So, newspaper files for classifieds--if this is standard practice elsewhere--might yeild results newspaper obits have not.

Good idea.

I checked the state of Wisconsin newspaper legal notices and there was no notice.

Kristin, they get their information from databases that may be as much as 6 months old. I wouldn't spend the money.

The records search sites most likely have some time delay. I thought most areas had death notices for everyone even if the family did not pay for a more detailed obit. A call to the local clerk's office would likely be the most timely method of finding out this information.

Deena, sounds good.

You can get a expedited search (by fax) in about seven days, or an in-person request in an hour or so....

I think that's only for the certified certificate and you need to be related to request that one.

I think that's only for the certified certificate and you need to be related to request that one.

I had to go back and check, but it looks like that's not the case.

In response to customer requests, the Wisconsin Vital Records Office can now expedite in-person requests for both certified and uncertified copies of death certificates for an additional fee.

eta: It doesn't say for the fax ones, but it says all fax requests pay the expedited rate, so I'm assuming it would be similar to expedited, uncertified in-person...

Gawd, my head is about to explode....

Kristin, I can ask B to do a search in the next day or two. Provided she doesn't pop.

he did interact with brenda and ... someone else I'm forgetting

Well, for the record, there was me. Gus did business with my company as well. However, he donated the labor, so there was no receipting process. All my company's correspondence with him happened electronically as well. (Which is not unusual for us, I should add.) So I have nothing helpful as far as documentation goes. I appreciated the expertise of a generous man.

I don't post my picture online, have in the past flaked out of planned meet-ups, post under multiple pseudonyms and email addresses throughout the web, decline to tell you my real name and address, and if you managed to find my unlisted phone numbers would discover that one was a New Mexico number and one was an Indianapolis number, neither of which are where I (claim to) live. I have deliberately avoided being visible on the web and am not, with the exception of my company. I am shy and have not met most of you and have never called any of you. Well, okay, except Steph, 'cause I needed directions to Graeters. Very important. I did meet some of you and some of you do know my name and company and where my house is. But I find lots of what we have under discussion here still falls under plausible deniability for me. There's also lots that remains inexplicable and problematic.

If I were a family member and read this conversation, would I be upset by reading that someone hopes my loved one is dead so that he doesn't turn out to be a liar? Yeah.

(eta: I feel this way, too, and said so privately early on. I don't mean to feel this way is wrong, just that I might react poorly upon seeing it if I were a legitimately grieving family member.)

Was I a friend who was upset upon hearing about his death, upset at seeing the mourning of my friends, and more upset by the possibility of deception? Yeah.

Where does that leave me? I'm not too sure, other than I am sorry we have suffered a loss as a community, one way or another. I'm sorry we've been hurt, one way or another. I hope we continue to communicate with each other and relate to each other regardless.

Thanks for weighing in, Liese. (I have to admit, I never feel older than when I realize how much of my life is googleable.) Definitely agree that the monkey-grooming should be, and has mostly been, set on High.

(Anybody who has YouTube footage of a monkey and a hair-dryer, now is your moment!! )

Well, there is Trunk Monkey.