Todd William Taylor passed away due to complications from Parkinson’s Disease on October 31, 2026, at the age of 77. He was born on August 7, 1949, in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, to William and Elaine (née Gereaux) Taylor. Todd was the fourth of six siblings: Scott (Arline) and Lance (Bonnie) Taylor, Randi Maline, Shelli (Tom) Carlson, and baby Ann, who passed away at birth.

He attended schools in Hallie and Chippewa Falls, graduating from Chippewa Falls High School, where he played basketball, in 1967. He attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, receiving his bachelor’s degree in June 1971, subsequently obtaining graduate credits in Journalism and Latin American Affairs.

On May 26, 1973, he married Georgina Fernandez Vera, of Buenos Aires, Argentina, whom he met through friends while traveling in South America. Together they raised two children, Michelle (Fred) DeRousie Waldau and Gianna (Tom) Taylor, primarily in Stoughton, Wisconsin. Todd and Georgina divorced in 1992. In 2000, Todd moved to Lodi, Wisconsin, where he lived the remainder of his life.

Todd had a love for journalism, photography, nature, travel, and antiques. He enjoyed reading and music, sports, and the outdoors. In 1980, he purchased the “La Farge Epitaph and Viola News Weekly” newspapers in Wisconsin’s Kickapoo Valley and created the “Epitaph-News,” which he co-published with Georgina, turning the failing businesses profitable. He arranged typeface manually (before bringing the papers into the computer age), sold advertising, and did all the reporting and photography himself. After selling that business in 1985, he founded the “County Line Connection” weekly community newspaper for the Ontario and Norwalk areas. He also worked on a variety of other papers over the years, including the Janesville Gazette, Manitowoc Herald Times, Vernon County Broadcaster-Censor, Evansville Post, and Stoughton Courier Hub. He spent much of his later adult years working for the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, Division of Safety and Buildings, from which he retired in February 2012.

Todd was preceded in death by his parents; ex-wife, Georgina; brothers, Scott and Lance; sister, Ann; uncle, Bernard Willi; brother-in-law, Tom Carlson; son-in-law, David DeRousie; as well as special cousin, Shane Willi; and nephew, Shawn Taylor, both sadly lost at a young age.

He is survived by his sisters, Shelli and Randi; his daughters; and his granddaughters, Zoe and Rayne. He is further survived by nieces, Renee (Todd) Nelson and Jennifer (Glenn) Glenz; and nephews, Robin (Karen) Taylor, Joel (Sara) Taylor, Dean (Susan) Peterson, and Jason (Shannon) and Josh (Julia) Carlson; as well as cousins, Brent (Pat) and Devin (Paula) Willi.

Special thanks to friend LaVonne Wagner for her care and support for Dad during his long illness.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the UW Initiative to End Alzheimer's (which conducts research, education, and community programming associated with Alzheimer’s and related dementias, including Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia): https://give.wiscmedicine.org/ToddWTaylor. Alternatives: a natural resource, environmental defense, or nature conservancy organization of your choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420

Todd William Taylor

August 07, 1949 - October 31, 2026

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