Barbara I. Hintze

Barbara Irene (Klug) Hintze, 80, passed away peacefully, on March 12, 2025. Barb was born on July 29, 1944, in Milwaukee, the daughter of Robert & Dorothy (Sell) Klug. She attended St. John’s Lutheran Grade School in Merrill, WI and graduated from Merrill High School in 1962. She married her high school sweetheart Dennis ‘Emil’ Hintze, on October 10, 1963. They were blessed with 62 years of loving marriage and 3 children.

Barb was employed at Lincoln County Abstract in Merrill for more than 30 years, where she was a Title Agent/Abstractor as well as a loving wife, homemaker and mother. Upon retirement she faithfully provided daycare for her loving grandchildren and became known as “Grandma Barb”.

Barb loved spending time with her family, no matter where family got together; whether it be at the house on Nast St., the cottage on Lost Lake in St Germain or at their present home on Lake Alexander and even at church at St. John. She enjoyed playing cards and games with all family and friends. Barb also loved the holidays, family birthdays, and special occasions where she would celebrate by having everybody together for special games, prizes and always a delicious meal. She was very crafty and enjoyed scrapbooking for all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was an avid sports enthusiast, enjoying sporting events on TV, with her favorite teams being the Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs (her husband Emil converted her), all Wisconsin Badger sports, but most of all the Merrill Bluejays. Grandma Barb never missed a play, a quarter, a period or an inning of a game where her children or grandchildren were playing for the Bluejays.

Barb was a member of St John Lutheran Church in Merrill, where she was very active on many boards and positions throughout her life, she enjoyed the fellowship of all those she came to know through her faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Grandma Barb was always looking to do something for somebody else to put a smile on their face and she will be missed very much by all her family and friends.

Barb is survived by her loving husband of 62 years; Dennis ‘Emil’ Hintze, and their 3 children, two sons Steven (Dawn) Hintze, Jeffery (Connie) Hintze and daughter Julie (Dom) Belfiori. Eight grandchildren Ashley (Jason) Raasch, Abbigail (Josh) Plautz, Jacob (Olivia) Hintze, Benjamin (Nicole) Hintze, Mikayla Hintze, Tyler (Izzy) Belfiori, Hunter (Bella) Hintze, and Kelsie Belfiori (fiancé Owen Powell). As well as her most recent joys of great grandchildren including; Breleigh, Jameson, Jackson, Avery Mae, Arya, Avery Ruth, Chase, Blade and Rhett.

The family would like to thank all of the professional health care teams at Aspirus Hospital in Wausau, Davita Dialysis in Wausau, Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill and her longtime caregiver and friend Dr Polireddy, Marshfield Clinic, for all her care.

“She fought the good fight, she finished the race, most importantly, she kept the Faith”!

The funeral service for Barb will be held at 11:00 A.M., Monday, March 17, 2025, at St. John Lutheran Church, Merrill. Rev. David Szeto will officiate. Visitation will begin at 9:00 A.M., Monday at the church. A luncheon celebration of life to follow at the Eagle’s Club in Merrill.

Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral & Cremation, Merrill, is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are encouraged and may be made at www.taylorstinewaid.com