Wisconsin Obituaries - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
The collection consists of an index and images of obituaries from various newspapers in Wisconsin housed at the Wisconsin State Historical Society in Madison, Wisconsin. The collection covers the following years: 1846-1948, 1954-1958, and 1961-1968.

For a list of records currently published in this collection, select the Browse link from the collection landing page.

Record Content
Information found in this collection may include:


 * Name of deceased
 * Birth date and place
 * Death date and place
 * Names of parents
 * Name of spouse
 * Names of children
 * Name of cemetery
 * Name of newspaper
 * Date of obituary publication

How to Use the Record
To begin your search you will need to know your ancestor’s name and other identifying information such as:


 * The approximate death date
 * The person’s last known residence

Search the Collection
To search the collection: ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒Select the "Surname Range" which takes you to the images.

Look at the images one by one comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination. Keep in mind:


 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

Using the Information
Once you have located your ancestor’s obituary, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These records are often brief so it can be easy to confuse individuals. Compare what information is given with what you already know about your ancestor to make sure it is the correct person.

Next, look at the pieces of information given in the obituary for new information. Add any new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors. For example:


 * Use the birth date or year to search for birth records.
 * Use the birth date along with relative’s names to find the family in census records.
 * Use the locality and relative’s names to locate church and land records.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * The name of the undertaker or mortuary could lead you to funeral and cemetery records, which often include the names and residences of other family members.
 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives of the deceased who may have been buried in the same cemetery or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.

Unable to Find Your Ancestor?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby cemeteries.

Related Websites
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Related Wiki Articles
Wisconsin Obituaries

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Record collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher and archive for the original records.

Citations for individual image records are available for this collection. Browse through images in this collection and click on the "Show Citation" box: Wisconsin Obituaries, 1846-1968