Sample Obituaries
Louise M. Dahlke, 79, Oshkosh died on January 26, 2005, at Bethel Home. Louise was the daughter
of Fred and Louise Stuckert, Whitefish Bay, WI. She was born Jan. 22, 1926, spent her childhood there,
and graduated from Whitefish Bay High School. She entered Iowa State College and took two years of
home economics training. She married Norbert Dahlke, a veterinary graduate and they started Norb’s
practice in Waupaca. They raised a son, Charles, and twin daughters, Cindy and Sandy. When the
children were in high school Louise commuted to UWSP and finished her degree in home economics
education, graduating cum laude. She became the home economist for Waupaca County, and held the
job until her husband’s work necessitated a move to Manitowoc in 1970. Louise worked part time in the
home economist’s office in Manitowoc for a few years.
She was a good golfer and an excellent bridge player, attaining life master status. She and her husband
played bridge on vacation throughout the U.S.A. and Canada. She loved antiques and filled their house
with interesting furniture and artifacts. She was an excellent shopper and kept her friends aware of
good buys.
Through her lifetime, until Alzheimer’s took its toll, Louise was a warm, loving person, always ready to
help. But in the late 90’s she became less able to help herself, and in 2001 she moved to Bethel Home.
Edward Patrick Stein, 44 of Combined Locks, WI passed away January 24, 2005 following a
courageous battle with cancer. Edward died at home surrounded by his family and his beloved dog,
Dylan. Edward was born September 2, 1960 in Detroit. His family moved to Powers in 1973 where Ed
attended North Central High School. Following high school Ed entered the Army and then moved to
Alaska where he perfected his drywall skills. Ed lived in Anchorage for ten years where his oldest
daughter, Brianna was born. Ed returned to the Midwest and completed his Associates Degree in water
technology.
Ed was a self employed contractor, specializing in residential and commercial drywall and painting. Ed
was actively involved with Schutzhund dog training and the Fox Valley Police and Schutzhund Club. He
was an avid fisherman and hunter. He loved taking rides on his Harley Davidson and has traveled
extensively throughout the United States. He enjoyed watching sports, particularly Red Wings Hockey.
His first love was his family and he enjoyed spending time with his children, nieces, nephews and
family members.
John Edward Saubert, “Uncle Sonny”, De Pere, age 77, passed away early Sunday morning January
23, 2005 at 12:15 a.m. He was born March 8, 1927 in Wabeno to the late John F. and Maude (Mallow)
Saubert. He had attended West De Pere High School before entering the service. John served in the
U.S. Navy during WWII aboard both the U.S.S. Perkins and the U.S.S. Bausell. On June 30, 1951 he
married the former Jacolyn Hilgenberg at the parsonage at St. Francis Church De Pere. John was
employed at Milprint Inc. for 13 years. He had also been employed at the De Pere Ambulance Service,
as well as being a volunteer for the Brown County Civil Defense. In 1964 John became a police officer
for the City of Brillion, in 1965 became a Deputy Sheriff and Traffic Officer for Calumet County Traffic
Department. He retired in 1979. John had started a Boy Scout Troop in De Pere. He was also an avid
fisherman and hunter and was the first to teach adult hunter safety gun course in Brillion and the State
of Wisconsin. He was a life member of the North American Hunting Club and North American Fishing
Club, and a member of B.A.S.S. John was a member of Brillion’s American Legion Post 126 and a life
member of the VFW Chilton Post 3153, and a Past Brown County Commander of the VFW and Past
Commander of De Pere Post 2113.
Writing Your Own Obituary (15 points in class work and homework category)
Your assignment is to write the obituary (i.e., the brief description of your life) that you anticipate will
appear at the end of your life. Your obituary will need to be at least two full paragraphs long, and will
need to address the following things:
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Where you attended school (and what you studied there)
The job(s) you held over the course of your life
The extracurricular activities you committed time to (charities, youth organizations, etc.),
Any special honors you may have received, and any hobbies you may have pursued.
Some mention of family life would be appropriate but is not necessary.
It is very important that you take this assignment seriously.
Do not write an obituary in which you marry your favorite pop star/teen idol, inherit millions from
an unknown rich uncle, and live out your life driving the world’s most fabulous Escalade back and
forth between immense vacation homes. Also focus on how you lived, not how you died. Take the
time to envision, in a positive way, how your life will play out, based on who you are now, what
you’ve done so far, and what you’re willing to work towards in the future. Use the sample
obituaries on the other side of the page for guidance if you need to – notice that all three of the
sample lives you find are not celebrities, but people who still lived important lives and accomplished
worthwhile things. Identify what will be important and worthwhile about the life you intend to live,
and write it. An obituary that treats the assignment as a joke or fails to provide enough
detail will not receive full credit. Please write your obituary in the space provided below (or on
a page you staple to this sheet, if the space below is not enough room for you).