The Obituary Section

Carlene Thompson

, Wisconsin

September 22, 1997

Carlene J. Thompson 28 of Holmen passed away on Friday May 8 2026. She was born on September 23 1997 to Gary Isensee and Patrice Zietlow. Carlene was the kind of person who left pieces of light behind wherever she went. She had a smile that could soften even the hardest days and a laugh that made everyone around her feel alive for a moment. There was something so beautiful about the way she existed in the world gentle yet unforgettable. She carried so much love inside of her even when life felt heavy. It is impossible to understand how someone so full of warmth could leave this world before she truly had the chance to live the life that she deserved. There were still so many dreams waiting for her so many memories left unmade and so many chapters that should have stretched far beyond where her story ended.…

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Jay "Wally" M. Waltemath

, Wisconsin

December 5, 1973

Jay “Wally” M. Waltemath, age 52, passed away unexpectedly May 17, 2026. He was born December 6, 1973, the son of Martin and Mary (Farmer) Waltemath.Jay grew up in Tomah and was a 1992 graduate of Tomah High School, where he built the foundation for the many friendships and connections that would remain important to him throughout his life.In his work life, Jay served as the regional manager for Rehrig, where he brought the same energy, reliability, and good-natured spirit that he carried everywhere else.Outside of work, Jay embraced life with enthusiasm and a healthy appreciation for fun. He married Angie Johnson and together they enjoyed years of fun and travel. Jay loved socializing with friends, and he never seemed to meet a stranger for long. Whether he was talking sports, heading to the casino, or spending time with his grandkids, he brought a spark that made every moment better.…

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Maryjean "Jeannie" Halderson

, Wisconsin

Maryjean “Jeannie” Halderson, 90, of Rockland, WI, passed away Friday, May 15, 2026, at Bethany St. Joseph Care Center in La Crosse, WIJeannie was born October 11, 1935, on St. Mary’s Ridge, to Arthur and Agnes (Hemmersbach) Leis. She was united in holy matrimony to Vilas Halderson on May 7, 1957, at St. Mary’s Ridge Catholic Church.When she and Vilas married, they built a life together on the farm they owned and operated side by side. She worked with him faithfully up until his passing in 1981, embracing every part of farm life with quiet strength and joy. She had endless patience with the calves, a gift for raising big, beautiful gardens, and a love for canning that filled the home with the comforts of each season.Jeannie was also exceptionally talented with her hands, creating beautiful needlework and embroidery pieces that her family will cherish forever. Above all, she loved…

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Nancy K. Gillette

, Wisconsin

Nancy K. Gillette, age 75, of Tomah, passed away on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at Mayo Clinic in La Crosse. She was born February 24, 1951, to Roy and Norma (Zahrte) Robinson. Nancy graduated from Tomah High School in 1969.  She was united in marriage to Wayne Gillette on May 29, 1971, and they were blessed with two daughters, Alicia and Rebecca. It was rare to see Nancy without Wayne, and vice versa. Whether they were taking a country ride to explore back roads, fishing, shining deer, polka dancing, or simply doing yardwork side by side, they shared life’s everyday moments together.Nancy devoted her life to caring for others in both her work and her everyday actions. She worked for a short time at The Bassinett children’s clothing store, drove the mini bus for the Tomah Area School district, worked as a school aide at Lemonweir, and served as a…

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