Seeing as I’m writing this while housebound for three weeks even though I tested negative for COVID-19, the coronavirus pandemic has upended everyday life in innumerable ways.
Most devastating of all is the human cost. By this weekend, the national death toll due to the virus will exceed the population of the entire city of Madison. That’s an astonishing, alarming fact that drives home the seriousness of the virus. Here in Wisconsin, nearly 3,500 people have died from COVID-19, a number that is depressingly certain to rise.
With that in mind, the Twitter account Faces of COVID seeks to remember those lost to the novel coronavirus. Since launching in March, curator Alex Goldstein has shared obituaries of the deceased. In the process he’s painted a detailed, human portrait of an unprecedented disaster. After all, it’s hard to see someone as a statistic when you know they “came out of retirement to teach at a nursing school in Dallas to prepare young students to combat the pandemic,” like Iris Meda did.
Faces of COVID has featured about 30 of Wisconsin’s coronavirus deaths. They were all preventable losses, and these are their stories:
MICHAEL ANTHONEY 67 of Janesville Wisconsin died of COVID on Nov. 18.
"Mike especially enjoyed family get-togethers, 4th of July was his specialty & he always looked forward to meeting up with his fellow pyromaniac relatives to put on the greatest show."https://t.co/50SNfBjJVp pic.twitter.com/0f6cmIEhu9
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) November 28, 2020
DANIEL WINARSKI, 59 of Eau Claire, Wisconsin died of COVID on Nov. 12.
"He was a Boy Scout with the troop for boys with special needs…As an adult, he had many new interests with his friends…He and his Dad loved horses and Dan took riding lessons."https://t.co/lf1dRZnfnF
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) November 27, 2020
ROGER AUBUT, 80 of Oconto, Wisconsin died of COVID on Nov. 11.
He "…was a faithful blood donor and was proud to have reached a goal of over 11 gallons throughout the years. The love Roger had for his family was undeniable."https://t.co/cpA11u1rOZ pic.twitter.com/jdOlaulFCj
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) November 19, 2020
JOHN SCOTT KINGZETT, 73, of Menomonie, Wisconsin died of COVID on Nov. 12.
He was retired firefighter and Marine Corps veteran. His wife sad goodbye via FaceTime.
"I don't want anyone else to go through what we've been through," she said.https://t.co/smHRhKvkJG
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) November 15, 2020
JAMES HERBER, 74, of Sheboygan, Wisconsin died of COVID-19 on Nov. 3.
"He enjoyed bartending at Frankie's Pub & Grill where he never met a stranger and where he was loved and known for his smile and carefree laughter." He also volunteered at the local hospice. pic.twitter.com/qgHJ5FRyNg
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) November 11, 2020
JOHN "JACK" DIEDRICH, 75 of Kaukauna, Wisconsin died of COVID-19 on October 27.
"You knew you were liked if he teased you and a day was never complete without his bowl of ice cream."https://t.co/VL7yJXdMbD
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) November 9, 2020
ROLAND COLLINS, 69, of Shawano, Wisconsin died of COVID-19 on October 22.
A security guard who loved to hunt, fish, and spend time with his wife and grandchildren, he "loved cats and dogs and the more he had the happier he was."https://t.co/XftupHWgia
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) November 9, 2020
ANNE CARLEY GALLUN, 71 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin died of COVID-19 in July after contracting the virus at her group home.
“She brought out the goodness in all of us. And I’m so grateful to have had someone like this in my life.”https://t.co/9a6piGFSg5
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) November 8, 2020
WARREN BOWE, 57, of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, died of COVID-19 on October 18.
He had recently retired after 21 years as a high school english teacher. https://t.co/li50whwXAv
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) October 21, 2020
SERGIO MIGUEL GUTIERREZ, 51, of Wisconsin, died of COVID-19 on September 30.
"He leaves behind his wife Denise, dutiful son Dominic and bright-eyed beautiful daughter Aubri, who were the center of his universe. He was so incredibly proud to be a dad…"https://t.co/ZF01ciRu7R
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) October 17, 2020
LANA M. DACZYK, 71, of Menasha, Wisconsin, died of COVID-19 on September 30.
She worked at Kohl's for 30 years before her retirement. "She was happiest being with her kids and grandson. Mom was a giver. Always thinking of others before herself."https://t.co/Q1YX4bo9fc
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) October 17, 2020
BERNIE FRITSCH, 82, of Freedom, Wisconsin, died of COVID-19 on October 1.
He worked for years in the family cheese business as a milk hauler. He loved the Packers and NASCAR. " He was a great husband, father, provider, always made his kids feel safe."https://t.co/EbM2aZ32ye
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) October 9, 2020
SHARON YSTESUND, 76, of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, died of COVID-19 on September 7.
