy farmed near Ixonia, Sussex, and then, for nearly 10 years,...

John C. Lauritzen Sr., 51, of Sparta, died Sunday, April 28, 2019 at his home. He was born January 29, 1968 in Elgin, Illinois to Dale Lauritzen and Marie Krehnke. John moved to the Sparta area in the early 1996. He drove truck for several different companies. John’s greatest passion was his children and grandchildren. John is survived by his six children, Jason (Megan) Lauritzen, of Sparta; James (Megan) Lauritzen, of Sparta; Jessie (Amanda) Lauritzen, of Germany; John Lauritzen...

           Terry Lee Hannawell, 69, of Sparta, formerly of Janesville, passed away Wednesday, April 24, 2019, at his home.      He was born, April 1, 1950, in Virginia, to Robert R. and Rita M. (Beranek) Hannawell. Terry grew up in Janesville and attended Janesville High School. He worked various truck driving jobs; the latest being R & L Carriers where he retired. Terry found his soul mate in Terri Rogers and they were married on July 12,...

Donald “Donnie” Allen Smith, 67, longtime resident of Rockland, died Monday, April 29, 2019 at Mayo Clinic Health System, La Crosse. He was born October 16, 1951 to the late Kenneth D. and Lois E. (Savall) Smith at St. Mary’s Hospital in Sparta. Donnie worked for Elco Industries in Rockford, IL, Mississippi Valley Hardwoods in Rockland, Waste Management in La Crosse, and as a bus driver for the Sparta Area School. Donnie married Marie Burnham on June 8, 1974, at St....

        Donald Curtis “Don-Burnie” Burnham, 71, of Black River Falls, formerly of Sparta, passed away Friday, April 26, 2019, at his home.      He was born April 20, 1948, in Sparta, to Curtis J. and Phyllis E. (Fish) Burnham. Don went to grade school and high school in Sparta. In his early years, he worked various jobs including, Sparta Floral, Badger Mining, the Job Corps, Wisconsin Gas Company, from 1968 until retiring in...

     Stephen F. Heineck, 77, of Sparta, died Monday, April 22, 2019 at Bethany Riverside, La Crosse. He was born on November 23, 1941 in Sparta to Leonard and Ellen (Jones) Heineck. He grew up in Sparta and graduated from Sparta High School in 1959. He then attended UW-La Crosse and double majored in Economics and History.      Stephen married Sheila Woodworth on June 9, 1963 in Sparta.      Stephen served in the US Navy. He then...

     Richard “Dick” J. Massey, 72, of Sparta, died Sunday, April 21, 2019 at his home. He was born on May 22, 1946 in Sparta to Thomas and Betty (Randall) Massey. He grew up in Sparta and graduated from Sparta High School in 1964.      Richard served in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War. He then served in the US Army Reserve for 11 years as a SSG. He attended UW-Eau Claire and played football. He worked on the railroad and then worked for...