March 2026

STITZER – Mary J. (Brugger) Bendorf, age 90 passed away on Thursday March 12, 2026, after suffering a stroke. Mary was born on December 14, 1935, in rural Platteville to Arthur and Mary Richards Brugger. Mary attended area schools, with graduation from Platteville High School in 1953. She pursued further education at Spring Arbor, Michigan and the University of Wisconsin at Platteville. Mary and Virgil Bendorf married on June 14, 1956, and they farmed in rural Stitzer until retiring off the farm in 1990. Mary enjoyed an active life being involved with her family, especially with youth-centered activities like school, […]

BLOOMINGTON – Allan Doyle Martin, age 101, passed away peacefully on Saturday March 7, 2026, at home. Allan was born on November 19, 1924, the son of Jay and Hazel (Kaufman) Martin. He grew up on a farm just west of Bloomington on Blakes Prairie. In his early years, Allan attended Red School, a rural school just south of the family farm. He went to Bloomington High School from 1938 to 1942. He excelled in basketball, track, and especially baseball. After graduating from high school, he attended UW-Platteville from 1942-1943. He enlisted in the Army in 1945 and was on

LANCASTER – Gaylord M. LaMere, age 68, passed away on Friday March 6, 2026, at Finley Hospital in Dubuque. He was born on July 27, 1957, the son of Raymond and Ivanelle (Pascoe) LaMere. Gaylord grew up in Lancaster and graduated from Lancaster High School in 1976. He began working right away, holding a variety of jobs over the years. Gaylord has always been a dedicated, hard worker. He was employed at Rayovac, Schurman’s Cheese, and Lands’ End, where he eventually retired. When the kids were young, Gaylord owned and operated LaMere Small Motors. Later on, he began his second

HIGHLAND – Delbert H. “Delbabe” Kroll, age 94, passed away peacefully at the home farm where he wanted to be at, on Tuesday evening, March 3, 2026. Delbert was born on the 10th day of the 10th month 1931, to Bernard and Theresa (Eiling) Kroll in the Township of Highland.  He was born in a 2-room white house on the 314-acre farm with no electricity or running water. The original barn was built in 1919, and the milk was delivered in cans by horse and wagon. Field work was done with four horses before Delbert’s father bought an International 1020