Sweet, Shirley
BELOIT

Shirley Sweet died February 5th, 2025, in Coon Rapids MN at Autumn Glen Senior Living. She was born in Chippewa Falls, WI on January 20, 1934, to John (Jack) and Marie Brask at St. Joseph's Hospital.

She graduated from Chippewa Falls High School and from U. of W. Stout (Menomonie, WI) with a B.S. in Home Economics Education, later with an M.S. in Adult Vocational and Career Counseling and post-graduate credits in psychology and related sciences.

She married Donald Sweet (son of William Sweet and Elizabeth Koblitz Sweet) on June 16, 1956, in Trinity United Methodist Church in Chippewa Falls and taught in Thorpe and Chippewa Falls High Schools until Don finished college at Stout. In 1959, they moved to Beloit and Shirley re-opened the Academic and Counseling Department (one of only three in the state) at Beloit Vocational School (now Blackhawk Technical College). She served as the school's counselor, initiator and director of the first GED program in the region. She expanded the office and was employed as consultant to local Police and Fire Department Personnel Departments and those of prominent businesses and industries of the area. She remained in that position during the restructuring of Wisconsin's Vocational System (1960-1972).

In 1972, she returned to the classroom full-time teaching various psychology courses for the newly established Registered Nurse and Protective Services programs. She taught until 1992 when she retired from full-time work but continued to teach televised courses for Blackhawk Technical College and General Motors for four more years. Her work in long-distance education is noted in the Marquis Who's Who in Education.

Shirley received numerous recognitions. Among the more treasured for professional efforts are: the Plaque of Recognition for "Initiating and Implementing Wisconsin's First Formal Training Program for Police Recruits" given her by Howard Bjorkland, Retired Administrator of the Wisconsin Department of Justice and Wayne Showers, Beloit P.D.; the Teaching Excellence Award presented by the Wisconsin Vocational, Technical and Adult Education Board of Directors, and the National Teaching Excellence Award presented by the University of Texas.

She was a member of the River of Life United Methodist church since 1959 and enjoyed singing in a Methodist choir for over 70 years. She served on a number of church committees and was a member of the United Methodist Women where she served as Spiritual Development Chair and Treasurer.

She was recognized as Beloit Daily News' Volunteer of the Month in 1998 and was a member of Altrusa International of Beloit for 45 years, serving as its president twice. She owned a 50-year membership in Order of Eastern Star and was a member of Beloit Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors for more than 35 years, frequently serving on their scholarship committee. Shirley served as a Director with the Rock County Council on Aging and enjoyed volunteering, especially giving out Farmer's Market vouchers each year and working the Senior Fair.

Shirley was past president of Beloit Area Retired Educators (BAREA) and also of the Wisconsin Retired Educators Association (WREA) where she had served on its board of directors for 8 years before her presidency. She followed this by serving on the board of trustees for the WREA Foundation for 5 years. In her WREA post-retirement years, Shirley kept active and informed on retirement issues as a member of the Wisconsin Coalition and Annuitants Board of Directors.

She credits her husband for teaching her to fish and the two looked forward to their yearly visits to Big Red Cedar at Mikana, WI to fish and enjoy the lake. After her retirement, she and Don traveled extensively and by the time of Don's death in 2014, they had less than a handful of countries not traveled.

Shirley is survived by their sons William John (Debby) of Owensboro, KY. Step-grandsons Adam and Brian Duncan. Steven Alan (Lisa) Sweet of Andover, MN. Grandsons John (Jack) and Matthew Sweet.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 11:00 am at River of Life United Methodist Church at 2345 Prairie Avenue, Beloit, WI, 53511.

Inurnment will be held at a later date in Floral Lawns Cemetery, South Beloit, IL.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to River of Life United Methodist Church for "youth programs," at 2345 Prairie Avenue, Beloit, WI, 53511.

Munro, James L.
MONROE

James L. Munro, age 86, of Monroe, died on Sunday, February 16, 2025 at SSM Monroe Hospice Home. Jim was born on July 14, 1938 in San Francisco, CA, the son of Colin and Shirley (Kerr) Munro. He graduated from Superior Central High School in 1956, earned a degree in chemistry and physics from Superior State College and attained his master’s degree in 1962. He was united in marriage to Judith A. Vriesacker on December 29, 1962 in Superior. Jim started in school administration at the age of 25 in Sparta, WI. He was employed for 15 years as school superintendent in Bloomer, WI before moving to Monroe in 1983. He retired as Monroe School District Superintendent in 1997.

