An April 24, 2026 Celebration of Life is planned for retired Darlington Republican Journal publisher Brian Lund, age 68, who died at home on April 14, 2026.
An obituary appeared in the April 18, 2026 issue of the Monroe Times. According to the obituary:
Born December 30, 1957, in Ames, Iowa, Brian spent his vibrant life keeping his finger firmly on the pulse of Lafayette County’s news and community spirit.
A proud graduate of McHenry High School Class of 1976, Brian honed his photography skills at the University of Miami before transferring to Carthage College. In 1978, he returned to Wisconsin to lead the circulation department at the Monroe Evening Times, where his father was publisher and owner for several years.
Brian also worked in the advertising department for a number of years until he was named publisher of the Republican Journal in 1983. He followed in his father Larry Lund’s footsteps, carving out a distinguished career at the Republican Journal in Darlington starting in 1983, eventually becoming publisher — a role he embraced with passion and wit.
As a publisher of the Republican Journal, Brian was tasked with attending and memorializing public life in Lafayette County, where he spent countless hours at various parades, meetings, and events that Lafayette County had to offer. He retired as publisher on June 28, 2024.
David Timmerman, currently the editor of the Grant County Herald Independent, recalled Lund giving him his first job after experiencing a lot of rejection elsewhere.
“I think I got the job because in college, we had laid out the papers digitally, and the Lunds were planning on making the switch from literal waxing and pasting on grid paper that the paper had been for decades,” Timmerman wrote about Lund in a April 22, 2026 column in the Monroe Times. “So praise him or damn him for that, Brian gave me my break. Like I said, there would be no better place to start any career than working for him. Brian treated all of his employees like family, sort of literally — we had very good health insurance through the RJ because it was also covering his family.”
Timmerman remembered during his first summer at the RJ, Lund pushed through a lot of change: The location of where the RJ printed the newspaper that allowed the RJ to print color for the first time (and overhead shot of the fair), as well as switching from broadsheet-sized newspapers (“the real broadsheets, not the glorified tabloid-sized papers we see today,” Timmerman wrote) to tabloid.
“And we made the change to digital. Those first weeks doing the papers a different way were grueling — what once would be done by 5 p.m. went until 2 a.m. that first week. As the sun set on that Tuesday, and we were burning the midnight oil, Brian was making sure everyone was taken care of as we worked. He went and bought everyone burgers from the bar across the street, and was checking if we were missing anything that had been planned.
“Sure enough, about a month into the switch, the paper was getting done by 3 p.m. on Tuesday — faster than the paste up.”
Timmerman credited Lund for hiring him into a profession “that fulfills me.”
“I will forever be indebted for that chance,” Timmerman concluded. “When he retired, I believe I told him some or most of this, but I regret not putting these thoughts in the newspaper sooner to reiterate what he meant to my life, and what impact he really had on all of our lives.”
Morris Multimedia reporter Tammy Kilby remembered Lund as a legend. “Lund was the man at every community event with his camera in hand. He was both the guy who wrote stories which headlined community events, and he was also the person who worked behind the scenes to publish each weekly paper. Upon his retirement in 2024, he admittedly said to have used every kind of machine possible. He used old-school typewriters and a modern Mac computer. He set presses, and inked the plates for printing production in his younger years, before having the latest technology of the modern convenience to simply hit ‘send’ on his computer,” Kilby wrote, also in the April 22, 2026 issue of the Monroe Times.
Kilby said Lund spoke highly of many people, especially those he saw making positive changes in the community; wrote news articles about everything; and was a great teammate and employer.
A multiple award winner in the Wisconsin Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest, Lund was also a skilled photographer. “Most believed he had the ability to take pictures with his eyes closed, which wouldn’t be an understatement. Photos captured from his camera always left quite the impression,” Kilby wrote.
“Brian Lund will forever remain as one of the most knowledgeable and impactful people in newspaper production. His words, energy, and photographs will remain forever in newsprint. His influence remains with every protégé who had the privilege of his guidance,” Kilby wrote. “Farewell to Brian Lund, the Legend of our times. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Brian was an 18-year volunteer firefighter with the Darlington Fire Department, a longtime Jaycee, and a devoted basketball coach for his kids.
An avid golfer, Brian could be found at the Darlington Country Club on Monday nights at men’s golf league and Thursday for a round with his friends. He was a devoted sports fan, especially Wisconsin sports and had at least one game on more than one TV at any given time. He had a legendary collection of music spanning the decades that he listened to at concert volume. He enjoyed time with his friends playing cards. As a quiet social observer Brian could be found enjoying the shenanigans at the local watering hole.
Marriage to Diane Lund on January 14, 2009, at the Lafayette County Courthouse was one of the many highlights of his life.
Brian is survived by Diane; his children Carly Lund and Ian Lund; stepchildren: Cary (Sunny) Hubner, Jessica (Eric) Welsh, and Casey (Rachel) Hubner; and grandchildren: Hendrix and Aurora Lund and Sullivan Lund, alongside step-grandchildren: Hayes and Nina Hubner; Abby, Lucas and Connor Welsh; Calvin and Willow Hubner. He is also remembered by his mother Lynn Lund, siblings Margo (Doug) Stutesman and Miranda (Brett Vanderkolk) Cross and nieces and nephews.
Brian was preceded in death by his father, Larry Lund, and daughter, Tara Lund.
In lieu of gifts, a memorial fund has been established in Brian’s name.
A Celebration of Life will be held on April 24, 2026, from 3-6 p.m. at the Darlington Country Club. The Erickson Funeral Home in Darlington is serving the family. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com.
