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.

Phillip J. “Phil” Muench, who worked more than three decades printing newspapers in southwest Wisconsin, died Thursday, Dec. 10, after a battle with COVID-19. He was 52.

Two years after graduating high school, he began his newspaper printing career in 1988 with his hometown newspaper, the Grant County Herald Independent. He quickly took over as head pressman for the newspaper group.

Margaret “Meg” Jones, who worked for nearly three decades as a reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, died Sunday, Dec. 13, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 58.

Jones spent her entire career working for Wisconsin newspapers, beginning with the Eagle-Star in Marinette. She went on to spend time at the Shawano Evening Leader and Wausau Daily Herald before joining the Journal Sentinel in 1993.