Listed are indexes and databases designed to help users research Wisconsin death notices.
Wisconsin obituary records can be a valuable resource for gaining data and filling in gaps when it comes to genealogy records and other family history documentation. Searches for Wisconsin obituary records, marriage certificates and other vital records can be conducted online and offline. Usually, to get the best results, using both an online search and offline work will get you what you need for your records.
While it is often a good plan to start with narrowing your obituary search down to a county, Wisconsin does have some databases for statewide searches. In fact, there is at least one death index for Wisconsin that dates back to 1820. Keep in mind, a good majority of the data is through fee based sites or databases, but for hard to locate records, it can be very worthwhile.
If you can narrow it down to a particular county, you may be able to get more detailed information, quicker and easier. For example, Fond du Lac County has vital records and cemetery records dating back to 1846. Consider browsing through the other types of records to search through online, as well.
There are also several more specific databases for death and burial records for Wisconsin. The Jewish death and burial index for Milwaukee, is one example. Also, there is a Polish newspaper for the Milwaukee area which may help with heritage searches.
The other thing you can do online is get the locations and contact information for places you plan to visit in person. Whenever possible, also locate the name of a good contact person for wherever you plan to visit. Establish contact before making a trip and you may be able to get some extra help or have records waiting for you upon your arrival. This is especially helpful if you will be traveling from afar.
Libraries and cemeteries are excellent sources of offline data for genealogy searches. For Wisconsin obituary records, you will want to check with libraries in a specific county. Once you have located the county you need, contact the library system to find out how they store their archives. Some counties may have all the newspapers and microfilm in one main location, while others may have this type of data divided among the different branches within the county.
If you are not close to the counties you need to visit, or do not live in Wisconsin, you can check into whether someone can help you retrieve the documentation you need. In some places, there may be a library staff member or volunteer who is available to assist with this type of thing. If not, there are genealogy organizations that have volunteers for different areas in Wisconsin that can help. The trick is to be patient, get as much information as possible and use Wisconsin obituary records to help fill in the gaps for those genealogy records.
Wisconsin is a hardy state full of farmers and city folk who understand the importance of family. If you are looking for Wisconsin obituaries, there are several state wide websites you can use to find the listing you are looking for. You can start with the website for the Appleton Public Library.
This small town library has listings from the 1800's as well as many recent listings from the last few decades. All of the listings here come from area newspapers. The Antigo Genealogy Gopher website is another great resource for those folks living in this wonderful state. It features listings from 1892 all the way up to modern times. You can also tap into the huge amount of information stored at the website of the Genealogical Research Society of Eau Claire.
They feature listings that go all the way back to 1858! This listing service is actually more complete than most since they include obits from all over the state and not just ones in that area. The website for the La Crosse Public Library is also quite comprehensive. You can find listings here from 1904 to the present and the easy to use interface takes no time at all to master.
Listed are indexes and databases designed to help users research Wisconsin death notices.
The Appleton Public Library Local History Project is currently in the process of building an obituary index which is searchable on their website. They are always updating as they progress through their efforts, allowing for an ever-increasing amount of success in discovering the desired file. It is currently complete from January 2001 through the present, as well as other year ranges dating back as far as 1856.
The Hedberg Public Library has used the fact that they have the Janesville Gazette on microfilm in order to create an extensive obituaries index that is searchable at the organization itself. More recent files can be queried over the internet, but those are only from the dates of January 1993 to the present.
Below is a list of Wisconsin newspaper obituaries to aid in genealogical research.
Realizing that sometimes very detailed obituary pages can be overwhelming for mourners, the Capital Times of Wisconsin's page caters to both the loved one's of the deceased as well as genealogical researcher. In addition to links useful after someone passes away, like funeral and flower services, the website includes a search feature that allows visitors to search the archive by the date of death.
Organization is key for anyone attempting to use and read obituary pages, but too often death notices do not seem to be in any real order. The Green Bay, Wisconsin Press Gazette uses not only convenient streamlined thumbnail tabs for quick searching, but also lists the deceased in alphabetical order by last name, so if you know who you are looking for, finding what you need should be easy.
So often, even the most detailed and easy to access obituary pages only include information on local residents. The Journal Times in Wisconsin allows visitors to search not only for the area's deceased, but also for national and even some international death notices. Clearly, this paper takes its commitment to news seriously.
For anyone who reads obituaries on with any regularity, the standard format of the headlines can get very repetitive, minimizing the importance of the deceased's individuality. Most of the time a death notice headline consists only of the person's name and age. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin's Journal Sentential, however, includes short personalized headlines that give some indication of the person's life and interests.
If you do not know precisely when someone died, finding their death notice can sometimes be a challenge. The River Falls Journal in Wisconsin takes a straightforward approach towards obituary pages, offering a thumbnail tab for not only those that died that day, but also for some time, going back almost two weeks.
So much attention is paid to genealogical research that very often the needs of the deceased loved ones get placed on the back burner. The Wisconsin State Journal in Madison recognizes the importance of death notices pages to serve as a place of healing for mourners. With links to funeral homes, flower shops, and guest books, this paper sticks true to the traditional function of obituaries notices.
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