Obituary: Frances Weaver

Frances Weaver Funeral Tuesday

Funeral services for Frances Weaver, 24, 637 E. Dayton st., who died Saturday, will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Fitch-Lawrence Funeral Home. Elder Robert Thomas, Chicago, of the fourth episcopal district of the African Methodist church, will conduct the services. Burial will be in Forest Hill cemetery.

Miss Weaver had been employed as a cosmetician at the William Busch beauty salon. She become ill while at work Thursday and was taken to a hospital.

Miss Weaver was born in Madison and received her education in Madison grade schools and in Central high where she was graduated in 1922. She was also a graduate of the Madison Beauty school.

Note: The above was originally published in the Obituary Section of the Wisconsin State Journal on March 10, 1947. At this time, obituaries were still "news stories," written by newspaper staff, not families.

The graduation date for Frances Weaver is obviously a typo. If she was 24 in 1947, she was probably born in 1922 or 1923. I've been unable to determine when she graduated, but it was probably in the early 1940s.

Obituary: Richard Widmann

Succumbs to Long Illness
Richard Widmann Dies;
Ex-Madison Fire Chief

Richard Widmann, 76, Route 1, McFarland, former Madison fire chief from Jan. 1, 1939, until his retirement Oct. 1, 1944, died today in a Madison hospital after a long illness. Mr. Widmann had resided in recent years with his son, Ray, McFarland police chief since April of this year and former Blooming Grove police chief and Madison police officer.

Richard Widmann was a past president of the Wisconsin Paid Fireman's Association. He was a member of the Madison Fire department from Oct. 15, 1917, until his retirement. He served at Central, No. 2, and No. 5 stations. On May 1, 1930, he was appointed an inspector, and on Oct. 1, 1936, chief to succeed John Lahm who retired on pension.

After he became chief, Mr. Widmann was instrumental in establishment of a new school of instruction for firemen, designating Fireman Leonard Sime to attend the Milwaukee Fireman's School preparatory to becoming head of the Madison school.

Mr. Widmann was born in Madison June 15, 1884, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Fred Widman who with four older children had come from Germany about two years earlier. He attended Madison public schools and Madison (now Central) High School. Subsequently he worked as a switchman and brakeman for the North Western Road for a time, served two years in the Madison police department, and then returned to railroad work for another period.

He was married June 6, 1907, to Lenore Gregerson of Baraboo. Among his survivors, besides his wife and his son, Ray, is a daughter, Mrs. J.F. Tilleman, Elmhurst, Ill.

The body was taken to the Fitch-Lawrence funeral home, 62 University ave.

Friends may call there from 5 p.m. Sunday until the time of services. The family said donations may be made to the Cancer Fund.

Masonic funeral services will be conducted Monday at 1:30 p.m. in the Masonic Temple here by Commonwealth Lodge No. 325, Madison, and burial will be in Forest Hill cemetery.

Originally published on July 30, 1960 as a page one news story in The Capital Times.

Obituary: Albert M. Bagley

Albert M. Bagley, 62,
Dies in Miami, Fla.

Albert M. Bagley, 62, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William R. Bagley, died Wednesday at Miami, Fla.

Born in Madison, Mr. Bagley was a graduate of Central high school where he was one of the leading athletes of the track team. Years ago he was connected with the former Steinle Lathe Co. On 1913 he was married to Florence Lalor, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Lalor, town of Dunn. She died in 1940. He was married to Hazel Hovland, McFarland, in 1942

Survivors are his wife, two daughters, Mrs. Fred W. Miller and Mrs. Fred Gage, both of Madison; three sisters, Mrs. William T. Evjue and Lucille Bagley, Madison, and Mrs. L.A. Rowland, Waterloo, Ia.

The body is expected to arrive in Madison Friday.

Note: The above was originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on May 29, 1947. At that time, obituaries were still "news stories," written by newspaper staff, not families.