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Former Waupaca reporter Jane Louise Myhra dies at 69

Jane Louise Myhra, a former reporter for several Waupaca County newspapers, died Oct. 17, in Oshkosh. She was 69.

Myhra began her career in journalism in 1996, writing for the Iola Herald and, after a merger, the Waupaca County Post. She also wrote for the Manawa Advocate, Wisconsin State FarmerWisconsin Horseman’s News and as a freelancer for Jones Publishing.

Milwaukee newspaper executive Beverly Klein dies at 95

Beverly Klein, who had a 32-year career with The (Milwaukee) Journal Company, died on Sept. 29, at the age of 95.

Born on July 16, 1927, in Wisconsin, to Frank and Evelyn Bolger, Klein began her advertising career as a part-time classified ad taker in 1961. She retired in 1993 as senior vice president of marketing, after rising through the ranks at a time when it was rare for women to have careers at all, let alone be executives, writes Genevieve Redsten of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

In Memoriam: Patty Williamson still had stories to tell

Patty Williamson, a longtime writer for Door County Living and the (Baileys Harbor) Peninsula Pulse, died Tuesday, Sept. 27. She was 88.

Williamson, who nurtured the journalism bug she first caught in high school through freelance gigs and fill-in duties for local newspapers, joined the Pulse at the age of 74, following a long career in public relations for Missouri school districts. During her tenure, she wrote more than 340 articles about people, history and the arts in Door County, and won an award in last year's Better Newspaper Contest.

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Longtime Milwaukee business manager Bonnie Porter dies at 69

Bonnie Rae Porter, longtime business manager for The (Milwaukee) Daily Reporter, died on Aug. 4, at the Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, Ill. She was 69.

In December 2007, Porter joined The Daily Reporter, where she worked as the business manager until her retirement in 2020. A celebration of life will be held at a later time, according to the obituary.

Jonathan Ziegel, a former newspaper carrier, dies at 65

Jonathan E. Ziegel, a former newspaper carrier from Beaver Dam passed away on Thursday, April 21, in Madison. He was 65.

A graduate of Beaver Dam High School, Ziegel did many things throughout his career. He was a self-employed contractor, delivered the (Beaver Dam) Daily Citizen, and owned the Tune Town Tap in North Fond du Lac. 

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Patti Rasmussen, longtime editor and columnist, dies at 70

Patti Rasmussen, a longtime journalist who worked for several newspapers across Brown and Door counties, died Thursday, Aug. 4, following a decade-long battle with dementia. She was 70.

During her 33-year journalism career, Patti worked as a reporter for the Rockton-Roscoe Herald, as special sections editor for the Green Bay News-Chronicle, and as an editor of Kewaunee County weeklies that included the Algoma Record Herald, Luxemburg News and the Kewaunee Enterprise. She also served as editor of the Door County Advocate and the Denmark Press and was an accomplished columnist. Her favorite topics were quirky anecdotes from daily life and her grandchildren’s antics.

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Longtime Leader-Telegram journalist Pamela Powers dies at 59

Pamela Powers, a public relations specialist for the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and former (Eau Claire) Leader-Telegram journalist, died Saturday, July 22, 2022, at her home in Boyceville. She was 59.

After graduating from Northwestern High School in 1983, Powers earned a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from UW-Superior and a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University. In July 1989, she joined the Leader-Telegram, where she worked for 28 years, earning a reputation as a gifted, well-respected journalist who knew how to put people at ease. She left the paper in 2017 to work in UW-Stout's communications department. Six months ago, she joined UW-River Falls as a public relations specialist.

Bill Howe at podium

Longtime Wisconsin newspaper publisher Bill Howe dies at 99

William H. “Bill” Howe, publisher emeritus of the (Prairie du Chien) Courier Press and 2018 inductee to the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame, died Friday, July 22, at the age of 99.

As the third of five generations of Howes who owned and published the Courier Press, Howe joined the family business in 1946. He and his brother Lyman “Jack” Howe — also a Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame inductee — led the Courier until retiring in 1997. During his career, he also co-owned The Guttenberg (Iowa) Press and North Iowa Times in McGregor, Iowa.

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Former reporter Thomas Aaroen dies at 71

Thomas Ray Aaroen, a former sports reporter for the McFarland Community Life newspaper, died on Wednesday, May 25, following a brief battle with cancer. He was 71.

Aaroen graduated from McFarland High School and attended two years of college at UW-Platteville, UW-Whitewater, and UW-Eau Claire. After reporting for the Community Life, he went on to a career with the U.S. Postal Service in Madison.

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Former Wisconsin newspaper publisher Ronald Johnson dies at 82

Ronald R. Johnson, former publisher of several Wisconsin newspapers, died on May 17, 2022, of COPD. He was 82.

Interested in newspapers and printing as a child, he had a paper route at a young age and worked for The Dixon Evening Telegraph while in high school. During his career, he worked for newspapers in Missouri, Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. In the mid-70s, he was the owner and publisher of newspapers in Argyle, Albany and Monticello.

Wisconsin Newspaper Association