Obituaries

Borden Lyle Buelow, age 88, of Mauston, passed away on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg. He was born on March 19, 1936 in the county of Sauk to Emil and Grace (Grosklaus) Buelow. He was a member of the last eighth grade graduating class of St. Paul Lutheran Church of LaValle. He managed the family farm while his dad recuperated from cancer surgery, and then worked out as a hired man. In 1956 he answered the ad for a married hired man from Hoard’s Dairy Farm of Fort Atkinson. He was hired, so two weeks later he married Mae Schultz of Mauston, and the two embarked on life together. In April of 1957 he decided he wanted to be closer to family, so he left his job and came back to Mauston and took a job at the Mauston Co-op Creamery where he worked for the next 17 years. In April 1962, they purchased their farm, Busy B’s, in the Town of Summit. Mae still resides there.

He was active in serving the community as a member of the following organizations: Mauston Creamery, AMPI, Alto Dairy, the Holstein Association, the Juneau County Fair board, the Town of Summit,  4-H, and St. Paul Lutheran Church, rural LaValle.

Borden was preceded in death by his son, David; parents, Emil and Grace Buelow; son-in-law, Reuben Baumgarten; brothers, Eldor (Vera) and Walter; sisters, Beverly Buelow and Jean (Arley) Ziech; brother-in-law, Delbert Westedt; nephews, Eldwin and Lloyd Buelow; niece, Mary Kay Johnston.

He is survived by his children: Frank (Mary), Rachel (Steve) Schmidt, Annette Baumgarten, Donald (Dana), Renee (John) Jacobs, and Kevin (Sara);  grandchildren: Daisy (Jason) Becker, Amber (Greg) Evenson, Travis (Krystle) Baumgarten, Mark (Andrea) Buelow, Matt Buelow, Zachary Buelow, Jennifer Buelow, Shawn Buelow, Abby (Ethan) Wilson, and Todd Schmidt; great-grandchildren: Mikayla and Malia Becker, Marissa Buelow, Emma Baumgarten, Nova Schmidt, Leighton and Daxton Buelow, and Evelynn Wilson; step-grandchildren, Brian (Meghan) Stewart and their children, Annabeth and Atley, Lucy (John) Holzman and their children, Wyatt, Jamison, Connor and Leila, Robert (Brea) Griffin and their children, Jamie, Zoe and Violet, Brady (Shannon) Neuman and their children, Jamison and Kashton, Matt (Bethany) Miller and their children, Aliana and Aria, Cole (Becky Sue) Young, John (Kelly) Jacobs and their children, Juliana, Audrey, Johnny and Luke, Joe Jacobs, Paul (Amanda) Jacobs; brother, Russell; sister, Inez Westedt; brother in-law, Martin (Mary) Schultz; sisters-in-law, Irene (Paul) Aken, Judy (James) Baird; numerous nieces, nephews along with other relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Borden Buelow will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, rural LaValle with Pastor Tim Anderson and Shane Anderson officiating.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.  Visitation will be held on Monday from 4:00 until 7:00 PM at the Farber Funeral Home, Reedsburg, and on Tuesday afternoon from 1:00 PM until the time of the service at the church.

Bridget Ann Wells, 71, of Mauston, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on Thursday, May 30, 2024 at the Mayo Clinic in La Crosse, Wisconsin after a courageous fight with metastatic breast cancer.

Bridget Mehne was born August 11, 1952, in Portage, Wisconsin and moved to Mauston with her family. She attended elementary school in Mauston and graduated from Mauston High School in 1970. She met the love of her life, Douglas Wells, on a blind date and they were married for 54 years.

During her career, she served as a soda jerk at Phillips Rexall Pharmacy and as a bank teller serving clients with loan services and retirement accounts at the Bank of Mauston. In 1987, Bridget and Doug bought McKinney’s Home Decorating, Inc. in Mauston, which they proudly owned and operated for 33 years. She had the perfect touch in helping others make their home look and feel just right.