She had recently retired from the real estate industry and had plans to enjoy it, living with her grandson and his partner. https://t.co/sZzHEYuY0t
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) October 8, 2020
DUANE BARK, the Superintendent and Athletic Director for the Markesan School District in Wisconsin has died of COVID-19 after a 3-month battle with the virus. https://t.co/DXNGbcRBUV
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) October 8, 2020
BOB QUAM, 73, of Stevens Point, Wisconsin died of COVID-19 on September 18.
A recovered alcoholic, he worked for years to help others get the support they needed to fight addiction and turn their lives around.https://t.co/9LKOLFHnIV
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) October 4, 2020
HEIDI HUSSLI, of Suamico, Wisconsin, died of COVID-19 in September.
She was a teacher at Bay Port High School. The school district has reported multiple COVID cases since August. https://t.co/vQxihXzkKQ pic.twitter.com/KLCkLXgpsj
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) September 18, 2020
Deputy RICHARD "RICK" TREADWILL, 61 of Dane County, WI.
Rick contracted COVID on the job, after 25 years working for the Sheriff's Department. He leaves behind a wife and three adult children. https://t.co/ElfGpBF2CE
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) August 25, 2020
THOMAS ADAMAVICH, 78, of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, passed away from COVID-19 on April 4th.
He worked as a milkman, and then a truck driver for Piggly Wiggly with the @Teamsters before retiring after 33 years. He is survived by his wife, kids, and grandkids.https://t.co/riV7cMFFHh
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) August 10, 2020
KATHERINE H. SCHUH, 84, of WI, died of COVID-19 on April 15th. She worked for decades as a custodian for the local school district.
"Her world always revolved around her 4 children, 8 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren & 2 great-great-grandchildren."https://t.co/KaTK2xRfOt pic.twitter.com/qyV4yX3UOK
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) August 7, 2020
CAROL WIESE, 56, of Algoma, Wisconsin, died of COVID-19 on July 26th.
An avid Star Wars and Sci-Fi fan known for her "wicked dry sense of humor", she retired last year after a long career running the local chamber & running her own small business.https://t.co/FffTgWlkFw pic.twitter.com/mwva0tTbBa
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) August 3, 2020
KEN KUEMMERLEIN, a bartender at Steny’s in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and a coach with Special Olympics, has died of COVID-19.https://t.co/7Bzxqv8hLS
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) July 20, 2020
KENNETH GOING, 87, of Grafton, WI, passed away in March. He served in the US Navy during the Korean War, was a @packers season ticket holder and worked for years as a pharmacist. His survived by his wife, children & grandchildren.#MemorialDayWeekendhttps://t.co/zzOKDU6vwO
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) May 26, 2020
GEORGE MATTHEWS, 67, of Milwaukee, WI.
A US Army veteran, he spent his career devoted to community service, and worked with students at a local elementary school
“He was a warrior on behalf of the community."#MemorialDayWeekend
Via @RicoReporting https://t.co/3PMABB0vbT— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) May 25, 2020
Sister Gabriella Nguyen, 75 & Sister Monica Fumo, 78, of the Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida in Wisconsin died of COVID-19.
"Both of our beloved sisters will be remembered for their lives of service to God and their love for all God’s people,” https://t.co/y8FJOIEr32
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) May 20, 2020
Dosha Joi, a powerful advocate for children in foster care, died of COVID-19 in Wisconsin. He was studying to be a nurse & had a goal to do as much as possible to help youth aging out of care with mental health, addiction, and independent living skills.https://t.co/MOboUBTpQr
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) May 17, 2020
Jerry Simonar, 87, of Luxemburg, Wisconsin, died of COVID-19, the 1st in his county known to have died. A Korean War veteran, he was known affectionately as the "Mayor of South Luxemburg" and ran a family owned business in town.https://t.co/s04d7Ugi9o
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) May 11, 2020
Ernie Boettcher, 76 of Mishicot, WI died April 25 of COVID-19. He worked as a cheesemaker and later went on to own and operate Ernie's Laugh Inn in Larrabee for 21 years. "He enjoyed gardening…and most of all spending time with his family and friends."https://t.co/IhIJnIkdS1
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) May 9, 2020
A fourth nun from Our Lady of the Angels convent in Greenfield, Wisconsin, has passed away from COVID-19. Sister Annelda Holtkamp died on April 19. https://t.co/sZODZvKDp7
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) April 25, 2020
Billy Ross, 53, of Wisconsin died of COVID-19. He spent years mentoring young adults through Milwaukee Rescue Mission's Cross Trainers Academy. "He took pride in that job and really liked ministering to the people," said his sister. More via @TMJ4Stephanie https://t.co/bU8wcIziGi
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) April 25, 2020
Kenneth Going, 87, of Grafton, WI, passed away from COVID-19 in March. He served in the US Navy during the Korean War, & was a @packers season ticket holder and worked for years as a pharmacist. His survived by his wife, children & grandchildren. More here https://t.co/zzOKDU6vwO
— FacesOfCOVID (@FacesOfCOVID) April 2, 2020
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