December 2021

John Robert Hoffman, age 71, of Lancaster, WI passed away on Tuesday December 21, 2021, at Mercy Hospital in Dubuque, IA. He was born on October 22, 1950, in Lancaster, WI the son of Carl J. and H. Margery (Brady) Hoffman. John attended elementary school at St. Clement and then graduated from Lancaster High School in 1968. John continued his education and was in the first class to graduate from the Fennimore Vocational School. John served his country in Vietnam, coming home in 1971. Then he worked for David’s Lumber Company in Potosi, WI. On September 7, 1972, he married […]

William “Bill” Sanford Matthews, age 79, of Montfort, WI, passed away on Saturday, December 18, 2021, in Dubuque, IA. Bill was born on September 17, 1942, the son of Clinton and Nancy (Giltner) Matthews in a cheese factory in Stitzer, WI. He attended Montfort Grade School and was the first graduating class of the new Iowa-Grant High School in 1961. He married Carol Masbruch on July 20, 1963, at the St. Thomas Catholic Church in Montfort. Bill’s first job was working at Gardner’s Bread in Madison, WI. He owned his own grocery/ice cream truck and from there worked as a

Catherine E. Klaas, age 96, of Fennimore, WI, passed away on Friday, December 17, 2021, at Grant Regional Health Center, Lancaster, WI. Catherine was born on April 4, 1925, in Castle Rock Township, the daughter of Frank and Emma (Petra) Washa. She was united in marriage to Aelred Klaas on February 5, 1944, in San Diego, CA. Catherine and Aelred farmed in Liberty Township for 30 years until moving to Fennimore in 1990. She loved raising her family and lending a hand around the farm. Catherine enjoyed Saturday night’s playing cards with family and friends and going dancing along with

Doris Elaine Klein, age 82, of Livingston, WI, passed away on Thursday, December 16, 2021, at Meriter Hospital in Madison, WI. Doris was born October 18, 1939, in Mount Idea the daughter of Maurice and Sadie (Schnitzler) Pierce. In her earlier years, Doris was employed at area nursing homes working as a Certified Nursing Assistant. She was later employed at area factories until going to work at Lands’ End in Dodgeville until her retirement. Doris enjoyed crafting, collecting snowmen, and was an avid reader. She loved to cheer on the Green Bay Packers and was a huge Alan Jackson fan.

Henry J. Oechsle, 90, of Fennimore, entered into the Lord’s Kingdom on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, at Divine Rehabilitation and Nursing in Fennimore. Henry was born on Sept. 23, 1931, in Boscobel, the son of William and Erika (Zimmerman) Oechsle. He was united in marriage to Margaret L. Bendorf on Dec. 15, 1956, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Fennimore. Henry graduated from Fennimore High School and attended the Farm Short Course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He served in the United States Army as a medic during the Korean War. Upon returning home, Henry began his 40-year passion for farming.