Madison West High School Class of 1958

Bach, Parnell Edmund
MADISON – Parnell Edmund Bach, age 80, died at his home on Monday, Feb. 16, 2004. He was born on April 16, 1923, in Madison, to Carl Joseph and Hattie (Lee) Bach. Parnell was united in marriage to Betty Jane Colbert on July 29, 1944. After graduating from West High School in 1941, Parnell served as a pilot in the air transport command during World War II. After returning to Madison, he attended the University of Wisconsin, where he obtained a master’s degree in art education. Parnell taught art at West High School until his retirement. His artwork depicted primarily disappearing rural farm scenes and natural habitats of Wisconsin. He enjoyed fishing up north in Manitowish Waters and the Rice Creek area with his sons and grandson. Parnell made everyone feel as though they were his friend. He was a very proud man and a true gentleman – the best husband a woman could ever want. Parnell and Betty were looking forward to their 60th wedding anniversary this summer. Parnell is survived by his wife, Betty Jane; his sons, Gregory (Joan) and Gary; daughter-in-law, Mary Lou Bach; his good friend, Lee Bjornstad; his grandsons, Alexander Bach and Jason Bach; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, John Bach. Parnell’s family would like to thank Bob Weber for his friendship and support. Parnell’s wish was that there be no services. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the West High School Art Department, 30 Ash St. Madison, WI 53726. “And if God wills, shall but love thee better after death.” – Robert Browning
Cress Funeral Service 3610 Speedway Road (608) 238-3434 http://www.cressfuneralservice.com

Hable, Burton Frederick
MADISON Burton Frederick Hable, age 72, passed away at home on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004, after battling cancer. He was born on March 1, 1931, in Bloomer, to Ed and Anona (Peterson) Hable. Burton grew up on the family farm in Bloomer with his parents, his brother Bob, and his much loved Aunt Mary Hable and Uncle Benny Hable. Burton left Bloomer in 1949 to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison on a football scholarship. He married his childhood sweetheart, Bernetta Stoffel on Aug. 21, 1952. Burton was a member of the 1952 Wisconsin Rose Bowl team. He graduated from the university in 1953, and taught and coached at Madison West High School for almost 40 years before retiring in 1992. Coach Hable coached football at West High School for 40 years, achieving 199 wins as head coach. He was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1996, and the Madison Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. He coached hockey at West in the 1960s and 1970s, working to make high school hockey a prominent sport in the state of Wisconsin. He started the “Madison Invitational Hockey Tournament” which became the State High School Hockey Tournament, now run by the WIAA. Burton’s passions in life were his family, high school football, the Wisconsin Badgers, and the Chicago Cubs. He was honored to be a long-time member of the Optimist Club of West Madison. Burton is survived by his wife of 51 years, Bernetta; and his brother, Bob (Ruth) Hable of Las Vegas, Nev. He is also survived by his seven children; and 16 grandchildren, Mary Kathryn (Garry) Acker of Eureka, Mo., and Chuck, Betsy and Megan, Martha (Paul) Pratt of Powell, Ohio, and Sara, Amy and Brian, and Susan (Scott) Cole of Racine, Laura and Andrew, Ben (Laurie) Hable of Ankeny, Iowa, and Burton, Robbie and Allison, Fred (Renee) Hable of Stoughton, Christin (Dan) Filo of Schererville, Ind., and Alex and Austin, and Chuck (Teri) Hable of Oshkosh, and Adam, Jack and Britt. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 16, 2004, at ST. MARIA GORETTI CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5313 Flad Ave., with Monsignor Michael Burke officiating. Burial will be at North Catholic Cemetery in Bloomer. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2004, at ST. MARIA GORETTI CATHOLIC CHURCH, and also from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Burton’s name may be made to the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 8, Poynette, WI 53955. Joyce-Ryan Funeral Home 5701 Odana Road (608) 274-1000 http://www.ryanfuneralservice.com
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The Capital Times Friday, February 13, 2004 By Dennis Semrau The Capital Times
Burt Hable often said his most impressive accomplishment during 35-plus years as head football coach at Madison West High School was not winning 199 games. Nor was it the state championship or 10 Big Eight Conference titles the Regents won during his tenure.
“Wins and losses are quickly forgotten,” Hable said in a conversation a year ago after he wrote a letter to The Capital Times on the dangers of specialization in high school athletics. “What’s most important are the relationships you make. The game is for the kids.”
Those words rang true when Hable’s youngest son, Chuck, called this morning to say that his father had passed away early today following a battle with cancer.
Hable, 72, died at his home, surrounded by his wife, Bernetta, and children on Feb. 12, 2004.
“Dad was a die-hard Cubs fan. When Moises Alou had that ball ripped out of his glove in the playoffs last fall, he was crushed,” Chuck Hable said.
“But he was also a big fan of high school athletics. He felt local schools should recruit local talent.”
Otto Breitenbach, a former athletic director and football coach at Madison La Follette High School, said Hable was a “true competitor.”
But Hable, who taught history and coached at West from 1953-93, also cherished the positive impact he had on hundreds of young people.
“Burt contributed much to the youth of our community,” Breitenbach said. “He really stood out as a football coach. But he remembered all the intangibles that were more important than winning.”
Hable often said the most important five minutes of a college or pro football game were when they announced where the players were from.
“He took a lot of pride in Wisconsin athletes and how they represented the state,” Chuck Hable said.
The family has asked that to honor Hable — who also coached wrestling, hockey and girls softball during his career — donations be made to the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association in lieu of flowers for a memorial that will be established in his name.
Visitation and funeral arrangements are pending.
Hable led West to the WIAA Division 1 state football title in 1977 and a runner-up finish in 1981. He compiled a record of 199-113-5, retiring after the third game of the 1993 season for health reasons.
“He leaves quite a legacy,” Hall of Fame coach and administrator John Olson said. “Burt set a standard of excellence, especially in football, and carried on a great tradition at West.”
A native of Bloomer, Hable was an all-state football player and all-conference basketball player before heading to the University of Wisconsin. He was a member of the Badgers’ 1953 Rose Bowl team and led the Big Ten Conference in interceptions during the 1952 season.
The Optimist Club of West Madison and a group of West High School alumni established the Burt Hable Scholarship Fund for West High students in 1994.
Hable was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Madison Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.
“He did everything he could to help kids,” Olson said. “He never gave anything less than his best.
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Below is another article that featured Mr.Hable that was featured in the Capital Times on February 1, 1996.