In retirement, Bridget treasured time with her grandchildren and loved to laugh, shop, bake, build crafts, kayak and travel to Kauai, Hawaii. She was also a proud Notre Dame mom and enjoyed cheering on the Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers. She was baptized and confirmed Methodist as a child and was elated to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation as she fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming Catholic on May 22, 2024. She left a legacy of unconditional love and laughter that shine through each of her 4 children, 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. 

Bridget is survived by her husband, Douglas Wells of Mauston; children Lisa (Kurt) Reed of Appleton, Wisconsin, Jennifer (David) Randall of Mauston, Christopher (Sara) Wells of South Bend, Indiana, and Andrea (Mark) Buelow of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin; grandchildren Mackenzie (Nathan) Jack, Carson Reed, Madisyn Reed, Connor Randall, Reagan Randall, Hudson Randall, Ruckson Wells, Remington Wells, Rocklan Wells, Leighton Buelow and Daxton Buelow; and great-grandchildren Finnegan Biebel, Emerson Biebel and Caleb Jack.

She was preceded in death by her parents Margaret “Drea” (nee Underkofler) and Fred Mehne, sister Drea Mary “Deema” McCormick and her parents-in-law Dorothy and Arnold Wells.

The Wells family wishes to thank Dr. Elizabeth Cathcart-Rake and the world-class oncology team at the Mayo Clinic – Rochester, along with ICU intensivists Dr. Hussam Jenad, Dr. Melissa Myers, Dr. John Frey, Dr. Mark Norton and their team, especially nurses Mel and Abram, at the Mayo Clinic – La Crosse. Our family is incredibly grateful for the heartfelt care that each of you gave us. The family would also like to express our gratitude to Fr. Eric Berns of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Sparta for the spiritual impact you made on our family.

Visitation will take place on Sunday, June 9, 2024 from 3:00PM to 6:00PM at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church (401 Mansion St., Mauston, WI) followed by a vigil prayer service. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, June 10, 2024 at 11:00AM at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church (with a second visitation at 10:00AM), with Fr. Eric Berns presiding. A private interment will take place at Evergreen Cemetery, rural Mauston. Memorial donations are preferred to the Bridget Wells Memorial Fund that serves local religious, education and health needs including, but not limited to “Rae of Light,” an organization started by Bridget’s granddaughter, Reagan Randall, that serves children. Donations may be mailed to 226 West State Street, Mauston, WI 53948 care of Douglas Wells.

A funeral service for Christine (Treganza) Carter, age 75 of Lyndon Station, Wisconsin, will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Conway-Picha Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM until the time of service at 1:00 PM. She will be laid to rest following the service at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Lyndon Station.

Chris is survived by her husband Donald, daughter Jody (Derrick) Gwin, and granddaughters Alexis (Jacob) Wofford, and Anestasia Gwin. Also, her brother Jeff Treganza (Christopher Coon) and sister, Lisa Ruskosky (Jason Ruskosky and Chelsea Burns).

The Conway-Picha Funeral Home and Crematory of Lyndon Station, Wisconsin assisted the family with arrangements. For On-Line condolences and information, go to www.pichafuneralhome.com.

Jean L. Mislevecheck, age 70 years, of Elroy, Wisconsin, passed away on Friday, May 31, 2024 at the Solace Home in Madison, Wisconsin.

She was born on June 14, 1953, the daughter of Robert and Alice (Braund) Williams in Richland County, Wisconsin.  She attended school in Richland Center and Hillsboro.

Jean was united in marriage to Donald Mislevecheck on January 21, 1995 at Hillsboro.

She enjoyed her flowers and gardening; sewing, knitting and crocheting; crafting including painting and drawing and was a very good cook.  She was a very thoughtful person and spent time thrifting.

Survivors include her husband, Donald; children, Eric (Patricia) Ryman, Lisa (Allen) Verbsky and Amy (Rick) Sebranek; seven Grandchildren; sisters, Judy Rabine and Joyce (Roger) Paulson and brother, Dennis (Terri) Williams.

She was preceded in death by her Parents and step father, Donald Degner.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, June 7, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the Picha Funeral Home in Elroy.  A time of visitation will be on Friday from 10 to 11 a.m.  Burial will be in the Millards Prairie Cemetery near Elroy.

The Picha Funeral Home in Elroy is assisting, for online information go to www.pichafuneralhomes.com