Jim was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Monroe, was a Kiwanis Club member for over 50 years, served on the WIAA Board of Control, Blackhawk Technical College board, and was District Chairman of Blackhawk Area Council of Boy Scouts of America for several years. Most importantly he was devoted to his wife, dedicated to his family, and believed in giving back to the community.

He is survived by a daughter, Sarah (Alan) Bennett; granddaughter, Devri Bennett, all of Monroe; a sister, Sara (George) Downs of Southern Pines, NC; and a daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Droegemueller Munro of Madison. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Judith, on March 11, 2024; a son, Thomas C. Munro; and two brothers, Michael and David Duncan Munro.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, February 21, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., at Grace Lutheran Church, Monroe, with Pastor John Tabaka officiating. Visitation will precede the service beginning at 9:30 a.m. Inurnment will be a later date in Greenwood Cemetery in Superior. Memorials are suggested in Jim’s name to United Way of Green County.

Visitation: Friday, February 21, 2025 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM Grace Lutheran Church 1025 15th. Avenue Monroe, WI 53566 Memorial Service: Friday, February 21, 2025 11:00 AM Grace Lutheran Church 1025 15th. Avenue Monroe, WI 53566

The Newcomer Funeral Home, Monroe, is assisting the family. Condolences may be shared at www.newcomerfuneralhome.net

Backes, William Joseph
MADISON

William Joseph Backes, age 76, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 8, 2024 at Agrace Hospice Center. He was born in New London, Wisconsin on June 12, 1948, the son of Morgan and Jane Backes.

Bill received his BS in Nuclear Engineering from University of Wisconsin – Madison, and his associate’s degree in respiratory therapy from MATC. He worked in respiratory therapy at the UW Hospital for 42 years, most of that as the Equipment Manager for the department. He met his wife, Diane Bisanz in the Trauma and Life ICU while working at the UW Hospital. They recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. Bill was a loving, loyal, faithful, dedicated, and generous husband and father of three. His family was a priority, as he always attended his children’s sporting events and enjoyed numerous family trips.

Bill was active in many organizations: treasurer of 350 Wisconsin Action, a board member of the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans, a board member of the Wisconsin Coalition of Annuitants, and a delegate for the AFSCME Local 1942 at South Central Federation of Labor.

Bill is survived by his loving family: his wife, Diane; children Christopher (Kari) Backes & children Keenan and Kelvin, Eric (Stephanie) Backes (& baby girl Backes due in January), and Brittany (Daniel) Pratt. He is also survived by many siblings: Susan (Michael) Jarvela, Jeanne Backes, John (Sharon) Backes, Joseph (Susan Deming) Backes, Margaret (Edward) Szoke, and Elizabeth Backes (Thomas Prough) and Robert (Cecily) Backes as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and other cherished family members and friends. He was proceeded in death by his grandparents, parents Morgan and Jane Backes, infant sister Mary Agnes, and sister-in-law Jean Backes.

We wish to thank Dr. Vincent Ma, UW Carbone Cancer Center and Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care in Fitchburg. We are grateful to all the compassionate nurses who provided wonderful care to Bill in his final days. We also want to thank everyone who has been praying for our family during this time.

The funeral will be held at 11 am on Friday, December 13th at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 602 Everglade Drive, Madison. The visitation will be starting at 9 am at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to 350 Wisconsin https://350wisconsinaction.org Catholic Charities https://catholiccharitiesofmadison.org and UW-Madison Carbone Cancer Center https://cancer.wisc.edu

Wisconsin Board on
Aging & Long Term Care

Vicki Buchholz and Nick Lutes, from the Board on Aging & Long Term Care, gave a very interesting presentation at the June 2024 monthly meeting of the Coalition's Directors.

The presentation explains all the parts, intricacies and options of the Medicare program and is current information as of June 2024.

To view the presentation please click here.

ETF Customer Experience Project

ETF is in the initial stages of conducting a Customer Experience survey regarding the services they provide to retirees.

Below are two links, the left is a presentation about their Customer Experience project, and the link to the right is a Customer Experience Survey.

Thank you,

Bob Schaefer
WICOA Vice-President