Wisconsin State Journal Local News

The Green Bay Packers have released inside linebacker A.J. Hawk, cutting ties with the nine-year veteran and respected locker room presence.

MADISON / JANESVILLE - Craig S. "Tiger" Johnson, age 51, of Madison and Janesville, died on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, at home. He was born in Janesville on April 2, 1963, the beloved son of Char…

JOY, Ill. - Merl Perrin, age 69, of Joy, Ill., died on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at Clarissa Cook Hospice House. Merlin James was born on Jan. 28, 1946, in Fennimore, Wis., to Frank and Lucina (S…

WYOCENA - Florence Edna (Wittman) Gilbertson, age 96, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015.

COLUMBUS - Nancy R. Van Fleet, age 82, died on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015, at the Columbus Community Hospital. She was born on Nov. 12, 1932, in Madison, to Evan and Irene (Steinhauer) Hughes.

MADISON - Jean M. (Poore) Shoemaker, age 89, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015. A full obituary will appear in the Sunday, March 8, 2015, edition of the paper.

SUN PRAIRIE - Connie M. Matheson, age 59, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015, at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg.

FITCHBURG - David J. O'Connell, age 64, passed away on Monday, Feb. 23, 2015. He was born on Nov. 23, 1950, in Geneva, Ill., the son of John F. and Barbara J. (Hanson) O'Connell.

SPRING GREEN / ARENA - Mary Lou McDonald, age 51, of Spring Green/Arena, Wis., passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015, at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg, with family by her side.

WATERTOWN - Laurie Ann Maki passed away on Feb. 21, 2015.

PRAIRIE DU SAC - Gil Rodencal, age 91, passed away at The Pines on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015. He was born on May 2, 1923, in Berlin, Wis., the son of Harry and Mary Rodencal.

MIDDLETON - Cindy (Marx) Breunig, age 56, passed away at her home on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015, with her husband and sons by her side.

MIDDLETON - Duane E. Hanson, born on Mother's Day, May 10, 1942, died on Feb. 24, 2015, in his home in Middleton.

MADISON - Gloria Jean (Hoke) Steinhauer, age 81, peacefully passed away in her sleep on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015.

PORTAGE - Lois L. Allen, age 63, of Portage, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015, at Divine Savior Healthcare Hospital in Portage.

LODI - On Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015, James H. Roth lifted off "into the wild blue yonder" (to quote a World War II song he was fond of singing.) That may be an unconventional way to launch an o…

VERONA - Lucille Teresa Meudt, age 86, of Verona, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015, surrounded by her family, at Ingleside Manor in Mount Horeb.

SPRING GREEN - Kenneth James Spangler, age 67, of Spring Green, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015, at The Golden Living Center in Muscoda, Wis.

OSHKOSH - Orvell O.B. Zimmerman, age 91, of Oshkosh, passed away, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015.

It’s good, in times like these, to be reminded of the human spirit — of its capacity for wonder and courage. What seems impossible, what seems ever out of reach, is exactly what we seem most d…