Jane Dwyre Garton, a distinguished Wisconsin journalist, educator and philanthropist, died on Nov. 24 in Appleton. She was 77. She attended North High School, where she worked on the student newspaper, the Urbanite, before going on to earn a journalism degree from the University of Dayton in 1968.

Garton's early work included serving as a sports information officer at Lawrence University in the 1970s, where she championed female athletes' rights under Title IX. She continued to break gender barriers through her pioneering career in the newspaper business, where she often faced challenges as one of the only women in the newsroom. During her time at the (Appleton) Post-Crescent, she excelled as a beat reporter and editor, covering mental health, government, agriculture and women in sports. She went on to earn a master's degree in journalism from Indiana University before turning to teaching journalism at UW-Oshkosh and UW-Fox Valley. 

Joanne Marie Gidley, 88, a noted contributor to Wisconsin's newspaper industry, died Wednesday, Nov. 15, at Cardinal Ridge Assisted Living in Green Bay.

She served as editor of both the Cathedral High School and College of St. Scholastica student newspapers before beginning her journalism career at the Catholic Herald, where she worked as a reporter from 1955 to 1958. After a hiatus to raise her family, she rejoined the workforce in 1977, working in several tourism and advertising roles that allowed her to continue her passion for writing. She also served as a contributor for the Superior Telegram.

Larry Landgraf, who had an extensive career in newspaper advertising, died on Thursday, Nov. 16, in Middleton. He was 98.

A graduate of Hayward High School and UW-Madison, he joined the retail advertising department of Madison Newspapers in 1949. He remained with the company for nearly 50 years, retiring as advertising director in 1989 and from the newspaper in 1998. Landgraf was a past president of the Madison Area Sales and Marketing Executives, Wisconsin Newspaper Advertising Executives Association, and Madison Advertising Federation.

Rick Berg, a Madison native and Isthmus columnist, died on Saturday, Nov. 11, at UW Hospital in Madison. He was 73.

A 1968 graduate of Fort Atkinson High School, he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from UW-Madison in 1974. He worked in local and state government in Wisconsin for more than 30 years. Berg was a former Madison school board member and former Dane County Republican Party chairman. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor, and also worked as a speechwriter for Gov. Tommy Thompson. Throughout his career in government, he maintained his roots in journalism, writing dozens of pieces for Isthmus, from his conservative perspective.