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Lee A. Fensin, who spent his entire journalism career on the Waukesha Freeman sports staff, died Wednesday, Jan. 27, following complications from a stroke. He was 76.

Fensin spent 48 years with the Freeman. As the longtime sports editor, Fensin “was an institution at the Freeman and in the community,” publisher Bill Yorth said in Fensin’s obituary.

Robert “Bob” Heffner, who worked more than three decades for The (Rice Lake) Chronotype died Saturday, Jan. 23, in Rice Lake. He was 89.

A Barron County native, Heffner began his career in newspapers while in high school, working as a printer’s devil and later a printer and pressman at the Barron News-Shield, where he remained until 1951, when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After returning to the News-Shield for a few years, he took a reporting job with The Chronotype in 1960 and remained with the newspaper until his retirement in 1993. During his 33 years there, he held a number of roles, including sports editor, news editor and editor. 

Michele Mathews Leber, who started her career at The Post-Crescent in Appleton, died Friday, Jan. 1, at her home in Arlington, Va. She was 82.

An Appleton native, Leber attended Northwestern University, where she served as feature editor of The Daily Northwestern student newspaper. After college, she began her professional journalism career in Appleton. She later earned her master's degree in library science and worked as branch manager for several libraries in Fairfax County, Va.

Merlyn "Bud" Lea, who for more than 55 years covered the Green Bay Packers for the Milwaukee Sentinel and Packer Plus, died Wednesday, Jan. 20. He was 92.

Lea attended UW-Madison, where he worked as sports editor for The Daily Cardinal student newspaper, before going on to work at the Post-Bulletin in Rochester, Minn., and, in 1953, the Milwaukee Sentinel, where he met his wife, Filomena Volpintesta. After serving as the Packers beat writer for nearly two decades, he was named the newspaper's sports editor in 1972. He went on to write Packers columns more than a decade after retiring from his full-time role in 1995.

Thomas R. Torinus, a longtime journalist and former newspaper owner, died Friday, Jan. 8, in Egg Harbor. He was 82.

Following his graduation in 1960 from Dartmouth College, Torinus worked as assistant to the general manager of the New York Daily News. He later returned to his home state to work for the (Appleton) Post-Crescent, where his father, John Torinus, was editor. He and his two brothers later bought the Herald-Leader in Menominee, Mich., where Torinus served as editor for six years until it was sold in 1982.

Dr. Orville A. “Orv” Langhough, who for more than three decades served as a sportswriter for The Chetek Alert, died Saturday, Jan. 2, in Eau Claire. He was 92.

Beginning in the 1960s, Langhough covered high school football and basketball for The Alert. He continued in the role for more than 30 years until he retired in 2000.

Merle J. Hill, who worked nearly four decades in the La Crosse Tribune newsroom, died Saturday, Dec. 26, at Tomah Memorial Hospital. He was 102.

In 1946, after settling in La Crosse with his wife following service in World War II, Hill took a job as a reporter for the Tribune. After two years as a reporter, he became the newspaper’s wire editor, a role he held for the next 35 years.

Frank W. Christopherson, Jr., who served as owner and publisher of two newspapers in Bayfield County, died Tuesday, Dec. 15, in Duluth, Minn. He was 93.

Thomas G. “Tom” Besl Sr., who for many years owned weekly newspapers in Melrose and Cashton, died Wednesday, Dec. 9, at his home in Melrose. He was 85.

After graduating from La Crosse’s Aquinas High School in 1953, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served as an aerial photographer during the Korean War. In 1960, he and his wife, Sandy, moved to Melrose, where they owned and operated the Melrose Chronicle for 42 years. They also later purchased the Cashton Record.

Michael Francis Patenaude, who in the 1970s served as editor and columnist for the Mount Horeb Mail, died Tuesday, Dec. 8, at his home in Madison. He was 77.

After studying journalism at UW-Madison, Patenaude went on to serve as editor of the Mail from 1971 to 1974. He later worked in a freelance role for both the Wisconsin State Journal and The Capital Times. After leaving journalism, Patenaude transitioned to a career in local government and politics and served as press secretary for Lt. Gov. Jim Flynn from 1983 to 1987.