Clearwater Tribune · Elroy, WI
John "Bob" Forbes John R. (“Bob”) Forbes, 78, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026 at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho, following a motorcycle crash on his way back to Florida in early October. One of his last stops was for breakfast at a place in Orofino where (no doubt) everybody knew his name.John was born to the late June L. and John S. Forbes and the family lived in Elroy, Wisconsin. John graduated from Royall High School in 1966. He attended college in Eau Claire for two years before transferring to UW-Madison where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy in 1971. He was a pharmacist for several decades before retiring in his mid to late 60s.John was previously married to Kathy Lee and Beth Lake. Most recently John lived in Sebring, Florida, where he spent winters enjoying the warmth of the Florida sunshine. He became good friends with a large group of guys and looked forward to regular breakfasts at McDonald’s where everybody knew his name.
Baraboo News Republic · Baraboo, WI
Nearby: Baraboo, WIPatricia D. (Wagner) Miller, of Baraboo, Wisconsin, died at age 71 on Monday, November 9th, 2026 after an over 6 year battle with cancer in her home in Baraboo. Patricia was born April 28th, 1955. She will be remembered as…
Post-Bulletin · La Crosse, WI
Nearby: La Crosse, WIThese days, no one would consider Southeast Minnesota to be a major player in the world of fashion. However, the region, specifically Lake City, played a vital role in clothing manufacturers in the 1800s. “For a while, the Upper Mississippi River Valley produced about 50% of the world’s buttons,” nurse and writer Melissa Meyers said. That fact might not seem important in the 21st century. In the 1890s, though, buttons were extremely important. “We didn’t have stretchable materials, then,” Meyers said. “You know, zippers weren’t invented yet. So how do you keep your clothes closed? The average person used buttons.” That pearl button industry along Lake Pepin inspired Meyers to write a novel, "The Pearl Button Sisters," her fourth book, which was published Sept. 1, 2026. The book comes from her research into this bit of Lake Pepin history. According to Meyers, clothing manufacturers originally used sea oysters to make buttons.
