When you lose someone in a town like Beaver Dam, the world feels a little smaller. Honestly, it’s one of those places where everyone seems to have a connection to everyone else, whether it’s through a Tuesday night pool league or memories of the old Green Giant plant. Finding obits Beaver Dam WI isn't just about checking a date for a service; it's about seeing a life story woven into the fabric of Dodge County.
You’ve probably noticed that the way we find these records has shifted. It’s not just the morning paper on the porch anymore.
Where the Records Actually Live
If you’re looking for someone right now, your first stop is usually the funeral homes. In Beaver Dam, Koepsell-Murray Funeral & Cremation Services is the big one. They’ve been around since 1909, which is kind of wild when you think about it—four generations of the same family handling the city's most somber moments. Their website is basically the live feed for local passings.
Another spot to check is the Daily Dodge. They aggregate a lot of the local notices, including people from nearby Waupun, Lowell, and Burnett. For instance, recent notices have included long-time residents like Marilyn "Mary" Luck, who was a fixture in the Burnett farming community, and Christine "Tina" Weinheimer, a graduate of Beaver Dam High who many people remember from her years driving taxi around town.
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- Koepsell-Murray Funeral Home: Located on N. Crystal Lake Road. They host the most detailed digital tributes.
- Cornerstone Funeral & Cremation: Another local option providing services in the immediate area.
- The Daily Citizen: The local newspaper. While it’s changed over the years, it remains the "official" record for many.
- Daily Dodge: Great for quick, text-based updates and radio-style announcements.
Digging Into the Archives
Sometimes you aren't looking for a recent service. Maybe you're doing genealogy or just trying to settle a "whatever happened to..." debate. The Beaver Dam Community Library is a goldmine for this stuff. They have microfilm of the Daily Citizen dating all the way back to 1911.
If you don't want to mess with a microfilm machine (and let’s be real, they can be a pain), BadgerLink is a lifesaver for Wisconsin residents. It gives you access to the Archive of Wisconsin Newspapers. You can search the Daily Citizen from 2005 up to about 90 days ago. For the really old stuff—the 1800s and early 1900s—you'll want to look at sites like GenealogyBank or even the Dodge County Cemetery Records, which the city maintains.
How to Write a Beaver Dam Obituary
When it’s your turn to write one, it feels heavy. You want to get it right. People here appreciate the details. Don't just say they "liked the outdoors." Say they spent every Saturday morning on Lake Puckaway or that they never missed a chance to shoot pool on Tuesday nights.
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Include the Maiden Name. This is a big deal for local history. If you're looking for someone from the 1940s or 50s, that maiden name is the only way you'll connect them to the right family tree.
Vary the Tone. It’s okay to be funny. If Grandpa was known for his "cranky disposition" or his secret recipe for booyah, put it in there. The best obits Beaver Dam WI residents read are the ones that sound like the person they knew.
The Logistics. You’ll need the basics:
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- Full name (and nicknames—everyone has one).
- Date and location of the service.
- Where memorials should go (churches like St. Stephen’s or Grace Ev. Lutheran are common).
- The "preceded in death by" and "survived by" sections.
People often forget that an obituary is a historical document. A hundred years from now, a great-great-grandchild might be reading what you wrote today to understand who their ancestors were.
Why It Matters Locally
In a community of about 16,000 people, a death isn't just a private family matter; it's a piece of the city's identity. When someone like Mark J. Johnson or Dorothy Pollesch passes, it marks the end of an era for a specific neighborhood or a local business.
The funeral prices in the area stay relatively consistent, usually ranging from $3,000 for direct cremation to over $6,000 for a traditional funeral at places like Koepsell-Murray. But the value of the obituary itself? That's free if you're just looking for information, and it's priceless for the family.
Next Steps for Finding Information
If you are currently searching for obits Beaver Dam WI, start by visiting the Koepsell-Murray website for the most recent listings. If the person passed away more than a few years ago, head to the Beaver Dam Community Library’s website to see their index of vital events. For those writing an obituary, gather the "human" details—the hobbies, the quirks, and the local memberships—before sitting down to write. This ensures the tribute feels like a conversation with an old friend rather than a dry list of dates.