Mauston, WI
WRJC WebMaster
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Elmer, Merna Jefferson Age 79 of Friendship
10 hours
by WRJC WebMaster
in Obituaries
Merna Jefferson Elmer died May 26, 2026, at home, of heart failure. Merna was born December 2nd, 1946. The 2nd daughter of Wayne and Betty Jefferson of Friendship, WI. She lived on the family farm.
Merna was active in 4-H where she showed Grand Champion Holsteins and participated in Style Review. Merna graduated from Adams-Friendship High School in 1964 and was the salutatorian of her high school class. Merna continued her studies at UW-Madison. She graduated from UW Madison in 1968, with a degree in Early Childhood Development. As a student at UW, Merna began working for Hoffman House restaurants and
continued working there after graduation. While working for Hoffman House, Merna was promoted to training and opening new establishments. Also, while working for Hoffman House Merna met Dan Elmer, whom she would marry July 1st, 1983. Merna and Dan together opened Mr. Elmer’s in Oshkosh, WI. Later they bought Fanny’s, a restaurant on Hwy 10 between Marshfield and Neillsville with a motel and residence. After Dan’s passing, Merna moved to the Jefferson farm at Friendship.
Merna loved dogs and always acquired hers from an animal shelter, she thought that a dog was motivated to be good after being in a shelter. She gardened and sewed many of her own clothing. Merna and Dan loved good food and drink and meeting new friends in their restaurants.
The family would like to thank our brother, Bruce, and cousin, Loren Griese and for helping Merna as her health deteriorated.
She is survived by her siblings, Mary, Marcia, Dean. Donna, Bruce, Tom, Carla, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Celebration of Life will be June 27 at 12:30 pm at the Jefferson family farm.
Burial for Dan and Merna will take place at Mt. Vernon Cemetery in Hillsboro. Roseberry’s Funeral Home (www.roseberrys.com) is assisting the family.
State Track & Field results from over the weekend
11 hours
by WRJC WebMaster
in Sports
Boys Place winners
D3
3200M
Cooper Powell –Brookwood 4th place
D2
400M
Justus McNeil – Westfield 4th Place
800M
Weston Poullie –Mauston 6th Place
Triple Jump
Braydon Whey –Mauston 4th Place
D1
200M
Will Mikonowicz – Reedsburg 4th Place
Girls Place Winners
3200M
Delilah Heden – Necedah 5th Place
4×200 M Relay
Brookwood – 5th Place (Ava Gruen, Ruby Muelhenkamp, Miranda Arndt, Kinsley Holmquist)
4x400M Relay
Brookwood – 6th Place (Ruby Muelhenkamp, Ava Gruen, Kinsly Holmquist, Miranda Arndt)
300M Hurdles
Jaycee Michek –Bangor 1st Place
D2
Discuss Throw
Natalie Backhaus – Wisconsin Dells 6th Place
400M
Molly Johnson – Adams-Friendship 4th Place
Shot Put
Natalie Backhaus – Wisconsin Dells 5th place
O’Dell Judith V. Age 80 of Mauston
1 day
by WRJC WebMaster
in Obituaries
Judith V. O’Dell, age 80 of Mauston, WI., passed away on Monday, March 2, 2026, at the UW Hospital in Madison. Judith was the daughter of Stanley F. and Josephine (Bloniarz) Uliasz and was born on March 26, 1945, in Chicago, IL.
The year 1966 brought Judith both love and change when she married the love of her life, Douglas O’Dell on August 6th in Chicago, IL. The young couple spent their first year and a half in Chicago before relocating to Sun Prairie, WI. Eventually, they settled in Mauston, where they built a life together.
Her greatest joys were feeding her family from canning to baking and making large dinners for her family. She further enjoyed playing cards and spending time with her kids, especially with her granddaughters and great-grandchildren. Judy was a hardworking sweet woman, from working at Almet in Baraboo to Best Power in Necedah and ending her working career at D.A.T. in Necedah.
Judy’s legacy is carried on by her loving children, Lori O’Dell of Mauston and Duane (Jody Dohs) O’Dell of New Lisbon. Her spirit will also live on through her grandchildren, Jessica (Andy) Ryan of Sparta, Lacey (Skylar) Adams of Idaho, and her great-grandchildren, Carson, Jeannette, Serenity, Douglas, Laikynn and Calvin. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Douglas in 2025.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. at the Mauston City Cemetery. Chaplain Fred Schumacher presiding. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 13th at the Mauston American Legion (1055 E. State St.) from 11:30 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. The Hare Funeral Home in New Lisbon is assisting the family with arrangements.
