Category: Obituaries

Gloria S. Huffman, age 87, of Monroe, WI, died Friday, February 7, 2025 at Pleasant View Nursing Home. Gloria was born on February 27, 1937 in Clinton, Indiana, the daughter of Thomas and Mabel (Pratt) Smith. She graduated from Clinton, IN High School in 1955, attended Indiana Business College in Terre Haute, IN, and Lakeland College in Mattoon, IL.   She was united in marriage to Earl E. Huffman on June 21, 1958 in Clinton. Gloria was employed in food service at Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL for 21 years. Gloria and Earl lived in Oakland, IL for many years before moving to Monroe in 2003. She was a long time resident of the Twining Valley Retirement community. Gloria was a member of Monroe Bible Church where she led the kitchen ministry for several years. 

She is survived by two sons, Tim (Nancy) Huffman of Hollandale, WI, Mark (Jill) Huffman of Bluffton, S.C.; four grandchildren, Nicholas (Jenessa), Hannah, Connor (Sarah), and Carson Huffman. She is further survived by a sister, Dorothy Kaiser of Centralia, MO; a nephew, Gilbert (Sandy) Kaiser; and two nieces, Karen Davis and Francis Busby. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Earl, in 2013; a brother, Wayne Smith; and brother-in-law, Ernest Kaiser. 

Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 17, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., at the Monroe Bible Church with Pastor Dan Krahenbuhl officiating. Visitation will precede the service at the church beginning at 9:00 a.m. Interment will be in Middlebury Cemetery, Barneveld, WI at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested in Gloria’s name to Monroe Bible Church or Shriner Children’s Hospital. The NEWCOMER FUNERAL HOME, Monroe, is assisting the family. Condolences may be shared at www.newcomerfuneralhome.net

The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of Pleasant View Nursing Home, SSM Hospice, and Donna Garwell for their wonderful care. 

Wanda Lydia Hattie Mathilda Moeller Dieckman, a sixty-one-year resident of Monroe, Wisconsin, died Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 3:30 A.M. surrounded by her loved ones. She was a member of the Greatest Generation. She was born to Max and Emma Moeller on September 28, 1929, the beginning of the Great Depression. Wanda was born on the Lauterbach Farm which later became O’Hare Field. During the Depression, many farmers often rented ground. By 1934, the Moellers moved to the fifth farm which was smaller and located in South Elgin, IL. Wanda’s mother had Wanda and her brother (Max, Jr.) selling vegetables from their little red wagon by the time they were five and six years of age. In March of 1936, they purchased a farm on Highway 20 which was the most travelled road until the Tollway 90 was built in 1955. Wanda learned a lot from her mother and eventually would enjoy working in her own garden. After Pearl Harbor, Lou, her oldest sister worked at Elgin Watch Factory painting hazardous material on timers for bombs. The second sister got married and her mother sewed parachutes. Wanda was left to cook meals for the five brothers and father.  She graduated in 1947 and wanted to become a teacher but only went for one semester because of finances. She met John Dieckman at St. John’s Lutheran Church. John came from a family of twelve and her family of nine.  They had many things in common.  They loved the Lord Jesus, loved children (but only had two children because of thyroid issues), loved music, and valued education. John knew Wanda was an excellent seamstress, great cook, and hard worker. There would be many bumps along the road, but the Lord helped them through those hard times. In 1963, they moved to Monroe, Wisconsin to start a dairy farm. No one would neighbor with them. When the state and the city of Monroe built the bypass, it cut our farm in half and caused hardships. John bought an adjacent farm and cows. Jimmy Carter became president and interest rates increased to 26% which caused them to lose both farms to bankruptcy. God was with them. A bachelor dairy farmer gave them money to buy eight acres. Wanda went job hunting at fifty-five years of age. She could only get part-time jobs in which she worked three at one time. She was able to pay the bachelor back. She had three other goals: travel to Washington state to visit grandchildren, playing piano, and participating in the Cheese Day Parade. John Mark moved his family to Seattle, Washington to work at the Boeing plant. He had two children, Ann Marie and Mark John. John and Wanda made a number of trips to visit the grandchildren and the grandchildren made summer trips to the farm to visit their grandparents. Wanda learned how to play the piano when she was about seventy-five years old! When LaVonne married Leslie Wundrow in 1991, Noris Walley, a livestock hauler, had beautiful Belgium draft horses. Since 1992, we have been participants in the Cheese Day Parades wearing dirndls and Swiss black jackets with Edelweiss embroidered by mom. God answered prayers again. Grandson Matthew learned how to play the concertina and now entertains at the Essen Haus in Madison, Wisconsin and the Dorf Haus in Roxbury, Wisconsin. It looks like the next generation, Elsie and Walter (Matthew and Christina’s children) love music too. Mom was blessed to know the great-grandchildren before she went home to be with Jesus.

