Bruce Sellery Gregg, Barbara Ann Hooten
Bruce Sellery Gregg
Bruce Sellery Gregg passed away from Multiple Myeloma and Acute Myeloid Leukemia on April 23, 2026, at Attic Angel Place in Madison, Wisconsin. Bruce was born in Milwaukee on February 15, 1940, to Elizabeth and John Gregg. Except for three years in Cincinnati during World War II, Bruce grew up in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, where he graduated from Whitefish Bay High School in 1958. Bruce attended college at Denison University in Granville, Ohio, graduating in 1962 with a degree in History. He continued his education at the University of Wisconsin, receiving Master’s degrees in both American History and Educational Administration.
His teaching career began when he took a position as a high school history teacher in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. When Memorial High School opened in Madison in 1965, he returned to Madison to accept a position there, beginning a 33-year career as part of the school’s history faculty. He was a popular teacher at Memorial and was chosen by the school’s first graduating class to be the speaker at its graduation ceremony in June 1968. While at Memorial, he developed an innovative class on the topic of death and dying called Thanatology, coached both boys and girls golf teams, and chaperoned groups of Madison students on summer trips to Europe seven different times. Bruce also served on the bargaining team for the teachers’ union for a number of years.
On June 13, 1970, Bruce married Marsha Graham. Their loving marriage lasted more than 56 years and produced two wonderful children Kira (Kurt) Femrite of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, and Kevin (Brigid) Gregg of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Bruce was affectionately called “Pa” by his five terrific grandchildren: Will, Erik, and Ella Femrite and Owen and Andrew Gregg. He was so very proud of all of them. Watching his children, and later his grandchildren, participate in athletic events and concerts was something he always cherished.
Bruce was a life-long Cubs fan, and he tried to pass along his love for the Cubs to his children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews, too. The long-awaited 2016 World Series win by the Cubs was something Bruce was thrilled to experience, having often wondered whether it would ever happen in his lifetime. Carrying on a tradition begun by his own father, Bruce loved corresponding with family and friends. He always had a stash of postcards ready to go. And the letters he sent, like his father’s before him, often included articles and newspaper clippings. Those letters and postcards will be greatly missed.
Once both Marsha and Bruce retired from teaching, they enjoyed traveling with dear friends to many parts of the world. Alaska, China, Iceland, Croatia, Cuba, Patagonia, Tanzania, Australia, and New Zealand were among their favorite destinations. Closer to home, Bruce organized and participated in PLATO classes, served on the boards of the Friends of the Meeting House and the Foundation for Madison Public Schools, and was actively involved in the Madison Historical Society. For more than 20 years in retirement, Bruce dedicated much of his time to being a volunteer guide, sharing his expertise with visitors at the Monona Terrace, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unitarian Meeting House, and at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. In connection with the museum, he enjoyed giving tours of Madison’s Forest Hills Cemetery a few times every year.
Bruce is survived by his wife Marsha, his children and grandchildren, and sisters- and brothers-in-law Doug (Cindy) Reeder of Chanhassan, MN, Connie (Bob) Roden of Madison, WI, Marilyn (George) Hochmuth of Gainesville, FL, Carol (Bill) Laskar of Tipton, IN, Lori (Doug) Romig of Albuquerque, NM, and 11 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Judy Reeder.
The family is very grateful for the care Bruce received from the Hematology/Oncology Dept. at SSM Health, particularly Dr. Shannon O’Mahar, Michelle Lakner, and the wonderful nurses in the Infusion Center there, as well as the care he received in the last weeks of his life from Samantha, Petra, and the rest of the Agrace Hospice and Attic Angel staff.
A celebration of life will be held on August 1, 2026, in the Atrium Auditorium of the Unitarian Meeting House, 900 University Bay Drive in Madison. The family looks forward to greeting friends from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., including gathering together at 1 p.m. to share memories of Bruce a bit more formally. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Foundation for Madison Public Schools on behalf of Memorial High School, or to the Agrace Adult Day Center of Madison.
Barbara Ann Hooten
Barbara Ann Hooten, of Spencerville, passed away on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at her home in Spencerville. She was born May 20, 1939, in Fort Wayne. A hardworking and dedicated worker, Barb retired in 2019 after decades of service at Mersman Bros. Corp. in Celina and Shane Hill Nursing Home in Rockford. She was an avid reader and greatly enjoyed attending her family’s sporting events. Christian faith was very important to Barb. She attended Spencerville Nazarene and Abounding Grace Ministries in Celina, and she was a faithful volunteer for LifeWise Spencerville.
Barb is survived by son Enoch Hooten (Cassie) of Sharpsville, Indiana, and daughter Lisa (Kevin) Bowers of Spencerville; grandsons Isaac Bowers of Columbus, Zachary (Hannah) Bowers of Columbus, Elijah Bowers of Hilliard, and Benjamin Bowers of Chesterville; six great-grandchildren Braden of Fort Wayne and Cashton of Spencerville, Henry, William and Charlotte of Columbus, and Naomi of Hilliard. She is preceded in death by James Howard Hooten and grandson Jordan Bowers.
The family will hold a private memorial gathering. Barb will be buried at Fletcher Chapel Cemetery in Springfield. Thomas E. Bayliff Funeral Home in Spencerville is caring for Barb and her family. Memorial gifts can be made to LifeWise Spencerville at lifewise.org/spencervilleoh or in c/o ACTS Character Academy, 1844 Baty Rd., Lima, OH 45807.