Dells Baseball Moves on Royall & Brookwood Seasons End
5 days
by WRJC WebMaster
in Sports
The Royall Panther baseball season came to an end Wednesday evening falling to Cochrane-Fountain City 3-1 in a WIAA Division 4 Regional Championship game. Royall mustered just 3 hits against Pirates starting pitcher Stevie Meyer. Colby Schroeder took the loss on the mound for Royall despite pitching well giving up just 3 runs on 5hits walking just one and striking out 4. Trey Wildes had a pair of hits for Royall including an RBI triple.
Other WIAA Regional Championship baseball scores
D2
Wisconsin Dells 2 La Crosse Logan 1
D4
Eleva-Strum 4 Brookwood 1
Menck, Hans Jr. of Adams County
5 days
by WRJC WebMaster
in Obituaries
Hans Menck Jr. went home to be with the Lord on June 3, 2026.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Roseberry’s Funeral Home in Friendship, Wisconsin, with Pastor Sam Downey officiating. Interment will follow at Fordham Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Saturday at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. A luncheon will follow at the Grand Marsh Community Center from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Baumgart, Oscar Stanley Jr. Age 71 of Necedah
5 days
by WRJC WebMaster
in Obituaries
Oscar Stanley Baumgart Jr., age 71, of Necedah, WI, passed away on Monday, May 25, 2026, at Mile Bluff Medical Center in Mauston, WI. He was born on October 30, 1954 to Oscar Sr. and Marie (Murphy) Baumgart.
In his early years, he worked as a mechanic for Becker Logging Company, where he developed a reputation for being dependable, capable, and willing to lend a hand whenever it was needed. He took pride in doing honest work and in using his skills to help keep things running smoothly.
Oscar was a man who found happiness in the outdoors and in the familiar comforts of home and community. He enjoyed gardening and took great satisfaction in watching things grow and flourish. He liked fishing and hunting, and he especially appreciated taking rides to look at wildlife and enjoy the beauty of the world around him. He also enjoyed tinkering, always finding something to fix, adjust, or improve. These interests reflected his curious nature and his enjoyment of staying active and engaged.
Socializing with friends was an important part of Oscar’s life, and he valued the time spent in conversation, laughter, and companionship. He had a warm presence and a way of making others feel welcome. He especially treasured time with his family and grandchildren, and those moments brought him great joy.
He is survived by his sons, Jacob (Ashley) Baumgart, and Lucas (Jennifer) Baumgart; daughter, Jennifer (Joshua) Alford; 4 grandchildren, Joshua and Logan Baumgart, and Genevieve Dean and Madison Janczak; along with one great grandchild, Hayes Kastner; his former wife and best friend, Sandra Van Meter; brothers, John (Sandra) Baumgart, Emil (Carol) Baumgart, and BillyJo (Sandra) Baumgart; sister, Jean (Ryan) Sorenson; along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Oscar was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Joseph, Eddie, and Mikeal; and sisters, Barbara, Mary, and Nancy.
A Private Celebration of Life is being held by Oscar’s family. The Torkelson Funeral Home of Necedah is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
Local Prep Scores from Tuesday 6/2
6 days
by WRJC WebMaster
in Sports
WIAA Sectional Semi-Final Softball Scores
D3
Adams-Friendship 1 Richland Center 0
D5
Ithaca/Weston 8 Royall 5
WIAA Regional Semi-Final Baseball Scores
D1
DeForest 3 Tomah 2
D2
Wisconsin Dells 12 Merrill 7
La Crosse Aquinas 12 Adams-Friendship 2
Portage 3 Reedsburg 2
Winneconne 12 Ripon 2
D3
Omro 4 Bangor 2
D5
Royall 1 Cashton 0 (Trey Wildes Complete game 2 hit shutout)
Eleva-Strum 3 Hillsboro 2
Brookwood 9 Weston 6
WIAA Girls Soccer Regional Semi-Finals
D2
Tomah 2 La Crosse Logan 1
Portage/Poynette 5 Reedsburg 3
Boys Golf
Hillsboro Freshman Luke Holthe qualified for the D3 State golf tournament winning a playoff hole to advance.
Royall Softball Season Ends in Ithaca
6 days
A highly successful Royall Panther softball season came to an end Tuesday evening falling to Ithaca/Weston 8-5 in a D5 WIAA Sectional Semi-Final game. Royall went up 1-0 in the first inning thanks to some Bulldog miscues but Ithaca/Weston would score the next 8 runs of the game off the back of homeruns by Valerie Bauer and Jacey Maxwell. Royall attempted a rally in the final frame bringing the tying run to the plate but that batter would strike out to end the game and season for Royall. Brooklyn McKittrick had a double in the loss for Royall. The Panthers finish their season with a 20-7 record winning both a Conference championship and Regional championship.