She is survived by a daughter, LaVonne (Leslie) Wundrow of Poplar Grove, IL; a son, John Mark (Cheri) Dieckman of Allyn, WA; grandchildren, Ann Marie Dieckman of San Antonio, TX, Mark John Dieckman of Monroe, Matthew (Christine) Wundrow of Poplar Grove, IL; two great grandchildren, Elsie and Walter Wundrow; a brother, Richard (Jan) Moeller of Elgin, IL; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John, on Oct. 21, 2009; and siblings, Arnold, Hans, Louise, Julie, Max Jr., Elmer, and Leonard.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 31, 2025, at 12:00 p.m., at the Triune Lutheran Church, Sharon, WI, with Pastor Dale Blanchard officiating. Interment will follow in Blaine Cemetery, Blaine, IL. Visitation will be held at on Thursday, January 30, from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. at the NEWCOMER FUNERAL HOME, Monroe, and at the church on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services. Memorials are suggested in Wanda’s name to Triune Lutheran Church, N1584 County Road K, Sharon, WI 53585. Condolences may be shared at www.newcomerfuneralhome.net

Cheryl L. Johnson, age 65, of Juda, died unexpectedly on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at SSM Monroe Hospital. Cheri was born on January 30, 1959 in Portage, WI, the daughter of Stephen and Virginia (Halvorson) Eldred. She graduated from Brodhead High School in 1977 and was united in marriage to Roger Johnson on May 6, 1978 in Brodhead. Cheri enjoyed  bowling in leagues at Leisure Lanes and golfing leagues at Windy Acres. She was an avid reader, great cook, and loved to fish with her family especially at Avon Bottoms. Cheri always looked forward to the annual family camping trip to Devil’s Lake State Park and the winter trips to Florida with Roger. Her passion for family was evident as she helped run the family dairy farm in rural Juda. 

She will be dearly missed by her husband of 46 years, Roger Johnson of Juda; her children, Greg Johnson of Brodhead, Amy Johnson (Matthew Wendelschafer) of Brodhead, Aaron Johnson of Juda; eight grandchildren, Grace, Casey, Evan, Lilly, Henry, Ava, Rori, and Emma; daughter-in-law, Kari Johnson of Juda; brother, Randy Eldred of Brodhead; two sisters, Debora Burkheimer of Beloit, Barb (Brian) Fish of Burlington; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; father and mother-in-law, Arnold and Joan Johnson; and three brothers, Steve, Gary, and David Eldred.

A celebration of Cheri’s life will be held at a later date. A memorial fund will be established in her name. The NEWCOMER FUNERAL HOME, Monroe, is assisting the family. Condolences may be shared at www.newcomerfuneralhome.net 

Karen L. Marti, age 80, of Monticello, died on Sunday, January 19, 2025 at SSM Monroe Hospital, surrounded by her family. Karen was born on July 6, 1944 in Chicago, IL, the daughter of George and Elaine (Pierce) Rodenberg. She was a 1962 graduate of Monticello High School and attended Madison Cosmetology School. Karen was united in marriage to Donald F. Marti on October 23, 1965 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Argyle. 

Karen was a loud and proud supporter of her children and grandchildren at sporting events. She loved camping, campfires, and traveling. Her favorite pastimes were reading, gardening, making jewelry, and crocheting. She was especially proud of making afghans for the most special people in her life. She passed on her love and compassion of pets to her children and grandchildren. Karen had the time of her life at her 80th birthday party with a glow of happiness all day long. She was devoted to the Monticello community. She provided in home daycare to several elderly residents and also volunteered many hours decorating Main Street for the holidays and Monticello Homecoming. 

She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Donald Marti; three children, Jody Marti (Dionne Womack), Kristine (Tom) Witt, Michael (Marcy) Marti; five grandchildren, Alysha Witt and fiancé Nick Quinn, Alex Witt, Katie Witt, Mitchell Marti, Essence (Mike) Weaver; great granddaughter, Macy Weaver; brother, Allen Rodenberg (Judy Prisk); and sister, Rhonda (James) Schiek. She is further survived by nieces and nephews, Kelli (Tom) Cross, Jamie (Mark) Emmerson, Gary Jr. (Sherry) Boley, Thomas (Katie) Boley, Andrew Boley; brothers-in-law, Leo (Peggy) Marti, Gary Boley, Sr.; and close friends, Jan Woelffer, Elaine Steve, Carolyn Babler, Angie Masching, and many other close friends and neighbors. She was preceded in death by her mother, Elaine Zoe (Pierce) Rodenberg; her father, George Raymond Rodenberg; father and mother-in-law, Bernard and Margaret Marti; and friends, Alice Woelffer, Claudette Freitag, and Ramona Loughan.

A celebration of Karen’s life will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Albany American Legion, 300 N Water Street. Memorials may be sent in Karen’s name to Don Marti, 546 S. Monroe Street, Monticello, WI, 53570. The NEWCOMER FUNERAL HOME, Monroe, is assisting the family. Condolences may be shared at www.newcomerfuneralhome.net