Dale Kriewald, born April 20, 1934 and passed away August 23, 2023.

Richard Kriewald, born on September 17, 1936 and passed away October 20, 2020.

Both Dale and Richard were born in Carrington, North Dakota. They farmed in the Winger, Minnesota area until they retired. They were sons of Frank and Grace (Rindy) Kriewald.

Dr. Larry F. Lemanski, born June 5, 1943 and died December 7, 2023 at the age of 80. Larry was born in Madison, Wisconsin on June 5, 1943, the son of Fredrick Lemanski and Margery (Hill) Lemanski. He grew up on a dairy farm in Grant County, Wisconsin, attending school in Stitzer and Fennimore, where he excelled academically, and was a member of the football team and a trumpet player in the school band.

In 1961, Larry enlisted in the United States Army, proudly serving in the infantry, first as an enlisted soldier, and later as a commissioned officer.

Larry completed his Bachelor of Science degree with honors, in Biology and Chemistry, from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where he received a Distinguished Alumnus award in 1990. While a student at UW-Platteville, Larry met the love of his life, Sharon (Wulf) Lemanski, and the two were married on August 6, 1966 at The Little Brown Church in the Vale, in Nashua, Iowa. Larry earned his Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees from Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona. 

After having been awarded his doctorate in 1971, Larry began his career as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, before joining the medical faculty at the University of California, San Francisco as an Assistant Professor. Larry then returned to his beloved Wisconsin where he joined the faculty of the College of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and advanced through the ranks to Full Professor of Anatomy. He then joined the Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology. Larry continued his career as Associate Vice President for Research at Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas; then as Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida; Temple University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as Senior Vice President for Research and Strategic Initiatives; and Texas A & M University-Commerce, Texas as Provost of the University and Texas A & M University System Regents Professor. Larry retired from Texas A & M Commerce as a Distinguished Research Professor in 2020.

As a scientist, Dr. Lemanski dedicated his life to the pursuit of knowledge and the advancement of heart health science through molecular biology. A luminary in his field, he earned numerous accolades for his groundbreaking research in heart development. His passion for unraveling the mysteries of embryonic heart development and cardiac cell differentiation using morphological, cellular, biochemical, and molecular biology propelled him to the forefront of scientific discovery, where he made enduring contributions that have left a lasting mark on the global scientific community.

A talented educator, Dr. Lemanski inspired countless young people with his enthusiasm for teaching and his commitment to fostering the next generation of scientists. His lessons were not lectures; they were journeys into the profound intricacies of the natural world, igniting intellectual curiosity in all fortunate enough to number among his students, the countless undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and post-doctoral students whom he taught and mentored. Dr. Lemanski's contributions illuminated paths for generations of future scholars.

Larry was very active in the Boy Scouts of America, both during his youth and as an adult leader. In addition to activities at the local level in Wisconsin and later in Upstate New York, he was a member of the 1989 National Scout Jamboree Headquarters Staff, completed treks at Philmont Scout Reservation in 1991 and 1995, and served as a role model for Scouts of Troop 22 in Syracuse, New York for many years.

Dr. Lemanski was a brilliant scientist whose profound contributions to research transformed the world scientific community's understanding of the potential for regeneration of human heart tissue through natural processes. Yet, beyond the accolades and scholarly achievements, Dr. Lemanski cherished family above all else. A devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, and friend, his love and compassion radiated in every facet of his life. In 2022, Dr. Lemanski relocated to McAllen, Texas, with his wife Sharon.

Larry is survived by his wife of 57 years Sharon; his children Scott (Stacey) Lemanski of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Jennifer (Andrew Monaco) Lemanski of McAllen, Texas; grandchildren Katherine Lemanski Monaco, Anne Lemanski Monaco, Tristin Lemanski, and Rhiannon Gerragauch; sister Joanne Bostrom of Watertown, Wisconsin; brother-in-law Bob Olson of Lancaster, Wisconsin.

Marilyn Jean Walker (Niman), 87, passed away on August 16, 2024, in her home in Longmont, CO, surrounded by her husband and family. Marilyn was born July 5, 1937, in Beloit, WI, the first of six children born to William and Jeanette (Purves) Niman. She grew up in Beloit, attending Beloit Memorial High School where she met her lifelong friend and partner, James (Jim, Marilyn called him Jimmy) Walker. James remembers meeting Marilyn on a hayride at 15 years old. They were high school sweethearts from then on, graduating together in 1955 and marrying April 2, 1956. Together they raised four children - Julie, Brian, Tracy, and Sarah.

Driven by his career in engineering, Marilyn and James moved numerous times during their life together. They lived in 12 states (and visited many more), making lasting friends and countless memories along the way, but most of their adult years were spent in Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, and ultimately Colorado where they enjoyed many adventures in the mountains.

