March 2016

Lancaster, WI – Merrill E. Fritz, age 87, died on Monday morning March 21, 2016 at Orchard Manor in rural Lancaster. Merrill was born on Dec. 19, 1928 in Dubuque, IA the son of Carl & Evelyn (Herbst) Fritz. He was united in marriage to LaVon Rennison on Oct. 3, 1953 in Lancaster. Merrill graduated from Lancaster High School in 1948 and then worked at Gurkow Produce until being drafted in the U.S. Army, serving his country from 1951 to 1953. After returning home to Lancaster, Merrill was employed at the Dubuque Packing Co. also known as FDL Foods Inc. […]

Kathryn A. (O’Flahrity) Borowski, age 69, of Solon, IA, died on Friday evening March 18, 2016 at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. Kathy was born on Oct. 24, 1946, to William and Mary Janet (Smith) O’Flahrity in Lancaster, WI. Kathy grew up in Fennimore, WI before moving to Milwaukee to pursue an education at Spenserian Business College. While in Milwaukee, Kathy met the love of her life and best friend Jerome (Jerry) Borowski when she called out to him, “Hey Big Boy.” Kathy later received a bachelor’s degree in business from Upper Iowa University. Kathy had an

Ruth A. Kabele, age 89, of Platteville, WI, went to be with her Lord on March 16, 2016, at the Fennimore Good Samaritan Society. Ruth was born on Dec. 6, 1926, in Elk Grove, WI, the daughter of Karl and Sophia (Masbruch) Klinge. She married Donald R. Kabele on June 17, 1948. They raised three children and a nephew, David Klinge, during his preschool years. Ruth attended Cottage Inn Rural School and Belmont High School, with additional training at Bayless Business College, Dubuque, IA, and Southwest Tech in Fennimore. She worked at Mound City Bank and the Platteville Hospital and

Livingston- Kenneth B. “Kenny” Ellis, 85, of Livingston, died Wednesday March 9, 2016, at his home surrounded by his family. Kenny was born on the family farm in Liberty Township on Nov. 30, 1930, the 9th of 13 children, to Orville and Elizabeth (Wisdom) Ellis. He married Gail Austin on Aug. 23, 1952, at the Congregational Church in Lancaster. Kenny served in the US Navy from June 1951 to July 1954. His ship, the U.S.S. John Hood traveled around the world, surviving four hurricanes. Kenny grew up on, and later purchased, his family’s dairy farm, making it a century farm