Phylis R. Taft

Phylis R. Taft, age 84, of Sun Prairie, passed away on Friday, June 27, 2025, at St. Mary's Hospital, surrounded by family. She was born on November 16, 1940, in Boscobel, Wis., the daughter of Howard and Bess (Krahn) Taft. 

Phylis graduated from Boscobel High School in 1958. Shortly after graduating she moved to Madison, Wis., where she met and married Jerry Neupert on November 11, 1961. Together they had two children, Blaine and Aleta and lived briefly in Neenah, Wis., before moving to Madison’s North side in 1970. For many years she was known as “The Ding Dong Lady” as she sold Avon products door-to-door in the 1970s. She then worked as an administrative assistant for Dean Clinic for 10 years starting in 1981, retiring in 1991, soon after her kidney transplant. She married her second husband Vernon Ward on January 7, 2006, in Boscobel, where they lived on DuBay Street in the house that her mom and dad built. In 2018, they moved to Sun Prairie, Wis., to be closer to her kids. 

Phylis was an accomplished artist in many different mediums. She was a very creative woman that enjoyed photography, painting, rosemaling sewing and quilting.  Because of her passions and creativity, she was a member of many quilting guilds, rosemaling groups and even taught rosemaling for a brief time. She belonged to the VFW auxiliary in Boscobel. She also belonged to the Civil War re-enactment group in Boscobel and helped to make many of the costumes and clothing needed for the civil war re-enactment. She loved traveling and was able to make it to 49 states with the lone exception of Hawaii. 

Phylis is survived by her son, Blaine (Peggy) Neupert; daughter, Aleta (Brian) Amick; grandchildren, Amanda Neupert, Brandon (Nicole) Neupert, Cassandra (Cam Zehner) Amick and Dominic Amick; great-grandson, Lucas Neupert; and sister, Evelyn Wolfe. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her second husband, Vern.  

A funeral service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 3:30 p.m. until the time of the service on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. 

An additional funeral service will be held at KENDALL FUNERAL SERVICE, 209 Mary St., Boscobel, at 12 noon, on Friday, July 11, 2025. Graveside services will follow at Haney Ridge Cemetery, rural Boscobel. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday.

The family wishes to thank the UW Hospital Transplant Department (Phylis received a kidney transplant on August 23, 1990), Colonial Club in Sun Prairie for Meals-on-Wheels, and the staff at St. Mary's Hospital, Cardiac Care unit for their wonderful care given to Phylis and her family in the final days of her life. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wisconsin Kidney Foundation or to Olbrich Botanical Gardens. 

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