Gladys Asp Packer passed away from this life to be with her Lord and Savior at the age of 89 on Sept. 24, 2025. She was born the daughter of Albert and Hulda (Carlson) Asp in Hugo, Minnesota on Jan. 27, 1936. When she was three years of age, the family moved back to Springbrook, Wisconsin, where they resided prior to moving to Minnesota. Gladys attended a one room country school, graduated from Spooner High School, and soon after became a secretary in St. Paul, Minnesota. While her husband, Rell Packer, was working in Vietnam, she attended cosmetology school [...]

Gerald Dean Wilkie Sr. was born on May 2, 1935, in Hennepin County, Minnesota, to Kathryn and Theodore Wilkie. Jerry passed comfortably in his sleep from complications due to diabetes on Sept. 25, 2025, at Regions Hospital. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Leona; daughter, Teresa Sund; and great-granddaughter, Hadley Pautz. Jerry is survived by his children, Glen (Sandra) Thorne, Scott Thorne, Brian (Denise) Thorne, Pam (Brad) Schilling, Sheri (Dane) Geisel, Jerry (Jenny) Wilkie Jr., and Lewis (Lori) Wilkie; 21 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and five great-great grandchildren. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather. [...]

Edith Zillmer, age 87, of Hudson, Wisconsin, passed away after a lengthy illness on Sept. 22, 2025. She was born Feb. 23, 1938, in Clam Falls, Wisconsin, to Albert and Anna (Kankova) Stoklasa. Edith grew up in Clam Falls. She went to grade school at Rocky Ridge Grade School, and attended Frederic High School. On Oct. 26, 1957, she and Elwin “Shorty” Zillmer were married. They made their home in Hudson, and later made their retirement home in Frederic, Wisconsin. Edith was a talented artist, seamstress, and avid gardener, but what she enjoyed most were visits from her children, grandchildren, [...]

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Kathleen Yvonne Drew of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. She passed away peacefully with her children by her side on Sept. 15, 2025, at the age of 79. Kathy was a wonderful mother, she had a servant’s heart, filling the man roles of a homemaker, then going into daycare for a family and moving on to nursing helping the elderly at the nursing home until retirement. Kathy enjoyed drawing, painting, and writing poems, but most of all was her music and singing. She was preceded in death by her father, [...]

Shirley Mae Thomsen, age 72, passed away Sept. 19, 2025, after a battle with cancer. Her husband, Tim, and her dog, Freddy, were at her side. Shirley was born on Feb. 23, 1953, to Lynn and Florence Jensen in Siren, Wisconsin. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lynn and Florence Jensen; stepfather, Wesley Graves; sister, Sharon (Maurice) Ausing; brothers, Raymond (Gail) Jensen, Steven Jensen, and Lauritz (Bud) Jensen; niece, Nadine Jensen; and nephew, Lauritz Jensen Jr. Shirley is survived by her husband, Tim Thomsen of Luck, Wisconsin; stepson, Chad Thomsen of Cameron, Wisconsin; sisters, Linda (Marvin) Zorn and [...]

Ken Ekelund of Luck, Wisconsin, passed away on Sept. 17, 2025. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1945 to the parents of Lester and Lillian Ekelund. He grew up in the Twin Cities, graduating from Central High School. He met his future wife, Maureen McCormick (Ekelund), while living on Summit Avenue in St. Paul. After high school, he spent a stint in the Army before getting married and returning to college to graduate from the University of Minnesota. Following his graduation, he enrolled in officer training school for the U.S. Coast Guard, where he was commissioned and stationed in [...]

Arthur W. Beckmark Jr., son of the late Arthur W. Beckmark Sr. and wife, Bev, passed away on Sept. 12, 2025, at his apartment in Lakewood, Washington, in his sleep at the age of 65. Arthur was born on June 15, 1960, in the Siren hospital, delivered by Dr. Grindell. He attended the Siren School and graduated from there. After his graduation, he joined the United States Navy and served for 21 years. After he retired, he moved his family to Bremerton, Washington. Arthur is survived by his three sons, Steven, Ross, and Grant; three grandchildren, Rian, Mary Jane and [...]

Joseph Eugene Swies was born in Chicago on Jan. 9, 1952. Joe was the oldest son of Joseph and Theresa Swies. Later, Joe was joined by brothers Steve and George. The family lived in the close-knit neighborhood of Brighton Park on Chicago’s Southside. Joe attended St. Pancratius Grade School and Kelley High School. As boys, Joe and his brothers kept and flew Racing Homing Pigeons, and as many others did, the boys frequented railyards. They swept empty grain rail cars, sweeping up a few pounds of leftover grain. This grain was fed to the pigeons. Joe had a lifetime interest [...]

  Audrey Ann Deppa Richards, age 95, of Frederic, Wisconsin, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, at the Burnett Medical Continuing Care Center in Grantsburg, Wisconsin. Audrey was born on Nov. 19, 1929, in St. Cloud, Minnesota, to parents Clara (Kuffel) Deppa and Michael Deppa. Her early childhood was spent with her family on a farm near Gilman, Minnesota. She was surrounded by family and friends who worked through the worst years of the Great Depression by sticking together. Audrey’s memories of this time were filled with playing with her many cousins on the farm and being a part [...]

  Aleica May Springer died unexpectedly on Aug. 6, 2025 in Trego, Wisconsin. She was born on Aug. 17, 1988 to James “Hawk” Springer and Jennifer Ulness and was raised by bonus parents, Alan and Melody Springer. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Clifford and Sandra Springer, Raymond and Marie Ulness, and Duke Moyer. She is survived in death by her fiance, Alex Avery; siblings, Heather Baker (Shane), Amber Springer, Lisa Petersen (Shaun), Michelle Stordahl (Denny) and Michael Springer (Jes); children, Arianna Springer, Juan Rivera, Devon, Damien and Dakota Avery. Services will be held at Pleasant Valley Cemetery [...]