Wight And Comes Obituaries In Watertown Sd

Watertown's Unlikely Celebrity: The Wight & Comes Obituaries

Ever felt like you've missed your fifteen minutes of fame? Well, in Watertown, South Dakota, there's a unique way to become a local celebrity, even after you've, ahem, kicked the bucket. We're talking about the Wight & Comes Obituaries, a weekly column that's been dishing out death notices with a dash of wit and wisdom since 1978.

Now, you might be thinking, "Obituaries? Really? That's not exactly a laugh riot." But hold onto your hats, folks, because these aren't your grandma's obituaries. The Wight & Comes team, led by the enigmatic Obituary Queen, Tammy Young, has turned the traditional death notice on its head, serving up a hearty helping of humor, history, and humanity with every edition.

Meet the Obituary Queen

Tammy Young, a Watertown native and self-proclaimed "obit junkie," has been penning these unique tributes since 2001. Her secret sauce? A blend of meticulous research, personal anecdotes, and a healthy dose of small-town charm. "I like to think of it as a eulogy for people who don't get one," she says with a smile.

Young's not the only one behind the curtain. A team of volunteers, including local historians and fellow obit enthusiasts, help her scour old newspapers, interview family members, and dig up the dirt (both literal and figurative) on Watertown's departed. The result? Obituaries that read like mini-biographies, filled with quirks, triumphs, and tales of yesteryear.

Obituaries with a Side of History

Take, for instance, the time Young wrote about Charlie Brown, a local man who, despite his name, was no Peanuts character. Charlie was a former mayor, a World War II veteran, and a man who loved his beer. So much so that he once drank 37 beers in a single day. Now that's a record worth noting!

Elmo Swenson Obituary - Watertown, SD | Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel

Or how about Evelyn Schroeder, a woman who lived to be 106 and attributed her longevity to a daily dose of whiskey? Her obituary, complete with a recipe for her famous "Evelyn's Elixir," became an instant local classic.

Tips from the Obituary Queen

So, what can we learn from Watertown's unlikely celebrity? First, never underestimate the power of a good story. Second, don't be afraid to laugh, even in the face of the inevitable. And finally, always, always leave room for a good pun. After all, as Tammy Young puts it, "Life's too short not to laugh."

Gerald Ness Obituary - Watertown, SD | Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel

Reflections on Life and Death

As we go about our daily lives, it's easy to forget that each of us has a story worth telling. We're all Charlie Browns, Evelyn Schroeders, heroes and rogues, dreamers and doers. And while we might not all get a Wight & Comes obituary, we can certainly strive to live lives worthy of one.

So, here's to the unsung heroes, the local legends, and the everyday extraordinary. Here's to Watertown, and here's to the Wight & Comes Obituaries, reminding us all that even in death, there's room for a little laughter.