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Former Herald Times Reporter employee Marcie Baer dies at 89

Marcella "Marcie" Baer, a former sales executive, author and historian, died on Monday, July 10, at Harborview Assisted Living in Manitowoc. She was 89.

In 1960, she joined the classified advertising department of the (Manitowoc) Herald-Times, where she worked for more than 10 years. She also served as a longtime correspondent for several Wisconsin newspapers, including the Herald-Times, The Sheboygan Press, the Green Bay Press-Gazette and The (Eau Claire) Country Today.

Gary Lee Peters

Former Wisconsin journalist Gary Lee Peters dies at 74

Gary Lee Peters, a former Wisconsin reporter and editor, died on July 14, at his home in Sheboygan Falls. He was 74.

Peters was a reporter and editor for several Wisconsin newspapers, including the former Marinette Eagle-Star and The Sheboygan Press. He earned numerous state, national and international writing awards during his journalism career. He also served as director of communications for Marinette General Hospital.

Former Post-Crescent reporter Donald Castonia dies at 87

Donald A. Castonia, who worked as a reporter at The (Appleton) Post-Crescent for more than 40 years, died Thursday, July 13. He was 87.

Castonia joined the Post-Crescent in 1960, and was among the team of business writers who helped launch the newspaper's weekly business publication in February 1998 before retiring that summer. After retirement, he continued to serve as a correspondent for the newspaper for several years.

Longtime Wisconsin journalist Donald E. Lewis dies at 88

Longtime Wisconsin journalist Donald (Don) E. Lewis, 88, of Oshkosh, died May 29, at home with his wife, Jo Ann, by his side.

After graduating with a bachelor's degree in journalism from UW-Madison, Lewis worked as a reporter for the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern for 10 years before moving his family to Milwaukee to begin his career with The Milwaukee Journal in June 1966. He went on to become a feature editor for the newspaper, retiring when the Milwaukee Journal and Milwaukee Sentinel merged in March 1995.

Rose Signe Bergh dies at 97

Rose Signe Bergh, of Buffalo City, died on April 29. She was 97.

In 1951, she moved to Ellsworth, where she worked as a linotype operator at the Beldenville Reporter. She would later do similar work for the Durand Courier, the Rochester (Minn.) Weekly and Fields Printing.

James Scotton

James F. Scotton, journalist and teacher, dies at 91

James F. Scotton, a longtime Wisconsin journalist and teacher, died on May 28, in Bayside. He was 91.

A native of Boston, Scotton earned a bachelor's degree in literature from Boston University and a master's degree in political science and Ph.D. in mass Communication from UW-Madison, where he was a teaching assistant. He then worked for newspapers in North Carolina and Wisconsin, including The Capital Times in Madison and The Associated Press, before becoming a college professor. He spent 37 years at Marquette University, where he was Dean, department chair and a faculty member, before retiring in 2015.

Mary Beth Murphy

Milwaukee journalist Mary Beth Murphy dies at 78

Mary Beth Murphy, a longtime Milwaukee journalist, died May 26 of metastatic breast cancer at her home in Raleigh, North Carolina. She was 78.

Murphy joined the Milwaukee Sentinel in 1969. She first covered women’s issues, then the Milwaukee County Juvenile Court System and finally religion — a beat that she would transform during her tenure. She interviewed popes, archbishops, priests, parishioners, and victims of sexual assaults by priests and other clerics. In 2003, she was inducted into the Milwaukee Press Club Hall of Fame.

Betty Schilling

Former reporter Betty Schilling dies at 82

Elizabeth R. "Betty" Schilling, of Chilton, died on May 24,at Ascension Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh. She was 82.
Born Feb. 12, 1941, to Elmer and Adeline Sohrweide, Schilling was a reporter almost all of her adult life. Working for Wisconsin newspapers for more than 50 years, her byline appeared in publications including The (Fond du Lac) Reporter, The Sheboygan Press, The (Appleton) Post-Crescent, Manitowoc Herald-Times, Green Bay Press-Gazette and Chilton Journal.

Donald G. Foster dies at 84

Donald G. “Fuzzy” Foster, 84, of Marshfield, died on Saturday, May 13, at his home.

Born on May 18, 1938, in Phillips to David G. and Anna Foster, he graduated from Phillips High School in 1956. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. After his honorable discharge, Fuzzy worked at the Phillips Bee newspaper where his father was the editor and owner.

Former Wisconsin journalist Linda Christopherson dies at 72

Former Wisconsin journalist Linda Christopherson, of Beloit, died unexpectedly on Monday, March 13, at Beloit Memorial Hospital. She was 73.

During her career, Linda worked in the communications department at Beloit College, served as an educator for the Beloit school district and Blackhawk Technical College, and wrote for The (Beloit) Chronicle and The Onion. She also was a member of the MENSA Society. 

Wisconsin Newspaper Association