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Don Brod — the only person to serve International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors as both executive director (previously known as the executive secretary-treasurer) and president — died Oct. 20, 2024 at his home in St. Charles, Ill., at the age of 92.

Romell “Mel” Leo Fisher, formerly of Green Bay, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 at the age of 89.

Margaret ‘Lonni’ Lown, former Assistant Editor of the Sauk-Prairie Star and Editor of Wisconsin Dells Events, died May 26, 2024 at age 80.

David Giffey of Arena, Wisconsin, died on Friday, July 19th. Born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in 1941 and raised on the Giffey dairy farm, David grounded his actions in love, kindness, and ethical clarity.

William “Bill” Lizdas, age 74, of Madison, passed away on July 12, 2024, at Inglehaven Assisted Living in Mount Horeb, Wis. 

Gregory Arthur Smith, 75, died Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at his home in Stevens Point, WI. After college Greg and his family returned to Austin MN where he started his career in the newspaper business as an advertising salesman at the Austin Daily Herald where his father worked as publisher.

Paul Salsini, a longtime Milwaukee journalist and educator, died on June 5 in Milwaukee, after a long illness. He was 88.

A journalism graduate of Marquette University, Salsini worked at the former Milwaukee Journal for 37 years as a reporter, editor and staff development director. He also taught journalism courses and the history of musical theater at Marquette University. In 1985, he founded the quarterly magazine The Sondheim Review and was its editor for 10 years.