Marilyn worked as a beautician in the early years, but her love of flowers and floral design eventually took her in a new direction. She started her career as a floral designer in the 1960’s while she and James were living and raising their first two children in New Orleans, LA; later, after 20 years as a stay-at-home mom and when her youngest two children were in high school and college, she returned to floral design in the 1980s in Littleton, CO.

Marilyn enjoyed and was exceptionally talented at crafting, and her family will always cherish the beautiful crafts she made and gifted throughout the years. She began sewing at a young age, and her children all wore clothing lovingly sewn by her hands. Over time her crafting came to include knitting, doll making, quilting, and much more. In recent years she focused on plastic canvas creations and custom gift boxes, sending each family member a highly anticipated original gift box for their birthday.

Marilyn was a social and relational person, maintaining friendships throughout her life with many of her childhood friends and regularly attending high school class reunions, most recently in 2015.

Her smile and sense of humor touched everyone she met; even during difficult hospitalizations she kept the nurses and other staff laughing! Marilyn’s greatest joy was spending time with her family; she was happiest with everyone gathered around her dining room table, which at times accommodated 20 or more family members.

Marilyn is survived by her husband of 68 years, James Walker; children Brian (Elizabeth) Walker of Jenks, OK, Tracy (Richard) Slama of Longmont, CO, and Sarah (Aaron) Walker-Dunn of Sandy, OR; siblings Sheila Schoenfeld of Beloit, WI and Tom (Susan) Niman of Kenosha, WI; brother-in-law Tom Jordan of Beloit, WI; grandchildren Carly, Brett, Heather, Allison, Eric, Christopher, Lindsey, Chloe, and Jamie; and great-grandchildren Levi and Abigail. She joins in Heaven her daughter, Julie Titze; parents, William and Jeanette Niman; parent-in-laws Dale and Jane Walker; and siblings Sandra Mogilicki, John Niman, and Sharon Jordan.

Jeanne Audrey West passed away on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at Gundersen Hospital in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, after a lengthy illness.  Born Jeanne Audrey Biddick on November 1, 1946 in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, she was the second child of John Harlan Biddick and Grace Audrey (Watson) Biddick.  Jeanne was dearly loved. Her death was unexpected.

Relationships were profoundly important to her and she had a love of learning and community service.  A graduate of Madison West, Jeanne received her undergraduate degree in Social Work from UW-LaCrosse and earned her MSSW from UW-Madison.  Jeanne was proud to have worked with Cuban, Hmong, and Cambodian refugees in the 80’s, as a nursing home social worker, or when she was working as a Probation and Parole Agent for the State of Wisconsin.  Jeanne spoke Spanish and a little bit of Hmong, and she was a union activist who never missed an opportunity to support of her favorite Democratic politicians.

Jeanne was a gifted writer, singer, and songwriter. She was the one the office could count on to come up with raps or poetry for celebrations, her unique gift to the celebrant. In the 80’s she was an occasional guest commentator on WIZM radio in LaCrosse. The songs she wrote and performed were about political and social issues. She loved community and spent her life believing every individual has something to contribute, even herself after her debilitating stroke the winter of 2019.  She became a fierce self-advocate while still in rehab and after moving to Jackson County, she found much independence living on her own through being able to coordinate transportation to her numerous appointments which she did on her own with Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers. Despite her disability, a week before she was hospitalized, Jeanne was searching for ways she could help her Black River Falls community through the very important work of Interfaith. Her grandchildren were everything to Jeanne, known as “Neenee” to her grandsons and “Mimi” to her granddaughters.

Survivors include her daughter Catherine (Dr. Steve) Dal Cerro, her grandchildren Andrew Ross (Dr. Lexi) Fugate, Joseph William Fugate, Zoe Elizabeth Dal Cerro, and Theta Jane Dal Cerro; her sisters Mary Grace (Jim) Tredinnick, Barbara (Tom) Henning, Elizabeth (Jack) Lorch; her uncle Ed Biddick; niece Lynnette Lorch and nephew Matthew Lorch; cousins Reese Riddiough, Tommy Biddick, Robert Biddick, Lynn Biddick, Debbie Prigge, and all their children.  Jeanne is also survived by her life partner Bo Schmitz’s children and grandchildren Catherine Schmitz and daughter Azlyn; Michelle Schmitz; Nicole Wagoner and children Sebastian and Dexter; Helen Schmitz Frahm and children Tim, Kayla, Adeline, Hunter, Mackenna, and Cole; and Bo’s son, Robert John Schmitz.

Jeanne was preceded in death by her daughter, Elizabeth Jane West Fugate, parents, John and Grace Biddick, and her loving life partner, Robert “Bo” Schmitz, and “Kitty,” her complicated special needs rescue chihuahua.