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Virginia Lane Ryan, who wrote a local history series for the (Grantsburg) Burnett County Sentinel, died Wednesday, May 5, in Grantsburg. She was 89.

Ryan, who enrolled at UW-Superior at age 55 and went on to earn her bachelor's degree in biology, served as a historical speaker at local schools and wrote the “Soderbeck Ferry Tales” local history series, for the Sentinel. In both, Ryan shared her knowledge of family and local history.

Joan Kathleen Hansen, who served as a columnist for The Clintonville Chronicle and Clintonville Tribune-Gazette, died Wednesday, April 28, at her Shawano County home. She was 76.

Tricia Rose, publisher of the Chronicle, shared her memories of Hansen in a column Tuesday. Rose noted that when starting the newspaper in 2009, she was encouraged by several people to hire Hansen, also known as “Red.”

Bernece Ardis Degner Du Charme, who worked nearly 30 years for The Wonewoc Reporter, died Saturday, April 17, at her home in Hillsboro. She was 92 and had been diagnosed last month with cancer.

Bernece worked for the newspaper from 1967 until her retirement in 1994. The Juneau County weekly merged with the Elroy Keystone around 1990, before printing its last issue in 1999.

Jeff Jurena, who in his youth spent time as a community newspaper reporter, died Sunday, March 28, in Gilbert, Ariz. He was 57 and had been diagnosed earlier this year with stage 4 skin cancer.

An Atlanta native, Jurena grew up in Greendale, Wis. A natural athlete, Jurena loved sports, especially bowling and golf. In his younger years, he served as a sports reporter for several community newspapers and also worked for Reiman Publications, a Greendale-based publishing company now affiliated with the Reader’s Digest Corporation.

Patricia “Pat” Simms, who spent her entire reporting career of more than 40 years at the Wisconsin State Journal, died Monday, April 5, in Madison. She was 75.

After earning her master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University in 1969, Simms moved to Madison to join the State Journal reporting staff. When she retired more than 40 years later, Simms stayed active in journalism. She continued to freelance for the State Journal and served as an instructor at Madison College and was the faculty adviser for the Edgewood College student newspaper On the Edge.

Philip G. Nickerson, who spent time working at the Tri-Town News in suburban Milwaukee County, died Wednesday, March 31. He was 85.

Nickerson and his parents, Philip and Harriet, worked together at the Tri-Town News, which served Franklin, Hales Corners and Muskego. His father was editor of the newspaper in the 1950s.

Stephen John Norling, who in retirement worked as a newspaper reporter in Wisconsin, died Friday, March 5, in Friendship. He was 81.

Norling held more than 100 jobs during his life, from trapping as a teen to retiring from Kwik Trik Corp., and many others in between. In retirement, Norling kept working, serving as a freelance writer and photographer. He most frequently reported for The (Elroy) Messenger of Juneau County.

Leland “Lee” E. Smits, who worked for more than 30 years in the advertising department at the Green Bay Press-Gazette, died Saturday, March 6. He was 93.

In 1954, Smits joined the advertising sales staff at the Press-Gazette, starting in classifieds and later moving to retail advertising. In 1965, he was named retail advertising manager, and he was named assistant advertising director in 1971.

Smits also served as president of the Wisconsin Newspaper Advertising Executives Association and was a member of the International Newspaper Advertising and Marketing Executives Association.

Geraldine “Gerry” Mueller, who worked in the Fond du Lac area as a newspaper reporter and writer, died Friday, March 5. She was 82.

A Milwaukee native, Mueller graduated from the city’s Rufus King High School. During her career, she worked for The (Fond du Lac) Reporter and Kewaskum Statesman.

Andrew “Andy” Thompson, who worked nearly 40 years for The (Appleton) Post-Crescent, died Monday, March 8, at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa. He was 63 and had been undergoing treatment at the hospital for longstanding health issues.

A Clintonville native, Thompson started his journalism career in high school, writing a weekly sports column for the Clintonville Tribune-Gazette. He earned a journalism degree from Marquette University in 1980 and went on to work for the Marinette Eagle-Star and Oshkosh Daily Northwestern before joining The Post-Crescent in 1981.