Norton, Viola A.
MADISON –

Viola A. Norton, age 90, passed away on June 5, 2003., The daughter of William A. and Edna C. (Hansen) Norton was born in Evansville, Wis. on March 15, 1913., Miss Norton attended Evansville, Davenport, Iowa, and New Glarus public schools, graduating from New Glarus High School in 1930., She attended Lawrence University, Appleton and UW-Whitewater where she was granted a Bachelor of Education in Business Education in 1934. She received her Master of Arts in Business Education and Guidance from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. Additional post graduate work was done at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and UW-Madison. Miss Norton taught at Princeton, Pewaukee, Monroe, and West Allis Central High Schools before coming to West High School in Madison in 1945. She was appointed chairman of the Business Education Department at West High and served in that capacity until her retirement in 1977. In 1966, she organized and supervised the Cooperative Office Education Program at West High which was selected as one of the first 19 schools in Wisconsin to pilot a coop office education program. During her teaching career, Miss Norton was active in several professional organizations serving WEA as chairperson for the Business Education section; SWEA as vice-president and president and also chairperson for the Business Education section; MEA as president; Alpha Chapter Delta Kappa Gamma as president, treasurer, and corresponding secretary; and Alpha Ela Chapter Delta Pi Epsilon. Miss Norton was an active member of Heritage Congregational Church, the Madison Slide and Movie Club and a former member of Madison Civics Club. She was also a member of MARE and WREA professional organizations for retired educators. She traveled extensively all over the world, and, as she enjoyed photographing her travels, she was able to entertain many groups with her travelogues., She is survived by four nieces and nephews, Priscilla S. Bondhus, of Madison, Norton (Rosemary) Strommen, of Fairfield Glade, Tenn., Trygue I. (Charlene) Strommen, of Brodhead, and Romma L. Caple, of Minneapolis, Minn.; a nephew-in-law, William Bridge, of Madison. She is further survived by 15 great nieces and nephews; and many great-great nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; a sister and brother-in-law, Fola N. (Ansel) Strommen; and a niece, Norene J. Bridge., Funeral services will be held at HERITAGE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, 3102 Prairie Road, Madison, on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 at 11:30 a.m., Visitation will be from 10:30 until 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in the Maple Hill Cemetery, Evansville. The family request memorials made in Violas name to a charity of your choice. Cress Funeral Service 3610 Speedway Rd. 608-238-3434